The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1877-09-14
Nathaniel Horne.

Prior to tue last Democratic county con-
veution the gentleman whose name heads
this article had never sought a nomination
for the office of Pro:honotary. The object
of his ambition had been a seat in the Leg
islature, for which he was a candidate be-
fore the county convention in 1872, and also
before every subsequent convention up to
and including that of 1876. He was well
qualified for the position, and was always,
except in 1878, generously supported by
the Democracy of the northern section of
The county. Although unsuccessful in Sc
curing nomination from either Of tie four
conventions before. which ne was n cand
date, his failure was not due to any special
objection at any time urged against him,
but was brought about by the same mis-
fortune that has overtaken many others in
J the past, as il will continue to do in the
/ future-sedRt IF cOtes in the convention.
That is "the DEVILS rock" in the sea of
Democratic politics in :his county against
which .he barks of scores Of hopeful office
seekers, ourself AMONG the number, have
been rudely dashed to pieces. Mr. Horne,
as an honorable party man, was under both
an express and implied promise to submit TO
the decision OF the convention. If it were
no. SO, and had not been so understood by
every member Of that body, he would not
have received single vote. Confiding
however. i'm his sincerity as n Democrat he
received the second highest number Of
votes. which was a marked compliment
paid To him in his .frst eff-rt to reach the
Prothonotary's Office. Others quite as COM
peient as himself, were dSianced in the
race, but they have uttered no word of
complaint, much less are they engaged in
'he dishonorable work OF party diso:gani-
cation. What motive then impelled, or
what outside influence induced, Mr.. Horne
to stultify his past political record and for
felt the confidence Of the Democracy of the
county by becoming an independent can
didate for ProthOnotary? Did lie expect
for moment that he would stand the ghost
OF chance of being elected if the Repub-
lican party put candidate in the field ?
TO say that he did would be to charge him
wi Ii political insanity, an impution which
he would promptly resent. He knew per-
the only frail hope of his election rested,
first, on the refusal of the Republicans to
make a nomination, and, second, on The
concentration upon himself of the entire
Republican vote of the county. All this is
so plain that he who runs may read, and
the one thought uppermost in the mind of
Mr.. Horne at the time he took his fatal
L.
ical Independence, was that both these con-
tingencies, but especially the first, could be
brought about He was fortified in this
delusion by the advice and promised aid of
certain Republicans in Johnstoxu who
were willing enough to tempt, but had
not the ability to control, Republican opin-
ion in the county. Mr.. Horne's theory was
exploded last week by the Republicans
making nomination of their own, which
suspends him between the nominee of each
party just as Mahomet's coffin is said to
have been suspended between heaven and
earth. Republican nomination was the
very thing Mr.. Horne neither wanted nor
expected, but as he has made his own DO
htical bed he must be content to lie in it.
his future continuance in the field will strjp
him of his independent guise and show that
his sole motive now is personal hostility
to Charles F. O'Donuel. IF there is ono
Democrat in Cambria county who. more
than any other, ought 10 be the warm sun.
porter OF Mr.. O'Donnel it is Nathaniel
Horne. 10 1872, when he was before The
county convention as a candidate for As
sembly, aud when he soreIy stood in need
OF friends, he repeatedly and openly de-
clared after its adjournment that Mr.. o.
Donnell, who was one of the delegates from
Loletto, had proven himself TO be his true
and steadfast friend, and hat he would
never forget his devotion to him in thar
convention. Five years have passed away.
during all of which time Charley O. Donnell
worked for MIR. Horne's nomination. and
ms reward Is an ungrateful effort by the
latter TO defeat him. Mr.. Horne will learn
that the Democracy of the county are not
IN the humor to be seduced from their AL
legIance TO party organization. and that
they VIII stand at the back of Charley o.,
Donnell because he was honorablv and
larry nominated and because lie is both
competent and deserving.
loci