, 1857-09-04
Stephel 4. n2"glas,

Mass. Argus says that he enjoys higher
degree of popular regard than any other
statesman in America. 1t may sound par
adoxical to add that he is also hated, fear
ed and abused more heartily than any other
statesman. 1t is fact, however, and yet
no paradox. The seeming inconsistency is
susceptible of the simplest explanation, and
in fact it may be seen that the very bitter
ness Of hatred which is poured forth upon
Iudge Douglas on every OCCASION by every
mart and parcel of black republican opposi-
lion. has cementcd to the person Of the
distinguished Illinois senator such host
of ardent political and personal friends as
no othr man is able to boast OF. Besides,
Judge Douglas has every element of per-
sonal popularity, courage, vigor, strength
all in au eminent degree the attributes
of his character-irst attract the popular
admiration. Aud then his accessibility,
unselfshness, devotion to bis friends, deYo-
ton to principle, careless of personal con-
sequences, qualify admiration by affection,
and rivet both with hooks of steel The
feelings with which friends attach them
selves to him, are thus not the mercinary
ones Of mere calculating politicians, but
enduring sentiments Of esteem, which have
some value, and are not absorbed in what
Is said to be the politicians sense Of graft
tude namely, lively sense of future ia
vors. The men, for instance, who attempt
ed to nominate Senator Douglas for pres-
dent. must have been keenly conscious how
much his nomination would have enhanced
the bitterness Of the contest, and might
we'll have listened to the arguments of those
who deemed it advisable to make a more
couciliatory nomination. Those men ad-
bered steadily to his fortunes until he with
drew his name. Yet We doubt if they gen
orally believed they could elect him then if
nominated. We do and believe that Mr..
Pierce would have been elected, or Mr..
Toucy, or any other favorite of the national
democracy. The popularity of Judge
Douglas in the northwest would have car
ried Iowa and Wisconsin for him, and
would have left even Ohio trembling in the
scale. But this is all outside OF our pur-
pose. We took no part in that nomination
for either Of the candidates, and were pre-
pared to support either with equal vigor.
So far as the campaign was concerned,
Judge Douglas had to bear far more Of the
: violence of the assault than any other per-
son, despite his not being a candidate
The opposition ralIying cry was a bas
Douglas, and epithcts, inVective, SANDER
and all sorts of abuse were showered upon
him like bits of iron from cloud Of burst
ing bomb shells. The black republicans
adopted the tactics of the allies before Sc
bostopol, md continued the Gght against
him with canog1ets.
All this has served only to attach to
Senator Douglas more strongly than ever
the body of the national democracy. No
common man could have stood the fierce
trial but the result proved that the metal
used in bis composition Is of the sternest
and most impregnable stuff.
Il has been the fashion of the opposition
to call Judge Douglas demagoguc,; and
il the word is used in the harmless sense Of
leader of tie people, it might not be SO bad.
He is a leader but he is far from being
leader who leads one way or the other,
according as popular prcjudices may auc-
tMte In this sense, the use of the word
IN connection with Judge Douglas is so
utterly ridiculous as TO have no meaning at
LL When Judge Douglas introduced the
Kansas Nebraska bill no one will claim
that the measure was popular one, and
none but the most clear-sighted saw that it
ever would be. 1t was not even popular
at the south. But Judge Douglas felt that
It was right, and he was content to bear
the storm of popular displeaSuro in order
TO establish Just, benefcent and profound
political principle. He was rlready on the
high road to the presidency, but was viii
ling to sacrifice even that glittering prize.
His act spoke even more emphaticaly than
any words could have done, that he would
rather be right than to be president.
The introduction Of that bill aud his
brilliant sledgehammer speeches in sup
port Of it, were not the acts Of dema'
gOgue. His vote in favor of the compro'
mise measures produced almost an insur'
recton in Chicago and he came home to
encounter bitterness Of hostility that was
not content with the violence Of language,
but even threatened personal violence. Hc
spoke in defence Of his conduct amidst
flying brickbats, chairs, and other demon
STATIONS that would have cowed almost
any man but him. But he abatcd no jot
Of bis principles in behalf ofpopuiar clamori
and the result was that he came safely
through the furnace, without the smell Of
tire on his garments The people loved
him all the more for encountering and
o'ercoming the frenzy Of passion:
These two instances are consistent with
The whole political life of Judge Douglas
such man can be called a demagogue
thsn dictionaries are useless, and the gabblC
Of geese should be substituted for all hu
man language.
No one among the grey boards in thC
United States senate commands such in
slant attention when he rises to speak, a.
Judge Douglas. He never deals in thu
ambiguous phrases Of popular defamation
de appeals neither to passion, to intcres
eor prejudice. He looks at every question
% the nnra liarht of rnnsnn His armnmnn