The Council Bluffs nonpareil. [volume] (Council Bluffs [Iowa]) 1857-1867, 1857-11-28
From the Springfield Mass, Republican.
MR.. DOUGLAx-HIS FILIAL AFFECTION
AND PATRIOTISM.

One of the most touching pictures Of pa
triotism and flial affection which has ever
come under our observation, is that exhibit
ed by Senator Douglas of Illinois, in his
attempt to get an Office for his father law,
at Washington. The letter which this gen.
tleman wrote to the President, praying for
pap for his "pap," and at the same time
deprccating the idea that the gift should be
charged in the spoils account with the
State of Illinois, is one Of those instances
of the struggles which sometimes takes
place in noble minds between two high born
principles-struggles which, while they
distress the bosom that gives them birth,
do honor to our humanity. Some people
are disposed to laugh at the little giant.
We do not sympathize with this feeling. A
man who would do it would whistle at a
funeral.
Just look mt it for moment. Let US ap-
proach the subject without prejudice. Here
is man who has married pretty woman.
She has cured him of drinking, or reduced
his allowance say fifty per cent. She has
stopped him from squirting tobacco juice
all over everything. She has really fixed
him up, bleached him out, and got him to
wearing clean dickeys. As he thinks of this,
he is grateful. As he has given her his
heart and hand, and wife's interest in his
fortune, he can do no more, and his mind
leaps the boundary of the domestic hearth,
and pours its gratitude at the feet of his
Gther- in-law. lie would do something for
him; and, like a generous soul, he insists
that it must be done on his own account,
and not on account of Illinois. If Cults
cuts Illinois, then he cuts Cults. Illinois is
bis mother. lie has been Sucker at her
bosom for years. He has gifts for the ma
ternal lap that Mr.. Cults must not interfere
with. SO, between paternal and maternal
tenderness, the giant is softened into senti-
mental determinations.
1t is barely possible, though We give tho
idea no willing entertainment, that the Scua-
tor having found himself obliged to feed
dependents in Washington and Illinois, is
determined to see both sets cared for by
the government, and to keep the two sets
distinct. The next letter we shall have, will
pray Mr.. Buchanan to give some poor
shoulder hitter post Office, at the same
time protesting that it shall not be charged
to Mr.. Cuts. Mr.. Douglas is in n trying
position. Family relations and the Illinois
democracy give him s'diyided duty."-
Love OF kindred and love of country-Cutts
abroad and Suckers at home-both to be
fed by spoils and seperate accounts to be
kept, are enough to make man stagger
if he doesn't drink anything to speak Of.
From the reply Of the President to this
note Of the Senator, we gather lesson
which should sink deep into the hearts of
all our young men. Mr.. Buchanan saws,
''Should make the appointment, which is
not improbable, it will be my own individual
appointment, proceeding entirely from my
regard for Mr.. Cuts ant'his family, and not
because Senator Douglas has had the good
fortune to become his sou-in' law" Some
people see irony in this, but such people see
irony everywhere. They are morally fer
ruginous. The fact was, Mr.. Buchanan felt
himself bachelor. He had no son like Mr..
Cuts, Cat least no son-in-law. so he adopt
ed Mr.. Cuts, and spread lovingly over him
the wing of patronage. He will feed him.
lie will shelter him. He will relieve Mr..
Douglas of all the responsibility. The
hen has been known to foster the duck n
cat has sometimes extended her motherly
affections to brood of chickens, and the
stately bachelor of the White House relieves
the feelings of Mr.. Douglas, obviates all
danger to the Illinois Democracy, and gives
play to an unfed parental impulse by be-
coming responsible for the provender Of a
fine old gentleman who had Il daughter.