Nebraska advertiser., 1858-10-21
Judge Douglas.


not worldwide regulations Must he
not have done something very remarkable
for good or evil? That he is in every
body's mouth, and that every newspaper,
of all political shades and aspects, have
his name held up for scorn or praise,
there must be something very unique
about this man. We hold that he is the
true exponent of democracy. the corner
stone Of that glorious political fabric, the
fairest that people ever built up, and
we further hold that were it not for S.
A. Douglas that noble fabric would be ere
now frittered into atoms.
Years ago Douglas staked his political
existence on the issue, whether people
had not the right to frame their own do
mestic institutions without the interfer-
ence Of any power whatsoever. We all
remember what storm there arose thro'
the country as he, and all good democrats,
preached the doctrine that such a right
did belong to the inhabitants of any Ter
ritory within this Union. And nobly was
that right vindicated at the last presiden-
tial election. Its merits were tested, and
the people declared in its favor by elect
ing James Buchanan to the presidential
chair.
Why was James Buchanan elected by
such an overwhelming majority? Sim
| ply because the platform on which he
stood was that great principle of self-gov-
ernment put forth by Judge Douglas
that principle which carried dismay and
terror into the enemy's camp, and scat.
tered to the winds that doctrine which
held that others besides the governed had
the right absolute of forcing on then
laws contrary to their wishes and desires
But we must change the scene from
the time when the whole nation declared
for this principle of self government anC
come to the time whena minority in Kan
sas framed constitution and aimed Il
have Kansas admitted into the Uniol
without submitting that constitution to tht
people to be ratified or rejected by them
The Administration for the sake of expe
dieney wished Kansas admitted. A ma
ton was waiting with an eagerness neve
before attendant on any great question
The friends of national rights and popu
lar sovereignty trembled for the result
What will the 'little giant" do now
Will he succumb? What will become O
his favorite hobby-horse? were question
everywhere put by Douglas enemies
They little knew the might that slumber
ed in the "little giants mind He cam
forth with will and an energy equal t
the great task before him. He knew hi
time had come; he knew what he ha
to contend with; but he was equal to tn
task. Nobly did he defend that grea
principle Of his life; he threw down tn
gauntlet and won the most glorious viz
tory that man ever dreamed of. Fror
that hour Douglas was marked MAJ
Those who before doubted his sincerit
now focked around him; the nation
heart beat freer; democracy stood fort
fairly and fully vindicated in its pristir
glory.
r But persecution is ever the reward
genius. The Administration frustrate
: in their nefarious project of forcing col
stitutiOn on the people af Kansas, hay
pursued Stephen A. Douglas with all Il
envy and malice that evil human natul
: is capable of contemplating; but the
Q works will recoil on their own heads, al
: Judge Douglas will stand forth as bri
j liant beacon in the political horizon, Il
idol of great people. Vo~ populi u
: Del. u .a