New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1858-08-26

Perhaps 70 local contest in this country ever ex-
cited general or so profound an interest As that
low wsgipg IN Illinois, with Senator Douglas, the
Federal Administration, and the Republican party
headed BY Messrs. Linesln aud Trumbull As the
combataLts. Apart from the eminent ability and
ardent passions Of Mr.. Douglas, which must always
excite attention to any struggle in which be may
be engaged, his position as the object Of Executive
annosty and the uI certain character Of his future
relations to the Democratic party, draw toward him
degree Of sympathy even from many who have
been wont to regard kiu with very different feel
iDgs. 1t is true that this sympathy 10 diminished
by the manner in which lie has chosen to condu,t
the Canvass which reminds US more of the wild
and Inscriptions athlete Of his earlier days than of
the noble displays Of last Winter, when be soed
forth in the Senate Chamber as the champion OF
popular rights against Executive usurpation, with
out the need Of employing any other weapons than
those of truth, aud of q logic none the less con
elusive because it was altogether honest.
As our readers are already aware, one Of the
features Of this remarkable contest is q series Of
public meetings in different parts Of the State,
where Mr. Douglas and Or. Lincoln successfully
address the people, mode of discussing political
questions which might well be more generally
adopted. The fret of these meetings was held at
Ottawa On Saturday, the 2lst inst and We pub.
iish another page full report Of the speeches
on both sides. Of the two, all Partially beiog
left out of the question, we think Mr. Lineolo has
decidedly the advantage. Not only are bis doctrines
better and truer than those Of his antagonist but
he states them with more propriety and cogency,
and with an infinitely better temper. More than
this, in this discussion Mr. Douglas was betrayed
into what was pe,h,ps fault as well a., bluuder;
at any rate, it was blonder of very gross char.
scter. He cited certain resolutions, which he o.
legged were adopted a. the platform Of the Illinois
State Convention Of 1854, and these alleged reso
lutOns be made the text Of large portion Of his
speech. But it appears that no such resolutions
were ever offered at any Republican State C,nven
ton in IlliDos, or adopted by any sucb Convention
The Press and Tribune of Chicago charges that Or
Douglas wn aware of thi, aud that he committed
40 intentional fraud in producing the resolutions
he did They we're, il seems, really adopted at
email local mt etiDg il Kane County; aod yet the
Senator brought them forward as the platform Of
State Convention Our Chicago contemporary I'll
have It that Mr.. Douglas did this for effect at the
mono emit, "all knowing that the imposition mutt be
exposed in due tine. Iuis i. L.rAly credible: bnt
there ia no doubt that such msrepre sent,uv. =.
at least, bluuder, which must ultimately prove in
juIious TO the party by whic, it 10 committed
But it is not merely as apassAse at arms between
two eminent masters Of the ait of intellectual at
tack and defeuss that this discussion is worthy Of
study. II touches some of the most vital princi-
pies of our political system, and 10 m.n can care
fully peruse it without some benefit whatever his
convictions to the questions at issue bet the
difputsIts.