Preble County Democrat. [volume] (Eaton, Ohio) 1857-1859, 1858-01-28
Douglas and his Admirers.

epithet in our language was too severe
or vulgar for the abolition press to ap
ply to him. He was branded as a mar
row-minded ~demagogue whose treason
to liberty ought to render him foreve
infamous. He needed moi the passion
ate and insensate howl of his enemie
and the foes to self-government, Blu
with a sublime courage marched to vic
terry and won the admiration of a larg'
majority of his countrymen.
Three years have elapsed since tn
repeal, and the men who hunted ant
denounced the "little giant" now damn
him with fulsome praise. For "Stepher
Arnold Douglas" VIC have "Dougla'
the patriot and statesman" for "the Low
demagogue and tool of the South" W.
have "the bold and consistent cham
pion of popular sovereignty" Why
this sudden change in the opposition
estimate of their old enemy? Has
Douglas deserted to the party of the
'spathfnder," or has that pitiable frag.
ment of humanity become fascinated
with the democratic doctrine of popular
sovereignty? We do not believe either
of these suggestions well founded
Senator Douglas repudiates the Lecomp-
ton Convention, but claims to be as de-
voted to the self-government principle
as heretofore. The difference between
him and the administration is very slight;
the one maintains that the best inter
ests of Kansas and the country require
that the Lecompton movement should
be sustained, and the other believing its
condemnation expedient and necessary.
Both look to one result-the admission
of Kansas with such a government as
her people desire. The policy of the
Administration would achieve this soon
er than the plan of Mr.. Douglas, and
for this reason we support the former.
While the opposition praise Douglas for
his present attitude, they are bitterly
hostile to the principles he advocates.
1t is the prospect of a division in our
ranks that pleases them; and they fiat
ter Douglas in the hope of making him
an instrument for the destruction of our
party.
This is the secret of their laudations
of him whom they have so often burnt
in efigy; this the occasion of their re-
i~oicinss. To charge them with a friend
ly regard for the policy of al "~enabling
act is to accuse them of the grosscst
inconsistency. Scarcely one year ago,
they united in reputation of such pol
icy. In proof of this we refer to their
rejection of the "Toomb's bill" They
support Douglas scheme now,
directly condemning their ia
vorite policy in 1856. Are they pre-
pared to do this? Are they willing to
their votes against the Topeka
and consequently against the
revolutionary career of their emissaries,
Lane & Co. 1t is quite plain that if
they coalesce with Douglas with a view
to weaken the Administration, they
abandon their Philadelphia platform,
and acknowledge the wisdom of the
popular sovereignty doctrine for the
of the slavery question:
They are powerless now, and only thro'
the detection of men in whom the De-
mocracy have confded, can they hope
to revive the dangerous agitation which
the election of Mr.. Buchanan so efec-
quoted. We apprehend that
present jubilations are without
warrant. The only question about
democrats, in or out of Congress,
is this: Shall the Lecompton
be recognized? To this the
Administration responds afirmatively,
for these reasons. That Convention
was held in pursuance of an act of the
Territorial Legislature, which body
Congress has repeatedly recognized as
valid. In obedience to the organic law
of the Territory it fairly referred the
question of slavery to the people for
their decision. The proceedings arc
therefore legal and should be uphold.
This policy will bring Kansas into the
Union during the present session OF
Congress and end a controversy hat has
been prolific of much evil. 1t will To-
calize the strife and place Kansas on an
equality with the States, giving her peo-
pie absolute control of all their institu-
tons. Its opposite-the plan of Sena-
tor Douglas-indefnitely postpones a
settlement of the quarrel in Kansas and
encourages a re-enactment of the scenes
which have disgraoed the nation and
perilled its best interests.
A Sober Second Thought.
The South is not unanimous in con.
demnino Commodore Pauldinp and an.