Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1858-07-23
Douglas Denounced at Head.
quarters.

The Democratic Enquirer of Muscatine il
one of the organs of the great national char
monious +" Democratic party. 1t praises
Douglas and his dying speech at Chicago t.
the skies, and promises to print it for tho
edifcation of the faithful.
The Washington Onion is another organ
of the same harmonious" Democracy. The
only difference in the position of the two
organs is the slight one of locality. We sup
pose that the Union does not any more recog
nize superior authority in the Enquirer than
the Enquirer does in the Union. All Demo.
cratic sheets are generally so independent
You never find them waiting to see what the
Enquirer, or the Union, or the President,
say on any subject, before they venture to
open their mouths. An instance in point is
the bold and Independent stand taken by the
Washington Union on the Douglas question,
in which it does not hesitate fearlessly to differ
from the Enquirer, and to treat its opinions
very cavalierly. Such independence is truly
refreshing The only difficulty in our mind
is how they can be called harmonious" But
as this difficulty docs not seem to trouble them,
and as they still claim the title, we suppose it
is all right, and will continue to use it.
Our readers will see that the Union calls
Mr.. Douglas late speech ''the greatest 5lunder
Of his lye." The Enquirer calls it the
''6rightest page in his history" The
Enquirer calls his speech "a manly defence. -
The Union says that "Ais ranity orercame
his judgment" when he made it. We ask
the attention of our Democratic readers to Mr..
Buchanan's organs opinion of Mr.. Douglas ::
Mr.. DOUGLAS AT CHIcAGo-HE IS A DOUG
LAS MAN.-There was a time not long ago
when it was common to hear praises of the
ability, heroism and fidelity of the honorable
Senator from Illinois. He was favorite of
the great Democracy, and exhibited in defence
of the cause decided ingenuity and talent
The time has passed. We do not recollect
the laurels won by the Senator in the debates
of the last session. Much was expected of
him as he led off with grand flourish of
trumpets in opposition to his old friends; all
were disappointed in the results of that great
controversy. 1t was manifest Mr.. Douglas
old enemies, who burned him in effigy two
years before, and now his new friends, only
wished to use him to break up the Democracy,
not to build up Republicanism. They could
afford, however, to tlatter him, as the article
was cheap and easily bestowed. At length,
so we thought, Mr.. Senator Douglas came to
realize his true position before the country
He had abandoned great many friends, more
than there are in the whole Republican family.
He could scarcely have made good transac-
ton. He felt the loss of those who had sup
ported him and saw the difference between
that kind of friendship and what he was get
ting by supporting the Republicans. Hence,
lately, we have had mysterious givings out
that Mr.. Douglas would 60 home and again,
by bold declaration, re-unite himself with the
Democratic party.
We have at length the telegraphic report of
his speech at Chicago. 1t may be imperfect
in point of matter-it may not embrace all
Mr. Douglas said. We sincerely trust it is,
that much has been left out and much reported
which Mr.. Douglas did not say The latter
speech; for what is reported to have been
said will greatly astonish the country. Mr.
Douglas, we fear, has mistaken demonstra-
lion in his behalf in two or three cities for
popular support and confidence by the whole
country. He arraigns the Democratic party
If last winter, and declares that he and his
friends defeated and prostratcd it in the pas
sage of the English bill, which he and his
friends opposed and voted against! The
English bill was all wrong, Mr.. Douglas could
not endorse it; he voted against it; itbecame,
nevertheless, a law. That law then became a
triumph to Mr.. Douglas! There are some
things too deep for ordinary minds; and this
was never made clearer than in this report of
Mr.. Douglas speech. What was the object
If the Senator? Did he desire to set up for
himself on the small capital of two or three
public receptions? Has his vanity so over
come his judgment that he can for moment
suppose that nineteen -twentieths of the Dem
'cratic party are about to stultify themselves,
condemn their conduct last winter, and come
out now for that most Infamous of all abolition
measures, the Crittendcn amendment, which
MIR. Douglas now so warmly approves?
We say in all candor to the Illinois Senator
hat he never madea greater mistake 1t was
lis place to forget what passed last winter
He was interested in forgetting it. The
country was ready to recognize and endorse
his defective memory in this respect We
believe Mr.. Douglas himself really desired to
,bliterate the infinite blunders of the late
session. But he must vindicate his consist
,ncy. He must 60 down to his people and
show them that he is quite immaculate-that
he never made blunders; and in that act he |
committed the greatest blunder of his life