American Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1855-1860, 1858-09-16
D0ngl,, Apd I'M, oppoptpl,,

DcusAaa Auu HIS Opponcutst
The New York Sun. strictly indspep-
dent newspaper. has the following excl
lent artscls Op" Douglas and bis opponents
which We read with sincete pleasure; and
it must be gratifyiagto to Mr.. Douglas that
those who owe no allegiance the party. vol
unfair ly come for ward At this hour and
speak in bis behalf when false friends have
no word for him:-TuledO Times.
1.-The contest in which Mr.. Douglas Is
engaged in Illinois has an interest and
bearing upon our national politics, faf
more extensive than attaches TO an ordi-
nary struggle for Senatorian nomination
There is a prinriple--a. great and most
important prin"iple--involvsd in the Hi
nois contest. or that principle Mr..
Douglas. BY the action Of his opponents
has been made The leading representative;
and IL he be stricken down by an unnatu.
rale pmbination Of Federal officers and Re-
publican politicians. bis defeat will be
proclamation to the people Of this Union
and to the world, that the most dangerous
course which an American representative
can pursue is to assert the sincerity ofhis
own convictions. aud maintain his consis-,
tency and bis Independence in the face of
central dictaIion and party intimida-
ton.
"But we are far from anticipating the
defeat Of Mr.. Douglas in Illinois. The
people whom he has so nobly represented
will not BE- guilty Of the baseness Of deser.
ting him at the bidding Of an envious ol.
igarchy or Of teing sedu"ed by the probes.
sions and promises Of an opposition who
'mmagine thathis downfall would open for
them an easy path to the possession OF the
Federal Government. Ii is not simply
his own battle which Senator Douglas is
fighting. 1t is the battle Of the whole
Union. II Illinois be lost. tine whole
North will soon be III the hands OF The
opposition; and every. man Of ordinary
discrimination must be amazed al the in
fatuatiou and the folly which urges thoss
who profess 10 have the interest Of the
Democracy in their car to strike hand,
with Che opponents Of Senator Douglas and
labor with them for his overthrow.
"But let them persevere ID their in
sane and suicidal course Their enimity
causes only disgust among the intelligen
and the very means VIII oh they have ia
ken to spill the availability Of Mr. Dougla
as the Presidential candidate of the De
mocracy. In 1860, are likely to make hin
: the only candidate whom the Charleston
; Convention Can nominate with any pros
pect Of success. Had tho Administration
recognized Mr.. Douglas, course on tn,
, Kansas question as but the legitimate ex
ercise OF representative independence, ant
: bad it wisely respected the united ac'iol
b of the Illinois delegation, and gracefull
t accorded them the right to vote as thei
convictions Of duty prompted, there woul
have been no ground for controversy, an
o Mr.. Douglas and his associates woul
have obtained no extraordinary distinclio
n or Importance in the party from the cours
which they had chosen to pursue.
1t "But the leaders Of llta Republican par
!, see the advantages which the warfare o
Senator Douglas by jealous aspirants Offer
e them for victory in the next Presidents
y election. They have heen so quick
detect that victory in Illinois now is wor
!. thy Of their mightiest efforts; and regard
Q ess Of every consideration but that {
o their own success, they are straining ever
10 nerve and resorting 10 every device
D. gain possession Of the last remaiuin
IS stronghold OF Democracy in the Mort
West. They lear only Douglss in II
a next National contest. and they thin
ID that il he can be- eaten now, the who
North will be theirs They know that
n he wins the present battle. be will be
80 tower Of strength to the Democracy, al
d that the party North and South will uni
IS on the eplalform which he mainlains II
present struggle in Illinois, Already Il
- most judcious Of the leading men of Il
@ south are convinced that the triumph
Mr.. Dougls offers the only hope OF mai
aS taiuins national party in opposition to
D. prepondetating sectional power, and the
is no question that the feelings OF evel
thin king Democrat ia the Norh is wit
1T him. His enemies have made him power
full, because in assailng him they assai
n cd principle which the people hav
e adopted as t Q only safe and just guide
the organisation aud admission Of ne
,r S,ates aH.in r.7.