Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1858-11-12
From the Boston Journal.
Douglas and Seward.

made Senators Douglas and Seward the
opposing Presidential candidates in 1860.
Perhaps it is not worth while to discuss
this matter at all; but, if we are to give
the least heed to it, we cannot help see
ing that the prospects of both of these
statesmen are subject to one very impor
tant deduction. We are now two years
from the next geat national struggle
time sufficient 10 make and mar host
of Presidential candidates. Let any pub
lie man of the present hour enjoy the
finest prospects, and let him try to pre-
serve them by the most favorable retire
ment from the dist of continuous contro
versy and the chances are that some
fayorite Of fortune, now little thought of,
would do the right thing in the right
time-or else do nothing while others
were making blunders-and carry all
before him. But both Mr.. Douglas and
Mr.. Sewardare in the very whirl of the
political currents, liable to be borne in
the wrong direction, so far as the popular
favor is Concerned, or to have their pres
ent glorie; gradually furnished and worn
away by .he mere force of long continu
ed exertDns. We wish that the Ieputa-
ton of our public men might rest on
some supr basis; but the experience of
the last wenty years is TOO palpable to
be forgotten.
In tuning TO the individual cases now
presented, we must note that enc Of
them-that of Mr.. Douglass-is eutire-
ly anomalous. He is the first Demo
cratic rebel that ever turned out victor
The authority of the party has for the
first time found more than its match with
in its own ranks. As Japan has both a
spiritual and a secular king, so the De-
mocracy have now an official and po-
tental head-one President who has ap-
pointed the office-holders, and the other
to whom they are principally looking for
orders and support. If this state could
last, Mr.. Douglas would be as sure Of
the Charleston Convention as he is re
ported to be of the Illinois legislature
But he has not purchased his recent vic
tory without wounds. In the first place
under the most favorable circumstances
such as can never recur, the State of IL
linniS has daclarnd- nen;rr-t him II -
reliable Republican State in 1861
Then, when Mr.. Douglass late speeche
come to be added to the rest of his record
there will be found strange gaps and in
consistencies, which will not bear the ma
tional ordeal, without breaking down ii
some part. He can be quoted on differ
ent sides. which is quite different from
being trusted in by several sides. If W
run through the late Presidential cam
paigns we shall see that the successful
men were those who expressed but fe,
and general views on the questions in
volved, and were JeA;ered to be men {
simple and dignifed personal character.
Harrison, Polk, Taylor and Pierce ev
IDENTITY answered to this character in til
; public estimation while the rise of ne,
questions during Mr.. Buchanan's al
; sence from the country placed him prat
tically in the same position. Now NJ
Douglas is political gladiator, accommC
d dating himselfsomewhat to circumstance
i but always fighting, and believed to
: not over particular in the choice of b
i weapons. Such a man is powerful
. self defense and in aid of his friends: bl
= he has not that elevated cast of chara
y ter to which the nation instinctivel
n though it may be mistakenly, attaches
self. These considerations are apa
ii from the fact that the Democracy of til
South have never yet forgiven a ms
i who failed them in a decisive hour.
> remains to be seen whether they W
make an exception in favor Of JUDI
d Douglas.
u The only new fact respecting Senat
l. Seward is, that he has carried New Yol
/ For our part, we have not doubted tn
the Empire State would surely pronoun
against the present National Admin
III tration, no matter whether the Repub
j. cans and Americans united, or not. v
cannot, therefore, attach much sioni
u canoe to this event in its bearings up
8 the future of Senator Seward. He stan
. precisely where he did before. The or
II qualification that we are aware of is to
found in his late speeches at Rochesl
Il and Rome, which, from their peculiar pl
e sentation of topics and liability to m
nc representation, rather than absolutely l
worthy sentiments, undoubtedly had
ne injurious influence upon the New Yo
ry election, and may have an injurious eff
o. upon his future. Senator Seward is {