Weekly American. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1858-1858, 1858-01-09
DOUGLAS AND DEMOCRACY.

"Mr Douglas deserves the thanks of the
nation. He has Just rendered service to the
country which settles conclusiyely his claim
to position among the venerated patriots and
philanthropists of the land. He has given us
something new to talk about The Indian
Mutiny has become wearisome since the fall of
Delhi the Mormon trouble has not yet burst
through the crust of uncertainty and become
that frightful red flower of rebellion, which
some predict, and many fear it will be; the
panic has become panic-stricken, and fled. In
fact, all the old sensation events have become
threadbare and we were beginning to find our
selves hungering for fresh novelty, when the
physically dwarfsh, but intellectually gigantic
Senator from the Sucker State magnanmously
interposed to rescue us from the listless apathy
into which we were relapsing for want of some
thing to interest us. There are few spectacles
more Accordingly interesting than conflict of
great forces, and when The Senator from Hi
nois stood up in the Senate Chamber to demur
to certain sentiments in the Presidents Mes
sage, the eyes of the nation instnctively turned
to the spot to witness an exertion Of all that
wonderful strength the supposed possession of
which has earned for him the title of the
"Giant." Democracy is mighty force. Doug
las is mighty force. The conflict of two
had something of the fearful sublimity which
attached to one of those gladiatorial death COM
bats, in the Coliseum wherewith the old Ro-
mans were wont to regale themselves.
The lllinoisan is putting forth all his powers.
Never before did his physical vigor, his I'M
daunted courage and his wondrous controver-
sial abilities shine forth more brilliantly than
in this mighty struggle With admirable
adrotness he fortifes his position by quoting
the words of the President himself, thus forcing
those who shoot at him to shoot through the
person of poor Mr.. Buchanan With unshrink-
ing boldness he leaves no attack on himself or
his position unreplied to, ever responding with
promptness and power which makes him
match for all his opponents. ..
With spirit uncowed by the frowns of
authority, or by the GOODNESS of former friends
he sticks to his place in the party tears to
atoms the pigmy Biglcrs and Greens detached
to worry him, and mercilessly denounces the
gang of hireling scribblers employed to create
prejudice against him throughout the coun-
try. His work is beginning to tell. Already
has a Northern Democrat in the House, led off
in speech in opposition to the President
Other Northern Democrats are prepared to fol-
low, and one Southern Democrat, (Mr. Jewelt,
of Kentucky has publicly ayowed his coinci-
denSs with the Senator from Illinois.
1t is little singular that with all the noise
created in the Senate by the Kansas question,
not single one Of the big guns of the South
has yet spoken in opposition to Douglas. Big
Ter, Northern Democrat, and Green, a Mis-
souri, Democrat, neither of whom possesses
any influence, have spoken, indeed, but Hun
ter, Mason, Toombs, Davis, Slidel Benjamin
and the great leaders of the Southern Demo
cracy, have been warily silent. Conscious that
Douglas must ultimately triumph, they have
discreetly avoided placing themselves in an at
titude that would involve them in the coming
defeat ST. Louis Ereniag Nems.