New-York daily tribune., 1858-07-12
ILLINOIS POLITICS.
of The N. Y. Tribune


pied SO conspicuous position in the eyes of the
An eric, An people as in 1853. Whatever sminence
,be may have gained agricultural region of
extraordinary fertility aud marvellous growth, the
" Empire State Of the West Row, for the first
time finds herself the arbitess of the nstions des
tiny, shspiIg the po itcal course of the country,
perhaps for many coming years. The eyes OF the
ProSlavery party are fixed upon her Democratic
divisions eager to discern the result of the Douglas
schsm 50 dangerous to success IN lS6O. The lovers
of liberty are not less anxious that State glori'
rious in other respects, should exat herself in de-
clarDg herself neither adverse nor neutral, but
friend to Free Labor and the nalienable Rights of
Man.
The forces are musterlng
l. The Douglas Democrats met 10 convention at
Springfield in April, to the number OF 500 or 600,
in large and rather enthusiastic numbers, and noml-
mated A. C.. French of st. Clair County, an ex-GOv-
ernOr for Superintendent of Public Instruction, aud
VIM. B. Fondey of Sangamon for State Treasurer.
The first named gentleman s, perhaps, better TEL
low than scholar. The latter is probably CON-
petent the majority of the various nominees. 1t
was remarked by outsiders at this Convention,
first, that lthe leading men OF the party committed
themselves as little as possible, and LETT the speak
ing TO minor men secondly, that resolution eX-
pressing regret at Mr.. Buchanans Illinois proscrlp-
tion was tabled instanter and that the resolutions
lacked the backbone of their leader fatal mistake.
An uncOmpromsiDg stand against Dir. buchanan,
resoutely taken, would have drawn OIL great num-
bers of mild Republicans. The occasion was lost.
3 The Buchanan Democrats in number 30, and
representing about half of the hundred counties
in our State. met in convention at the same place
on the 9Th Of June, and nominated John D0ughcrty
of Union and John Reynolds OF st. Clair, for
Treasurer and School Superintendent. This Con-
yention was small but was said to be firm and un-
compromising in its speeches and resolutions.
Made I'D in great part of POstmasters and other re
cpients of Executive bounty, its elements were no.
A little corrupt aud its demands on the neghborlng
drinking shops immense. Its nominees are OH
Democrats untitled for office.
3. The Republicans met on the 10th OF June, IN
numbers 400 or 800 being over double the num-
ber called, and nearly double the number in at end
ance at both the other Conventions; nearly all the
counties were represented Even JOhnsen which,
in 1856, gave Buchanan l, "A votes and Fremont
2 was repre- sented by of the two fearless Ere
monters-H. NJ. Ridenhower. james Miller OF
Mclean and N. Bateman of Morgan we're nomlnat-
ed for Treasurer and School Superlntendent-the
former being the present incumbent, the latter
new man. and both good men for their places The
platform of prime Piles was exceedingly well received,
and gives very general satisfaction 1t has already
appeared in your columns as well as the speech OIL
Lincoln. than which / have heard nothing more
compact, clear and forcible
We hear of nominations made, believe, by an
Executive Committee Of the American party, wnich
has all organ at Springfield, the only one IN the
State. James Miller of Mclean and Francis
Springer of Sanganon are their nominees. THIS
ticket you will perceive. laps upon the Republican.
No convention, | suppose, will be held by the
Americans and their vote will be divided among the
other parties The majority will 60 with the Re
pubhcsns. Some will support Douglas as the most
fitting present exponent of conservative prlncl'
pies. A very few will land on the other side of the
political Jordan in the Pro-Slavery Zion oi Dir.
Buchanan
Such being the present condition of parties, pro-
ceed now 10 state the chances of success.
The difficulties that the Republicans have to con-
tend against are as follows:
/ The apportionment of the State, which, being
that Of 1854 gives the southern and mostly Demo-
cratic counties larger representation ID the Legs
lsture than their increase OF population entitled
them to in 1857, when an unfair ApPortionment bill
was got up by our Democratic Legislature, ana
vetoed by our Republican Governor. thus John
son and Williamson Counties in Egypt send one
representative to IA, 900 inhabitants, while Cook
sends one TO 26, 900 from the north.
q The extraordinary amount of prejudice which
wholesale misrepresentation has produced among
the Southern-born of her population, especially IN
Southern Illinois Egyptian Republicans say that
10 have men Ol tncI stamp ooout sucm sne! nus'
import or RAISE them.
On the other hand, there is lauch to encourage
effort. aside from the consciousness of just cause.
|. There is feeling Of growing strength eylnced
by the immense gathering at Springfield, which rem
dered certain the previous belief that the friends OF
free principles were III a decided majority IN THIS
State. and insured the success of our State ticket
p Our opponents are disorganlzed-many fol-
lowing a man without principles, the remainder
bad principles without men. With reither oi these
will true men 60. .
The success of the State ticket, have said, Is
certain. for every Republican vote counts toward
its election. Whether We can elect Republican
Legislature is more doubtful under the existing aP-
Dor ionment The elections in few Of the nearIy
balanced central counties will decide the quesuoa
The Republicans feel that in the last extremity the
two wings of the Democracy will unite and ~iil ex-
ert themselves to get clean msjority Irrespective
Of either.
The feeling in favor Of Douglas, expressed ~
Eastern papers, finds no response among tue he
publicaps Of Illinois. We know hun to be Douglas
! still, ambitious, unscupulous, desperate; and our
votes shall not be trosttuted in his support while
Abraham Lincoln, the hatboatman, 10 on our free
coil. We regret that many, whose Free state SYM
psthies have been awakened BY his denuncstion.
should lapse into slxyish soth anew st TIE downfall