The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1858-11-13
From toe Phladelphia Press.
The Latest but not the ast Lesson.


Our latest dispatches assure us that Ste.
ph.n A. Douglas has triumphcd in Illinois.
Never since the beginning Of this govern.
ment has any political contest excited SO
much the public expectation and solicituds
/ as that which was decided in Illinois on
: Tuesday last and this not merely because
/ of tho pIin~iples involved. but because of
I the characters Immediately interested. Tho
spectacle of the entire adIninistI .fion Of the
! fedra! government, with its vast patronage
OF hundred millions of dollars, with its
army of merchants and cxpectants, organi-
zc,l and rallied against one individual, stand
ing by the principles Of the constitution and
the principles and plednes Of the tencerst-
ic party, waa well calculated to arouse the
pro!oundest feelings of nen of all parties
and in all sections Of the Union. Even
those who NAV have differed from Judge
Douglas upon mere party questions we're in
spir.d in his behslf by the violent and ma
lisncnt course Of the f.dril administration,
while thos. who syinpatnized with him in
his great crusade against bad principle: Eel.
unbounded eNultation at the opportunity
thus presented ~ them to vindicat-, in him,
their Con-cirnteus convictions. The cam
pasn made by this extraordinary man has
. never been exce!icd, even by himself; and
he, to his credit be it spoken, has made more
extraordinary campaigns than any other
statesman in the Union, beginning with his
crea, struggle. more than twenty years ago,
when jus, em.rg ny into political life. Is
has fallen 70 his lot to take part in more
exciting csnvass.s than any pubic man Of
orr day. He it was who fought for tbs
Democratic party in 1893 and in 40; in Al
when the auueNa OF Texas vas in issue;
in ~, VIXEN the Mexican war loomed upon
the horizon in lSis whom Gen. GAGS was
the Democratic candidate; IN lc5h, when
the compromise measure become the Olive
branch Of peace to the whole Union, and yet
no message OF peace 20 him, (for he was COM
PEELED to return to hi. e~n home and con-
tend for these measures in the face OF an in
furiated multl.ude); in 1852; a. the adve-
cate of President Pierce; N 1854, when he
applied the doctrine Of Popular Sovereign
", asserted ia the ccmpromis measures; and
liua.ly, in lsJi, a. the heroic defender %
this sane glorious doctrine. I nd now, after
all these struggles, with a carrear Of unbro-
ken CONSISTENCY, without a blot upon his
political record, even when his adversaries
are compelled to stand forward and pay
tribUc To- his courage and to his character.
he has made an appeal to his own people ~
his own home, dua Il. las been sustaf"ed.--
VIC can imagine how the intelligence of his
vndicariou viii be received by the conce-va-
tive people oil the United States, North and
South. We can imagine how the gallan:
men who have stood fast and firm by the
doctliue Of Popular Severe gniy will hail it.
We can imagine how those who have wor-
shipped skeleton organizations and p---
chased candidates, viii tr-mb,s before it,
We can imagine how the mere politicians at
the Fctiral capital will STAND appalled, at tho
bayy uh
in the midst OF national distress, and panic,
and confusion have expended the moneys
OF the masses tor the purpose of prostratng
the tribune OF the people, will shrink
before this memorable decree of Illinois,
We can imagine too, how men, rloting IN tho
midst of insane AMI revolutionary theories,
have mistaken the popular denuncia,ion o!
Executive tyranny for approval OF these
theories. will read the significant lesson pro-
nOunced by the thousands who spoke at tho
ballot boxes IN Illinois on the Dad ef No
vernber. Eut while these things may be
conct iyed Of, rho caa realize the sensations
Of tie moral hero Of ths su5itme struggle;
Of the man who, after having le't the excl
ting, exacting, and wasting atrugge at the
Fedral capital, compelled to return to
his own home, there to fight out the
terrible battle begun at Washington;
,hore t6 renew and contend for principle,
which; instead OF saving him to his people
made 10y the servcnts 0! the people ell
ectcd by the Democratic party in 1886,
cause OF reproach and isnomity to MIN
Who can realize his feelings when he found
that the Jury to winch he had appealed had
pronounced significantly and overwhelming
in his .avors Had Judge Douglas been de-
fcatcd. the victory would have been with
him. Frustrated in this fight, he would havo
risen again tomorrow. Had Illinois rejec-
ted him on Tuesday last, she would have
been inspired by & sublime repentance to
elevate him at the earliest moment. But
when his efforts, perseveringiy and h:roi-
cally made, have been crowned with success,
that which the world might have called, in
the event Of defeat, insurrecton, became 4
just rerol,ltion. lie has won the prize
Has own people have pronounced in his be-
half, and he may we'll go before the country
for another verdict, which awaits him in tho
coming time, if he shall stand as steadily
true by the principle which thus far has
been his star, his stay, end his support.