Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1858-04-14

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Theodore Parker on Douglas.
From his speech IN the Massachusetts,
Represcntotjccs' Hall, Friday Zee
ming, J0'e"ary 20, 1853.
"a Northern Democrat enters on the
stage-an unwonted appearance. But
1t IS no infant phenomenon; no stripping,
who never appeared on any stage be-
fore, making his first essay by Yentur-
ing on an anti-sayery party. 1t is an
Old stock actor,-the Little Giant Of
many tragedy. Mr.. Douglas has
broken with the Administration; the
author Of the Kan>as-Nebraska act is
now und0ing his own work; the inven-
tor OF "SquaJttI Sovereignty" Tor, if
Cass be the inventor, Douglas has the
PATENT turns round and strikes the hund
that fed Tim with honors and applause.
lie has great personal powers Of work,
OF endurance, immense ability to talk;
all the arts Of sophistry are at his com
mand; adroit, cunning, far-sighted for
an American politician-no man. I
think, better understands the strategy
OF politics, and no man has been more
immoral in its use. He has long been
the leader Of the Northern Democracy.
and knows its instincts and it's ideas:
his hand is familiar with the strings
that moves the puppets Of his party
Amongst men not clerical, [ have heard
but one speaker lie with such exquisite
adroitness, and makes the worse ap-
pear the better reason. lie is q Sena-
tor. holding his place on important com
mittees; he is rich, in the prime of life,
ambitious Of power; he has abandoned
drunkenness, aud his native strength
returns to his stout frame once more
Let us not disguise it-no mere polite
ian i'll America can do the slave power
such harm.
But [ have No more confidence now
in Mr.. Douglas than II 1854. The ma
ture OF the man has not changed, nor
can it change; even his will is still the
same. No man has done us such harm.
You know his public measures, his pub
lie speeches-the newspapers report all
that; bat his frauds, his insolent de
meanor, his brow-beating and violence
towards the Republican Senators, YOU
do not know-only the actual specta-
tors understand such things. Do you
remember, that after Mr.. Sumner had
made his last great speech, Mr. Doug
las said-"Does the Senator want we
should kick him?' You have not for
got that when Brooks made the attack
upon Sumner, Douglas also was there.
and did not interfere to prevent CON
tinuance Of the blows. He also was a
part Of that outrage. The man has not
changed. 1fhe were a President, he
would do as Buchanan does,-onlv
more so. IF he was sure of his Senate
rial office for six years to come, I think
we would hear no more from him in
behalf Of Kansas. But his term ex-
pires i'll March ofnext year. He knows
he cannot be reelected, unless he
changes his course. So he alters his
measures, and professionally favors free
dom; not his principles, which are the
loaves and fishes Of power. | am sorry
to hear Republicans express their con
tidence in him, and give him praise
which adds nothing to such men as
Hale, Seward and Chase. I know it
is said 'any stone is good enough to
throw at dog" but this is a stone
which will scale in its flight, vecr off,
and finally hit which you mean not to
hurt, but defend. Yet it is unexpected
to find any individuality, Of conduct Or
opinion, in the party. 1t is pleasant to
see what train Of followers he has al
ready and to think that Democracy is
not quite dead among ''DemocratS.'-I
He is fighting against our foes-that is
an accident; it is not us he is fighting
for, but only for Stephen a. Douglas,
and, if he wins that battle, he cares
not who his allies are, nor who are bis
foes.
A Rich LETTER.-The principal of a