The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1858-09-03
is CHOICE BETWEEN THE TWO EVILS COM
.UISORY

earnestness which seems somewhat droll, the ques-
ton whether the election of Judge Douglas Mr..
Lincoln to the Senate from Illinois would be the
most injurious to the democratic party.
Humating such inquiry must be to every
democrat who retains sincere admiration for Judge
Douglas, it is yet surprising with what zeal many
of them enlist in the discussion What sad de.
cline in popular consideration for their favorite,
when it has become question whether his democra-
cy is any better than that of such man as Lincoln
He who twelve months ago admired leader
Of the democracy, whose fidelity to the cause was
esteemed equal TO any act of devotion, even political
martyrdom ITSELF whose talents, oratory, fidelity,
and services had ranked him as the great Commoner
in American politics, the tribune of the peoplenow
fallen to the same level with an obscure abolition
list lawyer in Illinois nsomnch that it has become
question of doubt whether his election or that Of
this competitor would be the least distasteul to the
democracy of the country Here, indeed, is fall
that argues no ordinary dereliction.
The fact that the extenuators of the senator's CON
duct find it necessary to discuss such problem at
ALL is an acknowledgment of the low place in public
estimation into which he has sunk. Zealously as
such question seems to be argued by his apollo
gists, we cannot help thinking that the question is
not worth arguing at all for when mans de-
mocracy gets into such base repute that it is
question whether it is any better than that of
the most rabid black-republican of the North
west, it is not worth any defence at all. We
see that Mr.. Reverdy johnson, Of Maryland, who
was himself democrat, has undertaken to
endorse the uncnrrcnt democracy of Mr. Douglas
but such endorsement Of such democracy win hard
ly prevent protest The plea, so current, and
urged with 30 much earnestness, that Judge Doug
lass democracy is at least better than Mr. Lincolns
is more damaging, we should think, than healing to
his reputation but it must be permitted TO polit-
clans of desperate fortunes, such as Mr.. Reverdy
Johnson to bolster those of Mr.. Douglas in their
way.
But Mr.. Johnson is not the only southern who
has become the apologst Of the Illinois senator.
Sundry democratic politicians and editors of that
section gravely publishing it their opin-
ion that the election Of Douglas would be decidedly
less distasteful to the party than that of Lincoln.
This southern presentation of the question strikes
us a curious one We believe that the entire demo-
cratic representation and press of the southern
States defended the Lecompton constitution and
advocated the admission Of Kansas under it, SEN
ator Douglas took the lead in denouncng this instr
ment as a afrand" q "monstrosity," "swndle,o and
other abominable things. He denounced its sup
porters the agents of fraud and of a swindle,
and dashed them with rhetoric thonged with insult
and opprobrious invective. His denunciations do
not seem to have left sting behind for some
of the most vehement southern advocates of the
g fraud" are the most Jealous apologsts Of
the man who lashes them for the part they had in
attempting its contamination. They wear the brand
Of swindIers' with exemplary patience, and lick the
hand that scourged them with meekness and affec-
ton remarkable in hot bloods of a southern cline
Besides, it is well known that the position and
opinions Of Judge Douglas and Governor Walker
have entirely harmonized on this subject from the
opening of the Lecompton controversy until the pres
ent moment and many of the very journals and pol
ticians Of the South who were unmeasured in their
denunciations of Gov. Walker last summer and who
still repudiae him political traitor and swindler
are nevertheless the vehement apologsts and extern
uators of Judge Douglass conduct. The crime which
they imputed to this gentleman last summer was
that of interfering the stump to induce the
vention of Kansas to submit their forthcoming con-
stitution to popular vote The crime of Judge Doug
las is the graver Of agitatng in Congress to re-
qure foreign interference in the domestic affairs OF
the Territory by compelling the local authorities to do
that contrary to their WILL which Walker sought TO
persuade them to do voluntarily. They denounced
Walker before the development Of his crime, and
apologize for Douglas after its commission, accompa
MED by insult aud foul imputations upon themselves
II Governor Walker were candidate for the Senate
from Pennsylvania in opposition to Simon Cameron,
would these southern politicians and journals mani
fest the same soliciude for has which they
do for that of Douglas and would those of them
who rebuke us for resenting the mputations which
the Illinois senator has put upon the entire demo-
cratic delegation and press Of the South, rebuke if
we resented them in Governor Walker
word here concerning ourselves. With every
disposition to overlook the faults Of Judgment
and errors of opinion which Judge Douglas has ex-
hibited on this subject of Lecompton, and without
a particle of personal iIl-wll towards him, we have
never been able TO excuse the insulting imputations
which he has cast with so reckless profuson upon
the democratic party, whose organ we are, Our
readers will bear witness to the forbearance with
which, for the sake of the past treated his apos
tacy during the session Of Congress and to the fact