The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-03-15
Position and Prospects OF Mr.. Senator
Douglas.

Some ten or fifteen years ago small, open
vessel, with a collection of live stock on board,
Including o bear, several geese, and some pigs,
was turned loose from Navy Island to run the
gauntlet of the fearful main rapids and falls of
Niagara. large crowd of spectators lined
the Canadian shore to witness the results of the
cruel but interesting experiment. The vessel
at first sailed as smoothly over the CLASSY
stream as clipper before a light breeze upon a
summer sea then its speed increased to that of
a ship flying before strong gale; then it began
to beat about, up and down, hither and thither,
among the rapids, catching here momentarily
upon a rock, whirled round by violent eddy
there, and then dashing forward moment, to
be suddenly wbirled about again, bow, side or
stern foremost, until, broadside on, it made the
dreadful plunge, and disappeared forever. With
the starting Of the vessel the sagacious bear
proceeded to take his observations with its en-
trance into the rapids; he saw that it was no
place for him, and 50 plunging overheard, he
bravely pulled for the land, and made it. The
geese, too, remained on the qn viUe; and as their
unreliable craft went down into the gulf of
oblivion, they tapped their ample wings and
went up, with a scream of derision to the Cana
dian hills. The pigs went down, and we're seen
no more
This incident affords a striking illustration
Of the democratic anti-Lecompton craft aboard
Of which we find Mr.. Senator Douglas, Gov.
Wise, Ex'Gov. Walker, Col. Forney, and their
party associates, among the rapids. Which of
them will play the part of the sagacious bear,
which the geese, and which the risky policy of
the silly pigs, we have yet to see; but from
present appearances, they will all go down
together into the political abyss of Niagara,
never to rise again.
II is reported that Mr.. Douglas will shortly
retire from the Senate, and proceed to stump
the State Of Illinois, TO make good-as the first
essential for the futnre--his reelection TO the
Senate, in view of the approaching end of his
present term. We think the report entitled to
credit, inasmuch as Mr.. Douglas has never been
the man to neglect the main chance. lie will.
therefore. probably 90 home after the disposal
Of the Kansas question-put everything in
order, If he can, for his Senatorial reelection,
and then set to work for the campaign of 1860.
Nor can we discover from bis present position.
how he is to play any other part in that
momentous battle than the part of Birney in
1874, of Van Buren, in lsis and of Fillmore in
1866, as the chief of third patty, holding the
balance Of power, but without tM power to turn
il to any personal advantage.
The present position Of Mr.. Douglas may be
ikened more particularly to that of Martin Van
Buren, In 1874, when he was thrown overheard
by the democracy at Baltimore. Van Buren,
however, consented TO an armistcein 1874, in the
hope of another nomination in ls4s But, then,
with the nomination Of Gen. Cas-, the Little Ma
gician" declared open war upon the party, set
himself up az the free soil Buffalo platform can
didate, and carried of half the democracy of
this State with him. by which detection the
State was lost to Cass and General Tay
lor was elected. The wilmot proviso, sprung
upon the democracy in Congress in 1876. had
ripensd into great sectional agitation in Isis,
20 that Van Buren,, with bis Buffalo platform of
"no more slave Territories" mo more slave
States, was possessed Of the necessary Northern
capital for the achievement of his great revenge
Mr.. Douglas is not in position TO attempt
anything greater in 1860 than the secondary
work Of a disappointed ambition He cannot
expect even in full and complete union with
the republicans, to supersede all the great guns
of that party, as its nominee for the succession.
He must consent, in going over TO the rcpubli-
cane, to be absorbed in the ranks, at least for
campaign or 20, before be can hope to rise to
the distinction Of leader. lie will therefore,
prefer the more prominent position Of the leader
Of third party welding the balance Of power,
To this end he seems to be deliberately directing