Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1858-11-19
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Democrats ono would suppose that thoy
consider the contest CT 1860 settled,
and that the "Littlo Giant" has
ouly TO march TO Washington and wait for
Mr.. Buchanan to lay down the sccptfc.-
The gunpowdcr ovations, however, have a
good deal Of the prematureuoss Of the AT
'lsutic Cable explosions, aud the fact that
Mr.. Douglas has after truly gigantic Of
fort obtained bare majority Of tho Lcgis-
lature of State that has heretofore given
him Overwhelming endorsements, is bazon-
cd into an importance Far beyond its real
import To Mr.. Douglas personally, il is
o proud triumph, for il was a hard fought
contest. But how the Democracy as
party arc to bc benefited by it, is far from
being clear. II has healed no divisions,
but has rather widncd those already exist
ing between the Sectional and tho Nation
al Democracy. .f.... --..,, t........
favor Mr.. Douglas has secured the Legisla-
ture and may be reelected to the United
States Senate, but tho popular verdict of
Illinois is against him. Upon the State
ticket and upon tho Legislative ticket tho
Republican majority is about five thousand,
and upon the Congressional ticket it is
some eight thousand. 1t is on such pop
ulsr record that tho exponent of popular
sovereignty seeks to retain his place. But
this is not all. Says the Missouri Democrat,
''the course Of Mr., Douglas now shows that
what Morris said to Smith was true-'he
resolved oppose Lecompton in order 10 save
himself at home 1t was no patriotic out
break, no inspired flash of genius and cour-
age; but simple calculation how best to
hoodwink the people of Illinois. Tho rm-
loosing, too, of tongues since tho election,
proves what tho Union intimated was the
fact, that prior to his departure from
Washington ho made his peace with Bu-
chanan and only broke the bargain subse-
quontly, when he found that it would beat
him to be in amity with the Administra-
ton. 1t was at Frceport that he put on
the mask Of FREQ Soil, and his pcrsonation
was so good that many thousands voted for
him, believing in the language of the Mis-
sour Republican that he was "as much an
anti-slavery man as Mr. Lincoln" Wo
thought then they would be cheated, we
think so still. Mr.. Douglas as Frco-soi-
er, can never be the nominee at Charleston,
and yet it is to Charleston that both Mr..
Douglas and his friends look for the con-
summation Of what they call his triumphs.
And it is herein the necessity arises that
will involve him in career Of equivocation,
of shuffiing, of contradiction, such as we
have predicted for him in the future. AL
ready the South the Enquirer, tho Delta,
and tho Republican have begun manufac-
turing his speeches into very passable
Southern doctrine, explaining away the lit
tic cccentrcitics Of the canvass as election
ecring lodges, and anchoring him safe and
fast alongside tho slave extension clauses Of
the Drcd Scott decision. From now, too,
until the National Convention meets, this
course will be continued by the nulliicrs-
undor tho vain and foolish hopc that the
people Of the free States will not detect his
back-sliding whilst tho people of the slave
States arc being mustered into his service.
But what arc tho signs of the times in his
behalfa Mr.. Seward has very aptly said in
n late speech that it will bc the duty hence
forth Of the friends of freedom to watch the
indications which give evidence Of intent to
bctray the cause, and what he has said is
only the expression of pcrvadng popular
thought. Mr.. Douglas triumh now con-
sists in nothing but the fact of having saved
himself from ruin in the general wreck of
tho proslaycry Democracy, and that by ia
king free soil ground. Let him DO classed
otherwise, but for moment, by his own
action, and he goes to keep Pierce, Bu-
chanan and the rest of the great defeated
company. To talk of his Presidential
chances, therefore, is idle. With Bright,
Sliden, Mason and the President to con
strain him 10 tho utmost requirements Of
The South before a nomination, with pop
ular defeat in his own State, running as an
ayowed free-soiler, to start with, and with
tho assurance that no other Democratic lea
der can carry his own State for himself
much less for Douglas, we think his pros
poets not worth discussing. Much stress
has been laid heretofore upon the fact that
Mr. Douglas had the popular heart This
consolation is now also dissipated. The re-
turns show that he has not touched tho en-
lhusiasm Of tho masses even in Illinois,
Thus we see the people are against him;
The politicians, arc for him; the politicians,
Rrs for him. But in the battle between peo-
pie and politicians, arc VIC wrong in saying
hat from tho aroused public spirit which IS
tho friends Of freedom in this
is evident that tho people
aust trismph in lss0s--Leooer. s.aca
slavery nnd England.
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