Nebraska advertiser., 1858-08-19
The Current Of Popular opinion.

III vi IUpuIdE OpAUIUHs
1t is now a week since that the people
of this city turned out en- mGSse to meet the
Hon. Stephen A. Douglas, and WELDON
him again to his home. The public sent
iment has had time to settle, to aba;e
something of It's warmth for our distin-
guished fellow-citizen, if that public senti-
ment was to settle or abate. The great
speech delivered on that occasion has been
answered, $50 the friends of Lincoln affect
to think, } and both productions have been
read. A Republican convention has been
held, also, in this city, since the reception,
and Republican managers from all parts
of the state have been here. Every thing
has been done that it has lain in the pow
or of the opposite to do, to break the effect
upon the public mind of the grand de-
monstration given in honor of Senator
Douglas on the 9th inst; and, we repeat,
if the sentiment of our people was to
change from enthusiastic admiration Of
Senator Douglas to indifference towards
hint is time that change was wrought.
But how is it!
We assert that from the moment the
first gun Numbered the announcement of
Douglas is come :" the enthusiasm for
him among the people of Chicago has IN
creased in intensity down to the time of
the present writing. 1t would be of no
use to attempt to say anything with regard
to the demonstration which met the eyes
and ears of the Senator as he came into
the city. We have twice frankly aC-
knowledged our inability to do Justice on
paper to that indescribable scene. BUTT
was a generous and splendid tribute of es-
TEEN and praise, on the part of the people,
which they Will never forget-and a til
umph on the part of Senator Douglas,
which few men In America have ever been
permitted to enjoy. We must not over
look the full significance of that ovation.
Senator Douglas himself desires that it be
not overlooked; and he so expressed it in
his speech: In his noble exordium he
says:
This vast sea Of human faces indicates
how deep an interest is felt by our people
IN the great questions which agitate the
public mind and which underlie the foun-
datlonS of our free institutions. A recep-
ton like this, SO great in numbers that
10 human voice can be heard to its count
less thOusands-so enthusiastic that no
one individual can be the object of such
enthusiasm-clearly shows that there is
some great principle which sinks deep in
the heart of the masses, and involves the
rights and the liberties of a whole peo-
pie, that has brought you together with
a unanimity and a cordiality never before
excelled, if, indeed, equally on any occa-
sion. | have not the vanity to believe
that 1t Is any personal compliment to me-"
That was as eloquently spoken as nobIy
conceived and though innunerable voices
broke from that vast sea of human
faces" declaring hat one man was the
sole object of that demonstration, and
that that man was Douglas, that he de-
served it, &c; yet 1t was the great prln-
ciple of popular sovereignty, which is so
intimately connected with his name, and
which has given dignity and honor to his
efforts in the public service, that, together
with his personal worth and popularity,
called that multitude out. Had it been
otherwise, the enthusiasm must have sub
sided gradually, before this; for no man
was ever able, it is not likely that any
man ever will be able to awaken enthu-
siasm in the masses, to the degree and
height we witnessed in Chicago on the
evening on the 9th, and keep it thus
warm and high without the aid of a great
principle or memorable exploits in behalf
of the people. Both these aids Senator
Douglas eminently possesses. There is
no principle more deeply imbedded n the
popular heart than that of popular sover-
eighty; and no man combines more of
those personal qualities which adorn and
commend the true statesman. These
things fully explain how it is hat the en-
thusiasm of the people of Chicago, for
Douglas and his cause has not abated in
any degree or particular. The popular
judgment is converted to the principle no
less than to the man. And we predict,
with the utmost confidence, that before
the day of election shall have been reach
ed, a decided majority of the citizens of
Chicago will be hearty in support of Ste
phen A. Douglas for the United States
States.-ChicdgO Times.
Senator Douglas Speech-COm.