The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1858-10-01

THE CONTEST IN ILLINOIS.
Cnrcaoo, Sept, ~, 1858.
10 the Editors of the Union

10 the Editors of the UatoR.
see that the challenge to the republican party in this
State, published by order of the national democratic
State central committee to joint discussion Of the prn-
cples held by each party respectively and especially
with reference to the decision of the Supreme Court of
the United States in the of bred Scott has been
cepted by the former party and as soon as the arrange
ments made for initiation of the discussion the
contestants will enter the field This is sensible 1t is
worthy Of the great democratic party thus to offer before
the people of this sovereign State exposition Of the
principles which has always entertained and defended
If party bases its claim to popular favor upon the in
tegty of its political enets and their practical adapta
bility to government public discussion is Of the
safest to establish in the popular mind the fact
claimed by it. And fairly under way there will be
departing from 1t If the party seek in the issue the
triumph of honest principles political necessity in
reference to popular government But how do it
between Lincoln and Dougas In oil the joint debates
inaugurated by Douglas himself thus far find
principles evolved touching the theory of government
idea brought forward either commendabe for its
originality for any suggestive force The debates
purely personal with the exception of here and there
paragraph two referring TO the great principles main
tanned by the party party. TO those outside the
State this elipioal kind of debating must appear
very strange. In the heat and turmoil Of the con-
test at home this feature does not strike with
much force but it is nevertheless true that the per-
sona nature of the debates and the deliberate abandon
ment of the object which it stated the joint discus
sions intended to promotethe triumph of princi-
pies such damaged the reputation of Douglas
for great ability statesman, which his worshppers
believed he possessed in eminent degree They
beginning to realize that he is Of cmagogue than
anything else reputation of that kind is always fatal
to great ambition Douglas is fast earning it among
his own followers and in truth, has done within
the last three months to damage himself if he be
returned to the Senate than he repair In lifetime
He is doing bis enemies good service against himself
let him alone.
From Lincoln expect exposition Of principles
for the that the republican party hold prnci
pies What they profess to hold Is nothing more than
bundle of negatons adapted simply to sectional preju-
dces, based upon antagonism to democratic rule
negative declarations of great democratic principles af
frmed and reafirmed in great conventions. Many
honest and consistent democrats believed that therefore,
Douglas could easily vanquish Lincoln in open debate
upon the great issue between the two contendng parties
and that notwithstanding the position in which he had
placed himself by his own act, towards the adminstr
tion he would trumphantly redeem himself and yind
cate the great principles Of the party which lie processes
to venerate and defend. But he has niserably
failed to do either. The assaults Of the republican
press upon the integrity of the administration he
seems regard as arguments In favor of his own re-eec
ton; and oil his eoquence is directed to vindcatio
and commentator Of his course in public life and
classification Of my principles - to suit the different
geographical sections Of the State in which he speaks
Men are beginning to believeeven his blindest wor
shippcrs-that he is proving himself the demagogue
to be doubted than trusted II democratic principles
are best adapted to popular government in all its pro-
gresve phases and known by theory and experiment to
be so, Douglas could have over-matched Lincoln who
though good debater holds in with his party
distinct positive principles to defend The democratic
voters Of this State awakening to Of the peril
to which the interest Of the party would be exposed in
Douglass reelection and sensible willing to
throw him overheard for the sake of the old ship Thus
there Is strong undercurrent setting against him.
Repubcanism will be vanqushcd in this State but not
by Stephen A. Douglas The hope lies with the national
democracy, who fighting for the triumph of veneratcd
principles What Douglas loses the republicans do not
gain The hosts of the true democracy swelling
numbers by daily accessons TO their ranks and mark
my prediction the result Of the contest will be most
gratifying to the friends Of tho administration every
where. Stephen A. Douglas is bound to be defeated and
this already conceded by many of his friends who have
hitherto considered him invncbIe
OBSERVER.