Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1858-10-14
Politics in Illinois.
Correspondence of the North American and Gazette

CHICAGO, October D, 1898.
The political warfare in Illinois wakes hol
ter and hotter 1t may be safely afletlged thai
American politics never developed so close anl
heated local contest, as the one now carriet
on in this State between Mr. lincoln and Sen
ator Douglas, as the Representatives of then
respective parties, Every inch Of ground. PFC
sun,ed to be doubtful, is contested with th'
d, energy Of desperation; and, however indiSposeG
a man may be to join either side, he canno'
e escape the influence of the pervHding excitc-
ment which permeates all classes and all places
Outside of the State, we are told the contest
is watched with the utmost interest. And this
Is not strange, for, whichever way the beam
falls, the effect upon the politics of the whole
country will lie very decisive.
rs Mr. Douglas is too good politician not to
know that, with him, It's question Of life
and death, and he is Sparing no effort and no
expense to make his election sure 1t is said
that his hberality has been so munifccnt, and
the price paid so high, for manufactured en-
thusasm, that he has been obliged to draw
largely upon his friends and even to mortgage
estates, so that his defeat will not only make
him politically, but legally a bankrupt. Bat
however this may be, if he is defeated, his re-
bclion against the discipline of the democratic
party will not soon be forgotten by his rivals;
but if successful, no man will occupy more
commanding position in that party, or stand
more directly in the line of succession to Mr..
Buchanan.
On the other hand, victory of the repub-
licanS over their great original opponent, and
the Illinois democracy, will give the party
prestige which cannot be resisted, and the bat
tie in 1860 will be half fought at the success
fol termination of the campaign in this State.
Both parties say they are confident of sue
cess but neither feels as much; though, after
careful examination of the whole field, | am
prepared to express my opinion that Lincoln
will win The Republican State Ticket will
be elected by large majority, but the poti-
cal complexion of the Legislature is in doubt,
from the fact that number Of the old Sena-
tors hold over, and from the fact that the
State has not been diStricted since 1916
Since that time the nothern and republican
sections Of the State have doubled in popuIa-
tioH, while the southern and democratic por-
tions have not increased more than fifty per
cent. Bnt the Republicans and Americans
have, when united. large majority in the
State, and the conservatism of Mr.. Lincoln
gives him the almost undivided support Of the
Americans, who have a controlling influence in
the central counties, where the real battle
ground lies. The Republicans are also indi-
reGtly assisted by the Administration demo
Gratis who though not numerous, are sufficient
ly influential to draw votes enough from Doug.
las to change the result in doubtful counties
Mr.. Buchanan has evidently set his heart on
the defeat of Senator Dougas, and he requires
of all place-hoderS a cordial support of his
policy. Mr. Davidson who has been recently
removed from his Office of IT, S. Marshal for
this district, was a clever amiable gentleman;
an excellent officer, popular with the lawyers,
and with all who had business with him But
he was half Buchanan and half Douglas, and
in an hour of weakness he appointed some
needy Douglas men as his deputies This ben
evolent act cost him his head The Admins
tration would not accept Of divided support
This case illustrates the policy of Mr.. Buchan-
an, and the difficulty of serving two masters
With all these elements of opposition to the
" Little Giant, his chances cannot be regard
ed as good as they might be He has it is
true, some supporters from the republicans but
they are very few. We were not quite so
willing to forget as some of our eastern friends
were to have us, how bitterly, up to last win
ter, he denounced US as "black republicans. ,
" disuniOnists," &c; how he stood by, in the
Senate chamber, and saw Mr. Sumner caned :;
how he justified aud defended the outrageS in
Karsas; and how, as has recently been assert
ed by and proved from the record, by Senator
Trumbull, he, (Douglas,) as chairman of the
Committee on Territories, struck ont from the
Toombs Kansas bill clause providing for
the submission of the constitution to the peo-
pie.
But enough of politics The election on
the first Tuesday in November will soon settle
the question between the contcndng parties
The important ejectment suit against the
Illinois Central Railroad Company, brought to
recover land on which their depot is located
in this city, is now being tried before the L.
s. Circuit Court, Justice Mclean presiding
The buildings and other improvements made
by the company have cost not less than one
million dollars, and the land in question is eS-
timated to be worth an equal amount Mr.
Mclean of Cincinatti, son of Justice Mclean.
is the managing lawyer for the plaintiff, and
Mr.. JOY of Detroit for the defendants The
result of the case depends upon question of
boundary, and the original channel Of the Chi
cago river, which has been changed by harbor
improvements made by the government Every
legal point III the ease has been contested with
great zeal by the counsel on both sides, but
they have all thus far been decided in favor of
the plaintiff. Bat however the case is decided
in this Court, it will he carried mp to the L.
S. Supreme Court, and, unless compromised is
not likely to be determined for years. The
land in question was bought by the company
of the U. s. Government, but the plaintiff
claims it under prior grant from the govern
ment.
n SAD ACcIDENT.-From the Republican
Banner we learn that a serious accident oc-
cured at the Ladies' Riding March on the
nj q 1 rL,I