The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1858-10-07
The Difference between tine
Democratic md the RePuDli.
can Parties.

"I have been requested,' said Mr.. Lincoln
80 give a consise statement, as l understand
II, Of the difference betAeen the Democratic
and the Republican parties, on the leading is
sues Of this campaign. The question has JUS
been put to me by gentleman whom | do not
know, do not even know whether he is .
Friend Of mine or supporter Of Judge Doug
las in this contest, nor does that make any diff
ference. His question is pertinent one, and,
though It has not been asked me anywhere in
The State before, am very glad that my atteu
tion has been called to it to day. Lest should
forget It, Twill give you my answer befoer pro-
ceeding with the line Of argument have mark
cd out for this discussion.
"The difference between the Republican and
the Democratic parties on the leading issues
of this contest, as understand it, is, that the
former consider slavery moral, social and po-
lit,cal wrong, while the latter do not consider
1t either moral, social, or political wrong; and
the action of each, as respects the growth of
the country and the expansion Of our popula-
ton is squared to meet these views. will
not allegs that the Democratic party consi6ei
slavery morally, socially and politically right
thou0., their tendency to that view has, in my
opinion, been constant and unmistakable for
the past five years. prefer to take, as the
accepted maxim Of the party, the idea put
forth by Judge Douglas, that he don't care
whether slavery is voted down or voted up.
ain qrite willing to believe that many Dem
ocrats would prefer that slavery be always
voted down, and am sure that some Prefer
that it be always ,qoted up; but have a right
insist that their &C ton, especially il i be
their constant and nmvarying action, Shall de-
termine their ideas and preferences on tie sub
iect. Every measure Of the Democratic party
Of late years, bearing directly or indirectly on
the slavery question. has correspondent with
this notion of utter indifference whether slave
nv or freedom shall outrun in the race OF Elm:
pire across to the Pacl6c--every measure, Isay
up to the bred Scot decision, where, il seems
., me- the idea Is boldly suggested that slavery
= better han Freedom. The Republican party
on the contrary. hold that this government was
Instituted to secure the blessings Of freedom,
and that slavery is an unqualified evil to the
negro, to the white man, to the soil, and to the
State. Regarding it an evil, they " i'll not mo-
Jest II in the States where il exists; they will
not overlook the constitutional guards which
our forefathers have glazed around it; they will
do nothing which will give proper offence to
those who hold slaves by legal sanction; but
they will use every constitutional method to
prevent the evil from becoming larger and in
vo!ving more negroes, more white men, more
soil, and more States in its deplorabie conse-
quences- They will. il possibles place 1T where
tie pnblic mind may rest in the belief that it
!, in course Of ultimate peaceable extinction,
in Gods own good time. And to this end they
will, il possible, restore the government to the
policy Of the fathers, the policy Of pr serving
the new Territories from the baneful influence
Of human bondage. as the Northwestern Ter
ritories were sought 20 be preserved by the Or
dinance Of 1877 and the Compromise Act of
1890. They will oppose, in all its length and
bredth, the modern Democratic idea that slave
~ is q. good as freedom, and ought to have
r Dom for expansion all over the continent, If
people could be found to carryit All, or very
nearly all Of Judge Douglas arguments about
Popular Sovereignty, a. he calls it, are Logical
Il yon admit that slavery is a. good and as
right - freedom; and not one is worth rush
il you deny it. This is the difference, as un-
derstand it, between the Republican and Dem
ocratic parties, and ask the gentleman, and
I'll of you, whether his question is not salts
factory answered. lCries Of eyes, yes."]
PooR INDRED.-There is piece OF quiet bu:
telling aarca am In the following