The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1859-08-13
Douglas and the Presidency.

Douglas and the Presidency,
That observer of the signs Of the times,
who cannot discern from them the inevi-
table nomination of Stephen A. Douglas
by the Charleston Convention, must have
less than modicum of political sagacity.
If the political traders and rival aspirants
for the presidency had control the matter,
douglas would be dead enough bnt fortu-
nately his destiny is in Better hands. JEFF.
Davis, Wise, Slidell, Bright, and the whole
pack OF them, With the President and his
army OF office holders at their heels, may
below at and traduce him from one end
OF Inc Union to the other yet Stepen A.
Douglas can quietly look on and laugh at
their impotent rage. There is power be-
hind the throne greater than the throne
itself The PEOPLE have decrecd that
Douglas shall be the next President, and
care for the politicians? We hear much
talk about political leaders, but it is a
truth too little appreciated, that the people
oftener lead than they are led by the poll
apparent than now Every day we hear
of some new political leader who was sup
posed to be hostile to Douglas, announcing
| himself in his favor 1t is amazing how
keen scented these fellows are, and with
what sagacity they will strike Decline
for the flesh pots of office The following
from Forney's Philadelphia Press gives a
no less truthful than amusing account of
the manner in which the politicians are
changing their tune in reference to Judge
Donglas:
1t is astonishing what change has
come over this class of politicians in regard
to Douglas. One year ago he was as much
traduced by them as four years ago he was
traduced by the Abolitionists. Indeed,
the Administration papers seemed to be
mere reprints of the assaults upon Judge
| Douglas, after the passage of the Kansas
Nebraska bill in 1854 They called him
! Stephen 1r7,oM Douglas; proposed that he
should be burnt in efEigy; had him dra-
gooned in the Senate. and made him tar
get of every conceivable degree of defam-
alton, personal and political: and when he
went home to Illinois the whole pack were
let loose at his heels and filed the country
with their howls of derision and hatred
Where does Stephen \. Douglas stand to-
day? That is the question. Go with me
any fine morning to any of the popular re-
serts of this city, where politicians most
do congregate,' and you will be surprised
to hear into what sudden favor the Little
Giant has ACKNOWLEDGEMENT q delightful
/ availability he has become-how vigor-
Gus in health he is-how fortunate in al
his personal vcntures-how strong with
the people-how true to the Southland
what a shame it is to say that he ever in
tended to join the Republicans, or leave
the Democratic party! If he passes along
our streets he is the object, not merely Of
the attention and admiration, but of obse-
quious difference. His prestige begins to be
felt even in the official snuggeres, and
those keen-scented and sharp-carcd place
men,, whose song from morning till night
Is, Let who Will be President / will be Vi
car of Bray, have dropped their venomous
and rayenOus pens, have ceased their
anonymous attacks upon Mr. Douglas, in
distant and starving newspapers, and no
doubt are preparing for the future by stab
/ bing the Administration in the back,
. which. yesterday, they were only too glad
to serve. But such is life'-and such are
| politics. Other signs are multiplying
Even South Carolina begins TO thrill at the
name OF Douglas; Tennessee, which re
/ sponded so earnestly 10 him three years
ago, at Cincinnati, is getting ready To
! speak: and sleepy old North Carolina the
! Rip Van Wrinkle State opens her eyes
| through the Raleigh Standard, and viii pre-
/ sently begin to claim Douglas as sort of
adopted son. McGoffin. the Democratic
! candidate for Governor in kentucky );
! Hunter the most formidable man in Nir-
/ ginia after Gov. Wise; James c. Jones (the
great popular orator in Tennessee;) Henry
S Foote (the Marion OF the Union party
in Mississippi;) Pease, in Texas; Soule, i'll
Louisiana; John Forsythe, of Alabama, are
all putting on their armor to fight for
Douglas az Charleston next year Said |
not rightly, the other day, that he was
the man of destiny? After Evelyn, in the
play, became the heir of great estate, he
turned around to his congratulating friends
who had previously refused to advance him
ten pounds, and made. them blush for
shame, when, in the midst Of his affiuence
he repeated his request. Who will not
lend Judge Douglas ten pounds now?