St. Cloud Democrat. [volume] (Saint Cloud, Stearns County, Minn.) 1858-1866, 1860-09-13
time that Mr.. Douglas was ouch stau1ch
friend and advocate Of (his) Homestead

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friend aud advocate Of (hia) Homestead
principle, the Republican party was not
in existence. Why don't the Pioneer tell
us where Mr.. Douglas stands in 1850, in
stead Of, where he stood fifteen years. ago?
Eli? In 1889 he was in favor Of the
Wilmot proviso. A few years later he
wasn't. In 1850 Mr.. Douglas declared
that the Compromise restriction had .sbe
come canonized in the hearts of the Amer
ican people as a sacred thing, which no
ruthless hand would be reckless enough to
disturb" !" What did he say in speech the
other day? why, that his vas the "ruth-
less hand'' which removed that restriction.
The; Pioneer certainly has very ingen-
ious way of showing up Mr.. Douglas
position on the Homestead bill We find
no fault with Mr.. Douglas for introducing
a Homestead bill in the Senate; he did
we'll; but why has Mr.. Douglas Of late
years so changed in his advocacy and sup
port Of this measure Did he lend his
eloquent voice to secure the passage Of
Mr.: Grows Homestead Lii, o. the COM
promise bill introduced at the last session
Of Congress? No, not he. We know, and
the people know, something of the vas
cil!ating, shiftless course of Stephen A.
Douglas, and it will take finer logic than
That in the Ptonee, to undo what the great
squatter sovereign has done anaiss. ,,1:oa
As to the second paragraph, we admit
just what the Pioneer says. As our at
tention is especially directed to this point,
and more particularly to. the speech, made
by Mr.. Hamlin in the United States Sem
ate July 20th, 1854, in opposition to
Homestead bill, we will here remind the
editor that at that time, Hannibal Ham
lin, now the Republican candidate for
Vice President, was Democrat, and in
speaking against q (that) Homestead bill,
he was but true to the democratic doc
trine and party. OF this very important
fact we take it the Pioneer was ignorant.
Mr. Hanlin remained with the Democrat
ie party up to the 18th Of June, 1885,
On that day he rose in his place in the
Senate, and in speech reviewing the an
tccedents of the Democratic party, and
pointing out its .demoralizing tenets-a
speech characterized with vigor and power
he then and there renoanced his longer
connection with them. In this speech he
denounced Senator Iouglas for the promi-
nent part he had taken in the repeal of
the Missouri Compromise. Said Senator
Hamlin, 1.-The missouri Restriction is ab-
rogated. The portentious evils that were
predicted have followed, and are get fol-
loving, in his trail. It was done, sir, IN,
violation Of the pledges Of that party Nth
achich I hare al,oays acted and aoith
aotach 1have azroys voted."
We should like to quote further from
Mr.. Hamlin's speech, but refer the Pioneer
to the speech entire, which will be found
on page 200 of the new Political Text
! Book-a work Of great value, and which
VIC would recommend the editor to pur-
chase.
| So much for what the Pioneer has
shown. 1t is a gross libel upon the intel
ligence Of the people to assert that Mr..
Douglas is the onl y consistent friend and
supporter of the Homestead bill. It is
contemplate to attempt to misleaa the
public mind by perverting facts-distort-
ing the record for partisan purposes. We
have some respect for an honorable oppo-
nent, but the scheming, under-handed
plotting of a knave, we despise. The Re-
publican party is the only party pledged
to protect and preserve the rights of the
people. Our candidates stand upon a
platform which is as broad as it is compre-
hensive, and as liberal as it is wise and
just, in its provisions to all portions of the
Union. As opposed to the Democratic-
Douglas party, we are in favor of Home
stead bill, and both the record of Abraham
Lincoln and Hannibal Hamlin is as clear
on this subject as the MONDAY sun.
I-7ines.