Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1860-09-07
Douglas Pitches into Breckin-
--a ridge.

| kA"9os
Centuries ago, at one time during thi
famous pilgrimage, while the descendants {
Abraham were marching towards the recover
of the ancient Heritage Of their fathers fror
!. the Border Ruffians of Canaan, an over
whelming host of the enemy met them IL
their way. The overpowering numbers
the foe threatened, if not to annihilat z, mem
at least to arrest and drive them back far from
the object of their destination, and to indeii
nitely postpone the liberation of the Promised
Land from it's barbarian masters. On The
eve of the momentous battle which was te
decide the future destinies of that country
and of the world when all hope was shut off,
and the nameless terror, which sometimes
falls upon armies about to be defeated, was
seizing the hearts Of IsraePs chosen men-the
strange order came to them from their Great
Commander to stand still at their posts, and
look on at the conflict about to commence.
Imagination views their surrounded columns
standing at a halt, with bows unstrung and
swords undrawn, awe-struck with fear and
doubt, defenseless and unarrayed for battle,
while the brstling spears and rolling chariots
of unnumbered hosts from all sides, over hill,
up dell, and through the forests, are coming
down upon the devoted band like resistless
tempest. When lol the advancing columns
divide, and, facing each other, charge with all
the fury of their first onslaught upon their
own comrades and allies, and, when this
wonderful strife has ragged till both columns
turn and fly from each others fury, the hosts
of Israel charge upon the disordered ranks of
both, and the sha les of night fall upon the
flying hosts OF the enemy, trampled down and
broken, lar and wide, like the branches and
leaves of forest felled and scattered before
the hurricane. .7 R7'
Something like the position of the children
of the ancient Abraham, in this battle, is the
position of the hosts whom the modern
Abraham leads Four years ago, it seemed
impossible to break the impregnable front
which the united Democracy Of the North
and South presented on the slavery question.
Now, that very nrepressible conflict, whose
predicted coming then excited their triumph
ant sneers, has, to their own irrepressible
establishment, seized hold of their vast hosts,
like some paguing miracle, and has turned
them one against another, while the armies OF
freedom have but to look on in wonder at the
fury and the strangeness of the contest
We are perfectly impartial in our sympa-
thies. We would Just as gladly see one whip
as the other We hope that each one will
give the other the best drubbing in its power.
We shall keep . fair look out in the battle,
and report its prominent features as they
occur. The most remarkable one nowis Mr..
Douglas conduct. He is going to "stump"
the Union for himself as Presidential course
never pursued before. This is bringing Mr..
Breckenridge out, and he is to make great
speech in reply to Mr. Douglas, in few days.
The canvass is fast assuming very personal
shape, and we ;sil not be surprised, in few
weeks, to see the wonderful spectacle pre-
scented to the American people Of two proml-
nent Presidential candidates taking the stump
for themselves, and INDUCING in the most
virulent inyective and abuse towards each
other.
Mr.. Douglas has done what he could to
commence the scene, by the following personal
hit at Breckenridge, in his late speech at
Norfolk:
'Lincoln mas no hope of being elected except
through the efforts Of the ISecessionists, who
haze divided the Democratic party, supposlng
that Breckenridge could carry every Southern
State, though it aaoao seems he is not going to
carry single one By the people. Still, by
dividing the North, he gives every one OF the
States to Lincoln, thus allowing him to be
elected by the popular vote. Why, what was
the true aspect of the contest before the
secession? Lincoln had no show whatever
for more than two States till the Breckenridge
division took place, and I aoould hare beaten
hina in eresy State bit Vermont and Aiassa-
cAusetts." .. . ...