The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1860-04-13
Moral Position Of Douglas.

One of the most eloquent men Of the west is
Carl Schurz of wisconsin-an educated, whole
souled, talented German, whose liberal views
made him an object of suspicion ut home. His
recent speech at Springfield is so truthful and
forciblc that we cannot refrain from giving our
readers the following extract upon the position
ofstephcn A. Douglas:
But one thing he does tell you, do not
care pheiher siarery is roted up or dopn ~
There is, then, human heart that does not
care Sir, look over this broad land where
the struggle has ragged for years and years
and across the two oceans, and around the
globe, to the point where the far west meets the
far east; over the teeming countries where the
cradle of mankind stood; and over the work.
shops Of civilization in Europe, and those mys-
teriuus regions under the tropical sun, when
have not emerged yet from the night OF par
bursm to the daylight Of civilized liie; anu
then tell me how many hearts do you hnu !ha.
do not trenible with mortal anguish OF exuiIaht
Joy ms the scales go up or down LOOK over
the history of the world from the time when the
infant mankind felt in its heart the trst throo-
bing ofaspirinC dignity. down 10 our aays
when the rights of man have at last found
bold and powerful champion IN great anu
mighty republic where 10 the page !hat ID
NOT spottel with blood and tears shed I'm that
all.absorbinc struggle! Where the chapter
that does not tell Ia es Of jubilant triumph or
heart-broken distress as the scales OF freedom
or slavery went up or down! LOUD applause
But to-day, in The midst OF the nineteenth Gen,
fury, in republic whose programmes WIS lan'
down In the declaration OF indepenuence' mcte
comes man to you, ana tells you WIN oynN
L.. 4. nat care Anu OcCQuSe
he does not care. he claims the confidence OF his
countrymen and the highest honors OF the re-
public Because he does not care, ne pretends
TO be the representative statesman OF thls age
Sir, | always thought that he can be no true
statesman whose ideas and conceptlohs aIc NV
founded mon nrofound moral convictions OF
right and wrong. [Applause.l What then
.hall we say of him who boastingly parades MS
indifference rs virtue May We not drop tue
discussion about his statemansn'p, n"I @
What Is he worth NJ mani lhepeaus.I cn n,I
Yes, he mistakes the motive Powe. y, sh. ill., oS
the events Of history. hnu !nh. III Wy .,,r,
free nations mere legal disquis'ons ns
constructions never determined the tendency OF
an age. The logic Of things goes us s.eauy
way, immovable TO eloquence ana deat 70 ar
gument. II shapes AMI changes laws anu con-,
situations according to its immutaole rules, anu
those adversc to Il will prove no enec!uAl %.
struction 10 lie onward march. In times oI
great conflicts, the prompfings ana dield,ss "
human conscience are more potent than ni =. rhe
inventive ingenuity Of the human orain. ing
conscience Ola free people, wnen onos 49,
ruling the masses, will never IAh W us =. ~.
laws, when those existing arc contrary W I.s
tendency, or 1t will put ITS ownnonsiu;ou. NJ
those that are there. Your disquisitions anu
plausibilities may be used as WEAPONS anu sus'-
egems In fencing match of controversn8 Paf.