The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1860-10-17
From the Columbus Bulletin, (neutral.)
Stephen A. Douglas.


The genius of nation is always repre-.
sented in the character of its great men;
and the rugged intellect, the indomitable
energy and the democratic frankness of
the Great West, which may almost be
called distinctive nationality among the
States of the Union, has no more perfect
representative of it's character than the
man whose name stands at the head of
this article. Studying him as public
man, viewing him as an acknowledged
leader of great party, and reviewing his
character and history without partisan
prejudice, we think that every man who
balances the qualities of leader evenly
and with exact justice, must concede that
Stephen A. Douglas is q man of which
any State, country or people may be
proud. Even his political enemies con.
cede that he is man of extraordinary
ability and courage, possessing a power
full and most judicious ,oiH and his
friends point with confidence and pride
to his long public record to prove his in
tegrity and show his no less extraordinary
consistency upon the political doctrine Of
which he is the champion and chief. Par
tisan prejudice and Ingenuity can find
some flaw, some crooked Inconsistency in
the record of every statesman or politician;
but there is in the record OF Douglas,
fewer faults and more merits than in that
of any other man who has been nominated
for the Presidency in late years.
Douglas is really representative man
of the west and north west. From the
time he wandered sick and poor through
Ohio into Illinois; down to the present
day when he appears among us to advo.
cate the doctrine so dear to many of our
people, his fame and fortunes have been
identified with the northwest, and in all
the sectional controversies, in the halls OF
Congress, he has lowered above all ottSr
statesmen as the fit representative of a
great and growing people.
The latest controversy of this charac-
ter, will long be remembered by the people
of this country, aud in fact it-has not yet
been fought out. When the infamous
Lecompton Constitution was thrust into
Congress, and the whole power of the
federal administration backed by a pat
ronage of eighty millions of dollars =
was exerted to force it through, the eyes
of the Democracy Of the Northwest were
turned upon the ever faithful Douglas with
unutterable anxiety. To him they looked
for the maintenance of the plighted faith
of tie party; upon Douglas they depended
as the defender of their consistency, the
advocate of their cause. And history viii
record, whether cotemporary politicians
admit it or not, that he proved worthy o
the trust He instinctively took the side
of the people. He was the Luther who
| nailed his denunciatien of the Lecomptor
infamy to the wall of the Senate; tht
Cromwell who annihilated the Ramp o
Federalism. His position at that TIM
was like Mirabeau, he was the last tribune
of the people. While the lesser lights o
the party sneaked out of the conflict, O
went over to the enemy--while little pol
iticians and tricksters, who foated upol
the surface of politics like bubbles upol
a stream, trimmed their puny sails fe
self preservation-whilep political weather
cocks quailed and skulked, and caved lik
towards before the hurricane--D Dougla
stood almost alone in the Senate, an,
with an ability and; courage which shoul
I immortalize9 him. hurled defiance in tn
teeth of the administration He did no
escape unharmed. The efforts to punis
him for his faithfulness were vindictiv
and bitter, and are still continued wit
sleepless maliguity, and will continue til
November tells its tale But whethe
Douglas triumphs or fails, the memory q
that gallant fight against "Lecompton'
black brigade" will live imperishable i
the hearts of the masses of the people.
4 How Wide Awakes are Initiated.