The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1860-09-01
Abuse of Judge Douglas.

Ask any school boy who were the three
greatest Presidents of the Cnited States,
and he will answer instantly, Jefferson,
Madison and Jackson. Ask the same boy
which three of all the Presidential candi-
dates received the most abuse, and his an
swer will be the same. Jefferson was
burnt in effigy time and again, denounced
as a vile agrarian a French atheist, a trail
tor to his country, and everything else
that WAS odious. SO Madison could have
travelled in the darkest night over all
New England 10y the light Of his own burn
ing effigies, and have read his denuncia-
ton placarded on every shop door and
s:gn post Jackson was denounced as q
monster in human shape, \ tyrant, free
booter and murderer
Again there is presented to the people
Of the United States for their sutiiages,
Presidential candidate whose intellectual
stature proclaims him another of the race
of giants and again is turned loose upon
his track the howling kennel of lying de
famation and detracton The old Federal
device of burning effisies is revived 'con-
summate political scoundrel,' base, lying
hypocrite,' demon of political profligacy
and corruption, and thousands Of similar
epithets are heaped upon him at every
turn. No act or utterance Of his life but
is disto. ted and perverted; the very iarcS
and pcnotes Of his household are dragged
forth and detiled, and their 5; cred purity
beslilned with the defamers filth.
Nov to all the Republican gentry who
are so lavish in their vitupeiation-who
see in Stephen a. Douglas nothing but a
/ bundle of evil and contemptible attributes
! who describe every act OF his life As an
outrage against all ideas Of truth, honor
and justice-we would suggest a single re-
mark Are they not aware that such i'll
Justice defeats itself? that the man who
receives excessive condemnation, is certain
TO enjoy the benefit Of reaction, and to
be rewarded i'll due time by an excess Of
praise The man whom they paint a
wretch without principle, without feeling,
without single good quality, if he is not
an impossibility, IS certainly an iinpossi-
! biiity at The head Of the ryoudest political
party in the nation. Al the abuse which
+ for these ten long years has been directed
! against Stephen \. Douglas has not sue
+ ceeded in displacing him from the leader
ship Of the Democratic party, and il is at
/ least worthy of inquiry whether the man
/ who occupies such position may not pos
/ sess few es;imable traits, whether in in
tcllect he i not something more than an
( intriguer, and whether in ASPIRATION he
/ may not be something better than place
hunter.
4 We have been unconsciously led into
this long train of thought on taking up
our pen simply to write few lines 10y way
Of preface to the following truthful and
eloquent extract from the Chicago Times
aud HraM:
While the people of the United States
have eyer been devoted to great ideas po-
iitical principles, public measures, and
have guided their political action by them,
'hes nave No' "eIi' uS'oih ol 4oFa!tl 10
me great popular leaders VINO nave arisen
among 'iieih, lliere are men. VINO flsure
III "'"'os' v''iS i"'io'i' VINO pe'o'ii'
a. II W. '.io pisoo POM VI 'iieIr 'iiile-
men WV "iS eNi''i'ei''' ci INC POI i'a'
ne"'' anu VI 'ile SliIlt % 'he age hof
'he people ulsGo'tt sue" d man p, 'he mas
se> lilstiilcI!Feiy c!1hS 10 nun. lheF may
MOI Ken you why He Is rlsH'' puI 'hey -'ef
That he IS f!Sht. such men are III them
selves platform, Inc people VIII trust
thehl Win PLATFORM OF "'thou' one IL
Is Impossible 10 resist these men before
/ Mon of this cIasS ere even. from tho ran