Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1861-06-19
The Dead.

Although but two weeks have elapsed since
Stephen a. Douglas, the once great tribune, who
for years welded such extraordinary influence
over large portion of his fellow countrymen, fell
before the arrow of the insatiate archer, we now
scarcely hear his name mentioned even among
his most attached adherents. He should have
died hereafter. This was not the time for pro
per appreciation of the words which announced
his death. There have doubtless been tears and
breaking hearts for him, but only among those
who were bound to him by the hOliest and ten
derest ties that weave themselves about the hu-
man heart. At this fearful period in our coun-
try's history, whsn the Nation shakes TO its cen
tre when the clouds of Civil War darken the
land when men of every rank and condition IN
life, are literally, in the language of Scripture,
" withering away through fear of that which is
to come upon them; when the soil of the State
which is the urn of Washington has just been
drenched by fraternal blood, the first bitter fruit
of this unnatural and fratrcidal war, there is no
disposition even among those who loved Stephen
A Douglas best, to turn aside from the contem
pation of the impending National calamity, to
Join in demonstrations Of sorrow for his death.
Dust has been committed to dust-no more.
Even the voice of temperate and merited praise.
aDd Of temperate ard just censurs of the record
of his life is hushed. The theme is not of
sufficient Importance to arrest the excitement
of the tcar, OF to withdraw the public mind from
the discussion of the best means to conquer the
seeded States.
But it will lot always be thus The public
career of Stephen a. Douglas was too potent ethe,
for good or for evil to the future of his country,
to 90 unrecorded in the history Of that country.
Still, we think it will not be until the present
generation of men shall have passed away, that
biographer will be found to do full and impair
tial justice to his memory. 1t would be diff
cult matter to find writer capable of doing o
now. However otherwise well qualified for the
task, be could hardly fail in performing it, to be
swayed by his prejudices either for or against his
subject. If a friend, he would be likely to pre-
sent him u the world the perfection of states
mauship and patriotism-a second Washington,
who knew no motive save an ardent desire to
promote the happiness and glory of his country,
and totally uninfuenced by the feelings OF self
ishness and ambition while a political enemy
wo'd describe him as a selfish, and designing dem
agogue, endowed b. nature with extra ordinary
abilities, which he used to promote his own ag-
grandizement, and who worshipped no God but
ambition. For it was in this or in that light that
his fellow countrymen have for years rewarded
him. To one portion he was a statesman worthy
OF the highest eHcomums language could bestow
on lofty genius unsullied probity of character,
and unselhsh patriotism. To the other portion
he was selfish, time serving demagogue, to be
feared the more because an intellectual giant.
To them the Poets description of comet, seemed
graphic and truthful when applied to him,
"a painless wanderer and a carse,
The menace of the universe;
Still rolling on with innate force,
Without a sphere without a course.
4 bright deformity on high,
The monster of the upper sky"
IN reviewing the history of this remarkable
man, that which strikes US as most astonishing is,
the extraordinary influence he welded over his
immediate party friends especially during the lat
ter portion of his career. He appeared to be the
founder Of well defined and organized political
sect, aud his followers seemed more than friends
they were in truth his devoted followers and
disciples. 1t is said that when a new doctrine
was promulgated by Socrates, it was at once &C
fN0-' "4tACul luItISI COHslUeEdIIou OF tAaIlf-
nation as truth by his pupils 1t was sufficient
fOr them to Know that " the Master said so.''
And SO 1t was in a great measure with a Senator
Douglas. His devoted adherents appeared dis
posed to at once accept as truth whatever he ut
tered. and to sustain him in whatever position
ne assumed.
Jhis extraordinary influence. although aston