Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1861-06-14
The Late stephen A. Douglas.

Amid the whirl OF excitement that sur
round. 10. VIXEN the warning elements o.
strife are in ,omuotion. and our ears are
.alu,ei witt wars and rOmors Of wars. the
American people have ben again sdnon'
i.hed that"All that is human - mortal,
that death !. the indiscrimiusis destroyer
Of the high and the low, and that the li''
Ing. POW upon the active theatre OF life.
will soon follow ,ho-- who have gone before
them 10 thu, " bourne from which no trav
sller returns"
Judge Douglas IS ioaS How !, strikes
upon the ear, Cut down IN the meridian
ofhi. day. BY the destroying angel Strange
nt i., the fact comes home TO the heart.
b. .. gone. We have ..ii severe ,hing'
Of Judge Douglas asa politician, We have
often differed with bin upon questions OF
national policy bat he j. nov gone and We
tarow the CHRISTIAN mantle OF charity over
b.. green grave, and cay psaee to bis Ashe'.
III, life has been an active, cvsntiul one.
b., record has been made uPp Dc Ta~ed
upon by iho.s sho are 10 come alter. Times
recording anssl IA. written !, down az with
,As zen OF diamond. and Po-tsr',y wall
award an impartial Judgment.
The deceased has ssn 80 sctivsly engaged
IN public l,f, for long scrie. Ot years, that
b.. history !. the history Of the couniry.
On cannot be written Independently Of the
other. That be w.- al sn hsioGs rnan no
one acquainted With hi, history can deny.
That he loved fame. and honor, and di',iuc-
ton i. equally trus. And yet thee e'e-
ment. of character can never be charged ..
iAult.. except when contaminated With IN.
ordinate aspiration. Or improper motives.
No one ucsi wJDisr that Judge D0usIa. -,
hI. marx high. Tor be Vas most emphai cal
ly. IN the common acccpra,ion Of the turn.
grssi man. lie po--r-ssd towering cen-
iu.. an unbebI,ps will, q hIOi purpose Of
Of character which led him to pursue an
obrci steadily to the end, never letting 80
b.. grasp until hi. hand vas pal.isd with
death.
There il much in the history Of Judge
Dousl.. to admire. Born among the green
bill. Of Vermont. be va. early len ~ hrs
osn Resources. entirely dependent upon
h,ms-lf, forced BY Circumstances. TO become
the art,hcer Of III, own Gsiune. withou,
friends. and without nooey. be started
when boy. with little pack upon bis
back, 10 seek hi. fortune q the grea,
North West, la tha, new and compare.
lively uncul,inted rssion Of country, he
very .oon found irierd,. At very early
az, be rushed into the political arena, and
here commenced that succession OF political
victories which won Tor him = national REP
utati0u second 70 bot few men in tie eoun.
try. lie early rose TO fame, aud acquired
power over the massc. which ever Aftsrward
rendered him dAnsvrOu. adversary. As
stump speaker he bad bu, very fe~ equals,
and no superior.. 10 Congress be often
came 10 contact with the creates, minds Of
which 40 American can boast, and yet he
never declined a contest or lsii the Geld 20
HI. anita oni., IL j. aid he ha. mad, more
speeches than any man OF bis age 10 Amer.
CO. and we believe the allegation true. The
power Of bis mind seemed ineIhAus,ibls
Away. reliant on hi'osu resources, always
ready. he would plunge like war hO's
into the battle. and never leave the field 50
long q. Zoe could be found 10 contend With.
judge Dousla. was a man Of great social
qualities. lie had a gsnial soul and warm
heart Ia b.. family he vas the kind, de-
voted husband, and al aaeetiOna,e, induls'
snt father. Like mos, men OF IN ardent,
enthusiasts temperament. he drew around
bin troop. Of friend. aud warm admirers
lie seemed to Iniu.s hi. very life and soul
into the hearts vi h,s followers. lie VAS q
great politics leader. but better fitted Tor
da.hing. impetu1us charge, than the to,l-
and delays Of regular -sige. Like other
men OF decided point. Of character, he had
warm friend, and bitter enemies. To say
he had no faults or falling, would be dec
l.r.tion that he "a. not pOs~o.sed Of srrins
human nature. lie ]. gOns. let them quiet
ly rest beneath his tOmS stone.
The death Of great statesman 10 Ord'-
narily q national calamity but the deoeass
OF Judge DOngI... jus, a, the present crisis
in ou. national Affairs, 10 greatly to be de-
plor,d. lis noble, maguanimous support
of Mr.. Lincolns administration the firm
AID decided sand be took alter the CON-
msneement Of hostiliIis. by the rebels : the
alaerity With which be rallied his democrat
ie fnsnd, in the North to the support oil Tie
government. we're ell acts highly commend
able and patriotic. For thee the whole ma
ton owes hi. memory a debt Of gratitude
-. ". ave -. taken OF cur pen 10
write the sulOsy of Judge Douglas. bot
simply to indulge 10 . lev Pertnsot rsase-