The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1861-03-30
THE TACTICS OF DOUGLAs.

We trust that none of our readers are so
green or so innocent at this late day, as TO
suspect that Great Self Swallower, Stephen
A. Douglas. of straightforward purpose
in any of his political maneuvers. If such
suspicion has arisen in the breast of any, let
il be al once dispelled. The Ethiopian can
not change his skin, nor the leopard his
spots.
But although il is easy and safe to declare
Whist Mr.. Douglass meaning is not, it is by
no means 30 easy to discern what it really is.
The garb of consistency is SO lightly worn,
and the shackles of declared convictions
which bind the mass of men are 50 easily
cast of, by him, that it requires close watch
ing and following TO keep any trace of him.
In the Inconsistency if not in the brilliancy
of his career, he resembles comet, and it
may be said of each of his movements, as Of
each of the nebulo-planets mentioned, that
Thereby hangs tale" He makes no speech,
he supports no measure, he works with no
faction, without some Interior purpose of self.
ACCOMPLISHMENT. Bafied in one scheme, he
tries another. Failing in one plan, he
: adopts new. He never wearies and he new
er loses hope; and if his ability as an in
triguer were equal to his disposition. and
above all if he were endowed with "the ca
pacity of emitting few splendid flashes of
silence" he would be very dangerous and
probably much more successful.
Mr.. Douglas has seen ct to praise Mr..
Lincoln's Inaugural. and has even entered
the lists as it's champion when. attacked.
The Senate had scarcely met, when hepOured
out in hot haste volume of generalized pra;-
ses of its patriotism and ability. When
Clingman and others attacked it, Mr.. Doug
las was the first to defend it against their at
tacks. Last week Mr.. Breckinridge. in pol
Z ished and consummately skillful phrases
denounced it. and now it is announced thai
Douglas win reply! Why this anxiety o.
the Illinois Senator to espouse the cause o.
his successful competitor? Why should
he attempt to crowd off the Republicans il
the defense of their own administration
A brief examination of the line Of pro
posed defense which Mr.. Douglas has adop
ted in treating of the Inaugural, will, per-
haps, disclose somewhat of his purpose
He has always given it his own interpreta
= ton, and praised and defended it upon thai
Interpretation. He has declared that it means
Just what Mr.. Douglas advocates, and there
fore he supports it. Do the Southerner
say that the President will collect the reve
nues, Douglas tells them that the spirit o
the Inaugural is otherwise. Do they say
that it means War in certain events, he as
sures them that it means Peace at whateve
cost. And so on throughout.
1t is Douglas fortune to occupy apromi
nent position. The majority of his part
at the North swear by him. When he open
his mouth, they shout. Il could not hav
escaped the notice of any attentive observe
of the late canvass for the Presidency, tina
Douglas was working for the future. H
had no hope of his own election last fal
His object in taking the stump in perso
was. first, to defeat the rival Democrat
candidates, to whom he was naturally hos
tile on personal grounds, but chiefly to hol
together the wavering ranks of his own pa
ty and personal adherents, and so to attra'
TO himself the sympathy of the "Conserv'
tives" and self-styled "Unionists, as wou
enable him to become the leader of ne
party which should be formed by the con
bination of all these elements. He also,
such canvass, secured for himself larg
audience when he should henceforth spes
from the Senate. His present course
doubtless, continuation of the same pl
of action. He knows full well that N
Lincoln's Inaugural does not bear the mea
ing he gives it-that his course will not
such as he ostentatiously predicts and by
:. ocritically applauds. But meantime he hop
10 have won the confidence of the so-call
moderate men throughout the North, a
of all the Unionists at the South, and at
first signal of decisive action on the part
the Administration, he will denounce it,
if possible so decoy its more timid suppo
ers as to break it down, and-what is
more consequence to him-elevate hims'
sc JOHN SHERMAN
Has been elected by the Legislature of Oh
kt.a( IT,