The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-06-04
Death of Sen ator Douglas.


distinguished Senator from Illinois, we have
lost, in the character of political partisan
leader, our most prominent public man of the
present generation. Cut off in his forty-seventh
year, it may be said that he died prematurely;
but in another sense itmay be as truthfully said
that he died in the desolation of extreme old
age. He had hardly passed the period allotted
to the prime of manhood, but he had outlived
the democratic party. With the shipwreck of
that party he was left almost as lonely az
Robinson Crusoe upon his desolate island; for
with that party the dreams of ambition of our
hero and his political career of advance.
ment were ended.
Our readers are familiar with his history, his
public character, his successes and his aspira-
tons as political party leader, and his
disastrous mistakes Bold, dashing, unfinching
and persevering as democratic chieftain, he
made himself the admiration, the idol and the
hope Of bis followers. But while aboundingin
Iecources and expedients as politician, he
was possessed of bat small degree of that in
quiring sagacity of the statesman which teaches
him, before embarking upon hazardous en-
terprise, to look carefully to its probable conse-
quences There was no public demand or public
necessity for the repeal of the Missouri Com
promise in 1854; but under the plausible re-
presentations of Jefferson Davis, the Marplot of
Pierce's Cabinet, and through the influence of
the Southern Confederates of Davis in the
Senate, Mr.. Douglas was doubtless persuaded
to assume the responsibility of this measure.
The bill passed, and from the day of its pas
sage commenced that fierce sectional revival of
the slavery agitation which has eliminated in
this deplorable Southern rebellion against the
integrity of the Union" The anti-slavery up
rising of the North, which in 1856 proved too
powerful to justify the nomination of Mr..
Douglas as the Presidential candidate of the
democracy, proved too powerful in 1860 for
the unity of the party. 1t was torn to pieces
upon the very issue Of popular sovereignty"
which Mr.. Douglas had been persuaded to ad-.
minister as the infallible panacea for all its
troubles, and thus the vocation of its great
Northern physician was gone.
Would these dreadful troubles with which
our country is now afflicted have been
avoided had the compromise adjustment OF 1850
remained untouched or had Mr.. Douglas with
drawn from the Presidential field year ago ?
We cannot answer; but we are now inclined to
believe, from the disclosures Of the last six
months, that had they failed upon the Missouri
Compromise repeal and Lecompton question,
the Confederate leaders in this Southern rebel
lion would have contrived some other pretext
for their work of secession at the first inviting
opportunity. We know now, that since the adj
mission of California in 1850, they have been
working for their Southern confederacy with
systematic industry.
Upon the paramount question of the Union
the record Of Mr.. Douglas is clear. His first
and his last recorded speeches bear the same
testimony upon this point Wrecked With the
rotten hulk of his party he did not hesitate to
rally to the support of the present administra
ton upon the patriotic platform of the Gin.
tegrity OF the Union" And thus, while admit
ting that from his defective education, from
his active career as party politician, and from