The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1862-06-24

The Meiendy Prize Orston, delipeyed before the
Alphs Kappa Phi Society, October 2Sth 1861. ~
BY L. N. HEATING. of Hlllsdals.

1.-THE imperfect copy published in the Alpha Kap'
pa Phi Society Magazine Of June 1862. at Hillsdsls
College corrected according to the original copy as
spoken, with all tie suppressed and altered sentenees
A strong and majestic oak has fallen. A
powerful party had rsclined beneath its
branches ard been protected from tho clouds
and storms Of political life. They not only
gazed upon it with reverence, but gathered
around il with tender love and with heroic de-.
votion to protect its gnared trunk from the
evils Of American politics. The men of 1861
for the first time in American History, saw all
political parties swept away aud the "pe,ple,
driven by the emergencies Of danger to n COM
mon couuci chamber" Then it WAS that the
great Democratic party, with its noble recol-
ectons Of the past clustering around it, with
its armcr on, and battle axe in hand, passed
away, like the men Of Ro leric Dhu, to be seen
no more. That oak, instead of bending weak
y 20 this storm of rebellion, gathered in it's
mighty strength and with all the ruggeduess
of its nature, conteuded for victory and the
right The men of "Sixty-One," with deep
and patriotic emotions, closed in q solid phal
snx around il, and as they listened with bow
ed heads to the music Of its waving branches,
they felt as If the spirit of liberty was conver.
sing with them through an earthly agent -
That oak now lies, covered with the green sod
Of IN otber earth, scathed and blasted; its life
glory departed; and the music Of its waving
branches to be heard no more. Men. as they
gathered around their family allars, prayed
with heartfelt devotion and weeping voices for
its prosperity and preservation. They hoped
the giant that had hurled back the storms Of
many winters, would yet remain the pride Of
the forest, and with all its strength resist the
storm that was then gathering around it. But
the mandate had been issued. The tree had
fallen. Douglas was dead. Then we mur.
INJURED at God for destroying the strong and
noble, instead Of one Of the poisonous plants
which cluster amongst the flowers # the earth
forgetting that it was glorious ending Of one
whose career proved that life is not
Zone long stream, on which, from night till morn,
Thou msy'st float calmly, gazing at the stars,
Inhaling spicy bresths, and trailing Oft
Thy hand through the waves"
Tha; it was amidst the smoke and turmoil Of
active life in which the strong individuality Of
Douglas delighted in; that God inscribed the
word Finis. Time will not permit me to re
view the whole of the life OF Douglas, aud il
by commenting on some Of the points in his
life, in a crude and imperfect manner, may
interest some Of you to night, the purpose will
be fulfilled Of ono, who in an humble way sd
mired the living Douglas, and mourned for
him when dead.
Up to the time Of the Lecompton Consti.
tuition M. Douglas was known to his enemies
as a successful politician, to bis friends, as a
statesman and a type Of true nobility. Mr..
Buchanan having violated the principles Of the
Cincinnati platform by endeavo:ing to force
upon the people of Kansas the Lecompton
Constitution, it became necessary for Mr..
Douglas to either support or oppose bis poll
cy. This was the turning point in his life.-
II he sustained Mr.. Buchanan in his policy,
wealth, and perhaps that gli,tering prize, the
Presidency, might be bis. If be maintained
the principles Of the Cincinnati platform and
opposed Mr.. Buchanan's policy, dark and drea
ry davs stared him 10 the face; his friends in
Office would be eacrifred to the fury Of Bu
chanan; bis hopes of the Presidency would
be dashed to the ground, aud be would he
hunted down like beast Of prey by :he Bu-
cbsnan Democrats ard Republicans. Did lie
hesitatei No. Believing the principles Of
the platform to be right, he b,ldly entered the
political arena, and throwing d 'wn the gaunt-
let, first to the Buchanan Democrats, and af.
terwards TO the Republicans, he prepared for
the conflict. Long was the contest; and as
the forces Of the allies marshaled TO attack
him, he proved himself a giant .. bay. The
contest rolled away from the halls Of Congress
TO the arena Of the people. and at the end Of
the campsign Of 1850, Mr.. Douglas came ou,
ruined in fortune, broken 10 health, his friends
sacrificed TO the anger Of Buchanan, ana his
party defeated; hut with the proud conscious
ness that be had proved faithful to bis party,
worked with giant strength for its success, and
sacrificed ambition to its principles, which he
believed to be founded upon eternal right.
When Mr.. Lincoln entered upon the duties
Of his Office, the old ship Of State was leaking
at every seam and pore, quiveriug from stem
to stern, and fast drifting out on the current
Of di.uuion, with the starry dag at its mast
hidden from the world by the black cloud Of
treason.
Mr.. Douglas, forgetting that Mr.. Lincoln
vas q successful rival and the candidate Of q
party whose principles be despised; forgetting
that the Republicans had blasted the hopes Of
mature manhood and the success Of his own
party, merged the feelings Of the man into
those Of the patriot, placed the rank aud fie
Of his party in the new one Of the Union; {;