The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-10-08

tions. could exclude slavery. They said
this would satisfy Illinois and re-elect
Douglas senator. Lincoln's answer
was again lofty and memorable: II
am after loftier game. II Douglas 30
answers he can never be president. and
the battle OF 1860 Is worth q hundred of
this" Douglas answered as anticipat-
ed. The answer defeated Lincoln and
made Douglas senator. but II. split the
Democratic party two years later and
drove 1t from power. II defeated
Douglas for the presidency and carried
Lincoln into the White House.
Upon this platform. and on this very
spot thirty.eight years ago today stood
these intellectual athletes. Neither
they, nor the vast audience which en-
1oyed their thrusts and parties. cheered
their effective blows, and were en-
tranced by their elOquence. knew how
rapidly they were making history; how
ably they were preparing the most i'm
portant chapter in the story Of the
nineteenth century. 1t was the battle
eternally going on. "Often lost. but ever
won." between principle and expedi-
ency Lincoln was tall, gaunt. awk-
ward and homely, with a high, pene-
trating voice which reached easily the
utmost limits Of the crowd. Douglas
was short, corpulent and dignifled. with
the grace and courtesy OF senatorial
custom and association. and spoke with
deep tones and slow enunciation, as II
every word was weighted with an i'm
portant argument. Douglas was the
more adroit debater. Lincoln the more
cogent reasoner Douglas could cap
ture the crowd by those courtesies to
his opponent behind which ne misrep-
resented his position, while Lincoln, un-
trained to compliment. grew resentful
and harsh at these falsifications. Lin
coin could lift his audience by a pas
sionate appeal to their better nature for
the slave, for justice and for liberty
Douglas was always the fighter and
debater. Lincoln consciously and
Douglas unconsciously were preparing
the people of the free states for the
sacrifices Of civil war and the preserva-
tion Of the national life. 1t is to the
eternal honor and glory Of Douglas that
when the war broke out the partisan
became patriot and gave to his life
long antagonist. President Lincoln. his
unqualified support.
THE VOW FULFILLED.
For the questions they debated here
hundreds of thousands Of our country.
men died upon the field Of battle. Tht
South fought as Americans can flgh,
for what they believed to be right. ant
the North fought as Americans car
fight for what time has demonstrated
was right. The vow registered by Lin
coin, the rough flatbOatman OF nine
teen, at the slave mart In New Orleans
was fulfilled by Lincoln, president o
the United States. in the proclamation
which freed the slaves and made the
sentence for freedom in the Declara
tion of Independence both a sentiment
and fact. Two millions OF volunteer
soldiers helped him enforce his mes
sage to the disunionists In his frs
speech at the commencement Of hi!
debate. I'VE will not go out of the I'm
ion and you shall not
The famous controversy over tht
"House divided against itself, nowhere
discussed more bitterly than here or
this platform, ended at Appomattox
The house did not fall, but 1t did be.
come "all free" The new South, the
peopled West, the enriched East, ant
the prosperous North can calmly re.
view the issues which SO radically div.
ided them in the past and reverently
thank God that in the final conflict ant
it's settlement the leader Of the forces Of
union and liberty was the great-heart.
ed, broad-souled, wise-brained man Of
love and charity. Abraham Lincoln.