The record-union., 1896-10-11

brated at Galesburg ILL.,, the thirty
eighth anniversary of the great de-
bate between Abraham Lincoln and
Stephen A. Douglas.
The principal address of the day was
delivered by Chauncey NJ Depew of
New York. 1t should be read by every
one who desires to know or keep IN
memory the events of the most critical
period in the history of this country.
Mr.. Depew said:
Abraham Lincoln was not an acci-
dent, but a development. He did not
leap into leadership at a bound but
earned the position by laborious prepa
ration and frequent demonstrations of
supreme ability. 1t is only thirty years
since the country was shocked as never
before by his assassination, and yet to
the vast majority of the American pc 60
pie he is already a legendary character
and the human elements which en-
deared him to his generation are for
gotten. We have made history so rap
idly in the last quarter of a century
that even the thrilling events of the
civil war can no longer conjure votes
or move audiences Memorial Day
which was once period of passion and
sorrow, is now a popular picnic and
cn1lQren'S holiday.
To understand the significance OF the
meeting here thirty-eight years ago be-
tween Lincoln and Douglas, we must
recreate the conditions under which
they fought, revive the questions which
caused parties to rush from partisan
ship to rebellion, and reincarnate the
combatants on this famous field. The
apparent contest was the statehood of
Kansas, but both the orators and the
people knew that the tremendous issue
was between freedom and slavery, the
dissolution of the Union or it's perpe-
tuity.
The founders of the republic regarded
slavery as an institution destined to
ultimate extinction. Washington and
JEFFERSON and their Slave-holding asso-
clates saw with grave apprehension
the perils of its continuance and the in
compatibility of it's growth with free
institutions. Under normal conditions
1t would have gradually disappeared
with the moral pressure of the liberty
loving sentiment and the industrial
superiority of free labor.
1t is easy to be virtuous when it costs
little, and much easier when it is ad-
vantageous. Greed and conscience have
y
That conscience wins in the end is a
tribute to the better elements OF hu-
man nature, and that interest can
blind and sophistry mislead for genera
tions teaches humility and distrust ol
ourselves.
The politics of the United States and
the destiny of millions of human beings
We're suddenly changed by a piece of
mechanism Whitney invented the cot
ton gin, slave labor became enormously
profitable, and slavery grew to be the
most aggressive power in the country
Ii was popular at the time of the forma-
ton of the Constitution to pass the or
dinance of 1877 by which was conse-
Grated forever in freedom the territory
comprising the States of Illinois, In
diana, Michigan and Wisconsin, but
thirty-three years afterward, in 1870,
Missouri had to be surrendered to slav-
cry to save the Union.
All the intelligence, the capital, the
business energy and the political power
of one half the Union had concen-
trated the most audacious and formida-
bic political force ever known in rep
resentative Government. 1t had one
purpose-the protection and extension
of slavery. 1t aimed to control the
Government and dominate parties. 1t
was the power within both of the great
organizations into which the people
were divided. 1t selected it's leaders
with wonderful ability and served them
with answering loyalty. 1t made or
crushed careers as Northern statesmen
We're obedient to its commands. 1t had
no gratitude for past favors, and as
mercilessly discarded it's Servile friends
who had become unpopular at home
because of their servility, as it de-
stroyed those who temDoriZed with its
interests upon either principle or policy.
The conscience of the -Slaveholding
population was slowly awakening, but
moving tentatively and timidly under
dread of trade disturbances and threats
of the dissolution OF the Union.
The compromise of 1920, by declaring
all Of the new territory north OF par
aIlel 36 80 free and all south slave, and
admitting Missouri, which was north.
as slave State, was hailed by those
who loved both union and liberty as the
gain of a large area for freedom. 1t
v,as really the recognition by law of
slavery in the Territories, the gain of a
ctate and its Senators by the slave
mower. and leaving the Northern ter
ritorv for q fresh attack when the time
came for it's settlement. For slavery,
founded upon the greatest OF wrongs,
can respect neither rights nor compacts.
Vet there existed a passionate devotion
"a neace and union, and the compro-
yoiee Of 1890 was gratefully accepted.
The Abolition sentiment, iniiamed by
sba arrogance and aggressive acuon OF
the slave power, was constantly winning
converts and demanding Congressional
action i'm the Territories and the Dis
+,ict of Columbia The crisis, as always,
,,,h tho threat of secession behind 1t,
hecarna acute. and was once more tided
over nv the compromises OF lSJu. By
these measures slavery secureu IA
1ionaI recognition of the institution al
the CAPITAL and the enactment OF the
fugitive slave law, but the Union siNeu
was regarded by the vast majority as
we'll worth this sacrifice or honor, NOR
ality and liberty
ITnon this altar was burned the proud
est reputation and the mightlest treas
,,re of intellect and character the coun-
4rv possessed There are many paths
n the Presidency, but the southern
leaders could confidently say 10 every
ambitious statesman: No matter What
your views on other questions, no man
has reached the White House In gen
GRAFTON except by the Southern road.
The anti-slavery people turned TO Dan
;al Webster for leadership. They ex-
,acted from him a mighty effort his
historical reply to Hayne had establish
Cd the right and power OF the natioh
"a protect its life and liberties NO
.,,>aacb In the records of representative
,oyarnnnent ever had such immaculate
oroYt ;nH,1ance in shaping the