Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1899-10-07

l|NcOlN-DOUGLAS DEBh1E. !
!. Observations Upon Events rhat.aa
Led Up to the Great FOrefiBic.4

!. Hattie. /.
The address at Galesburg today de-
livered by Postmaster General Smith
upon the occasion of the commemorate
ing exercises of the famous Lincoln
Douglas debate, was masterful eff
fort. His comment upon the debate
itself and the debators is given in an
other column. The following is his de-
scription of the events that led up to
this memorable struggle. He said:
We are here to commemorate the
famous Lincoln Douglas debate. On
the very spot where we now stand the
great combatants met forty-one years
ago today in one of the brilliant en-
counters of that glittering intellectual.
and political tournament. Some of you
saw and we'll remember the CLEAN and
the blows of the flashing swords. With
vivid traditions and the striking fig
ures ever living in the American mem
DRY and imagination, you can all pic
ture the dramatic scene.
Tits fit that the president, with ais
cabinet, should come to this memor
able ground. Here history was made
and moulded. Here the mightiest issues
of the age were tried in the forum OF
reason before being appealed to the
arbitrament of arms. Here the two
contending chieftains stamped their
deep impress on the rushing current of
thought and events which speedily
eliminated in the most gigantic moral
and physical conflict of the century
Here may be found the inspiration of
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THE debate was worthy of this dis
ltinctiye commemoration. 1t was the
most significant and decisive dual con-
troversy in our history. The only other
forensic tourney that can compare with
lit was the celebrated discussion
Webster and Hayne nearly forty years
before. Between the two there was in
deed logical and historical connec-
ltion. The one was the complement and
THE sequence of the other. The Web
lister Hayne debate turned upon the ABB.
stract issue of an indiSsoluble union as
| against the right of notification ano
| secession. The Lincoln Douglas debate
turned on the concrete struggle of free
dom and slavery which brought on the
| war of the rebellion and put the issue
fof union against secession to the prac-
4 teal test. That debate presaged and
crystallized the great coming conflict
| 1t was the ominous thunder before the
outbreak of rhe storm. In declaring
land defining the irresistible tendencies
in fashioning the attitude and actor
of parties, in directly moulding the
course of events, as it did, 1t was pot
tent and momentous element in the
swift advancing climax. Neither Lin
coin nor Douglas sought the final ant
crucial clash. Both earnestly ane
lanxiously labored against it, Each be
i .ieved that his own policy was the true
lway TO avert it, But their stupendou:
Icontenton signified and shaped the IN
Irresistible conflict and determined th'
l5political alignments and divisions
A which precipitated the ultimate and in
evitable issue.
For more than thirty years the Mis-
souri, compromise had stood almost a
4 sacred and venerated as the constitu
! ton itself 1t had been reverently cher
lished as one of the chief bulwarks Q
the public safety. Its sudden occasio
and necessity had startlingly reveale
the natural struggle of antagonist
forces. but its adoption had queled tn
i
confidence. AT a later period and fror
\ time to time there had been passionat
agitation. but the country reposed i
the security of the settlement whic
had drawn permanent and accepte
boundary between the domains OF tree
aIdom and slavery. The right of petition
1.-The Mexican war and its ultimate aim:
the Wilmot proviso, had all infiame
feeling and developed sentiment. bu
1.-The aggressive issue involved in tn
-limnnence OF dominant power on eithe
side had not yet presented Itself. Sine
the admission of Louisiana in 1872 tn
equilibrium of the free and slave state
had been carefully preserved. When
lever free state was added to the stan
lof the flag a slave state came in to ba
lance 1t. Each section had an eqtls
vote in the senate and neither coul
Iovermaster the other.
but the time had come when III
conditions We're changed and when
the majestic advance of the republ
the territorial march could not be 1T
strained and could not be equalizet
icalifornia, springing up like gian
with its boundless gold and its stalwal
men, Knocked for admission The Me,
: lean war had disappointed its author
1t brought no territorial compensation
. The long averted danger of destroyin
the cherished balance was at han,
The country was feverish, excited an
foreboding. Then Henry Clay, the gree
father of compromise. emerged from h
retirement at the age of 7S and agai
led congress and the people along II
pathway of adjustment through II
compromise of 1880. The momentar
I effect was magical For time IL
: storm was Gained and serene comps
ure brooded on the face of the dee
But 1t was only for the hour. III
restless progress of the republic al on,
lprecipitated the same questions agai
: The magnificent empire beyond Il
Mississippi long dormant was no
awaiting for the eager and swellir
tide of emigration which had advance
Ito it's borders, and geography al
= ECONOMY, soil and settlers, all dedicate
lit to freedom. 1t is an interestir
truth that our first great expansion
the Louisiana purchase. made by Je
ferson to assure the unveXed navig
ton of the Mississippi, furnished u
Y then unsought and almost unknoW
territory which became the turnii
point in the complete emancipation al
redemption of the nation.
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