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

.GRtA ||tN RONURtD.
Continued From First Page)
a territory, he demanded, in any law
full way, against the wish of any citi-
zen of the union states, exclude slavery
from its limits. prior to the formation
of a state constitutions? The searching
question pierced to the very heart of
the whole fight Again the timorous
friends demonstrated. They pleaded
that if Douglas was forced to answer
he would make such cnoice as would
satisfy Illinois and save the sem
atorship. Lincoln knew better than
they that Douglas could not make an
answer that would gain the senatorship
without losing the presidency, and,
with his farsighted sagacity, he drove
the question home.
Douglas could not answer that the
people might directly exclude slavery,
for that would contravene and nullify
the supreme court decision. He could
not answer that they were powerless.
for that would contravene and nullify
his doctrine of popular sovereignty.
And so he dexterousy found a way of
doing indirectly what could not be done
directly He argued that slavery,
though constructively present, could
not maintain itself except by local sup
port, and that the people of the terri
tories could practically exclude it by
lunfriendly legislation and police regu-
llations In other words, as Lincoln
keenly pointed out. the answer was
lthat slavery could be lawfully driven
out under local law from place where
| 1t could lawfully GO under the supreme
! law. The weakness of the position was
| not that of the man, for no man could
have met the dilemma more adroltly
| than Douglas. but il was the inherent
weakness of the inescapable situation.
| Around these central points. With their.
| varying incidents and illuminating
lside lights, the whole debate proceeded.
| Douglas attacked Lincoln as the fo-
menter of sectional strife. as the adyo-
cate of negro equality and as the as
sailant of the supreme court. Lincoln
iattacked Douglas as the conjoint part
liner of slavery extension and as the
champion Of a political policy that re-
| versed the theory of the fathers which
treated slavery as moral wrong to be
jgraaually extinguished. The people
q followed the two masterful chieftains
with intense and absorbed interest and
3 their commanding combat fixed the
Hines upon which the country rapidly
moved 10 the most decisive and mo-
lmentous events of its history.
-, al 7 nI,,'c
Judgment 1t lost the immediate field.
lbut gained the broad battle. 1t elected
douglas senator but made Lincoln
land other platforms of Illinois became
the battle cries Of the country and the
two great antagonists of the state CON
test swept on to the leadership of the
trial in the national arenas Lincoln
Was elected; the irreconeilable division
which he had seen and sought % mend
Iby peaceful and regenerated national
policy broke loose. the south appealed
10 arms the house divided against
itself threatened TO fall. Lincoln, whe
had been charged with being a dis
lunionist became the savior of tht
lunion; and. with a nobility moi less
llglorous. Douglas. who had been his
IL most strenuous opponent. became hi:
nj staunchest supporter. The eourageou:
leader. who had resolutely fought ant
defeated the I.ecompIon nfamy. nov
!. for the second time rose above al
partsanship TO the loftiest heights o
Epatriotism. When the struggle came h
INSTANTLY and unreservedly took hi
stand with the union and the flag am
i he, who had for years crossed sword