The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-08-26

1
ballot for 'Old Rough and Ready"
That other Mexican war hero Scott, the
Wing candidate of 1852, the last canvass
in which that party appeared as a great
organization was not so intelligently
coached as Taylor had been, and said
many things in the few speeches which
ne made that covered him with ridicule.
In attempting to gain the favor of the
foreign vote. which, in those days. was
almost wholly given to the Democratic
party. Scott made some silly remarks.
Nothing delighted him, he said, so much
as to listen to the rich old Irish brogue."
while the musical German accent
threw him into rapture. This barney
was caught UP by the Democratic press
and stump orators. and set the country
laughing at the Wing candidate. And
thus the "conqueror of Santa Anna" was
overwhelmingly defeated by one Of his
subordinates, Pierce, who won no military
glory whatever IN the war.
The character of Douglas speeches in
the campaign of 1860 would have serious
ly injured his chances for election If he
had any chances. Douglas was as posi-
tive and aggressive as Roosevelt is. Any
thing which looked like an attempt 10
intlmidate or coerce him he would resent
with promptness and vigor. He would not
take a stump" from anybody on any
thing Buchanan. at the beginning of his
adm1nistra ton. in 1851, when he heard
that Douglas was going to oppose the ad-
ministrat tons Kansas pro-slavery policy
had a stormy interview with Douglas, in
which Buchanan threatened him with the
fate Of Talmadge and Rives, who were
read out Of the Democracy for opposing
the policy Of the Jackson regime Doug
las famed out in Indignation at this
threat of coersion, and exclaimed. Mr..
President, I want you to understand that
Gen. Jackson Is dead" AS a consequence
of Douglas fierce fight on the administra-
tons plan to force slavery on Kansas,
Douglas friends in federal appointive
posts We're turned out by Buchanan and
in the contest with Lincoln in 1858 for
United States senator. in which Douglas
was reelected after struggle which was
memorable for the vlgor with which it
was conducted on both sides, Douglas
said, 'T am fighting two sorts of enemies
| in this canvass. the black Republicans
| and the Democratic administration IN
Washington"
! It was inevitable that a man with a
| disposition of such comba likeness and au-
! dacity as Douglas would say many things
| on the stump which could be used against
| him with effect by his political enemies
Douglas made tour of a large part OF
! the country In the canvass of 1861, IN
which he was the candidate of the North
| ern branch of the Democracy; Breckln-
! ridge was the nominee of the Southern
! end of that party John Bell was the
/ head Of the ticket Of the Constitutional
| UTnionist negauonists, and Lincoln was
| the Republican standard bearer. Whiie
| he was sDeaking in Norfolk in September
! of that year, the head OF the Breckn-
| ridge electoral ticket for Virginia put this
! question to him: IF Lincoln be elected
! president. will the Southern states be
! justified In seeding from the Union
! Douglas response was prompt and point
At q
nhatically no." said Douglas. The cleo
ton Of a man TO the presidency by the
American people, in conformity with the
constitution of the United States, Woulu
not justify any attempt at dissolving thls
! glorious ccnfederacy"
But the Breckenridge man did not nave
enough vet "If the Southern states Sc
! cada ROW tho Union on Lincoln's In
| aueuratIon. before he commits an overt
act against their constitutional rights
! will Won advise or support resistance 10
| tbelr seceseasion?" was asked. Douglas
response came as promptly as oeIore;
answer emphatically that 1t Is the uuty
| of the president or the Ohlteu
and AL others in authority under him. 10
! enforce the laws of the United States as
nassed by congress and as the supreme
| court exnounds them. And !, as IN uuty
| hound nv nv oath and fidelity TO the
| constitutions would do all IN my PoWe.
| to aid the government OF the
! Statas In maintaining the supremacy OIL
! tho laws against all resistance 10 theni'
,one from what quarter 1t might, !
o+her words. I think the president or tne
tinted states. whoever he may be- snouiu
treat all attempts to break up the Union
hv resistance to it's laws just as OLD hlcK-
orv treated the South Carolina nuililieis
OF 1882" ,.od
| talk This DOu6 90
would get no secessionist votes; NO Vol l
ers in the whole career or the 49, 49,
States were ever In sucn n .uIIntI 90
/ before or since by any presidential can
| 5idate Douglas speeches. or that par
Of them which condemned secession;1 W. a.,
published all over the country. 49,, ne
ppounced disunion and defied the disunion n
lists with greater Vigor than did any Oh
the Republican stump speakers IN t 1ie
campaign Of 1860. AS a consequence. hlS
vote was insignificant in all or the SldE =
states except Missouri, which he carried
by small plurality over Bell. IN ever
other slave state this candidate OF nj
nor party was far ahead OF 'ou u; '' -;
while Breckenridge, of course IN All OF
them except Missouri, had a long lead
over him. Douglas promises were trans
1nuted into deeds when the time Tor &C
ton came. .,,
After Douglas no other presidential
candidate went on the stump or TOOK an
active interest in his own canvass until
Greeley During the canvass or pr GIes-
lev. the candidate of the Liberal RepuD-
Iican and Democratic coalition. made a
tour through New England, New York
and several OF the Western states and
made a series Of short speeches which
were models of conciseness: Ylgor and
point No speeches heard during any can
vass since Douglas was traversing the
country a dozen years earlier at oil APP
preached Greeley'S talks In concentration
and general effectiveness. For a time
| too ii seemed that Greeley was going to
| carry the country. The tide began Tn
turn though just about tho time that
North Carolina. then one Of the early
states, voted When the elections took
place in the October states the current
/ speechmaking was kept up until the clos
ING weeks of his canvass, and attracted
| vast crowds wherever he went. but long
! before the campaign ended Republican
success was seen to be certain. Not only
were Greeley's speeches brilliant. bu
I they were discreet. Thus they united
qualities not often seen in combination IT
q political canvass.
Very little talking was done by any
Il presidential candidate after Greeley un-
! III Blaine appeared. Neither Hayes nOl
n Trden took the stump I'm 1876. nor did
Garfield though an effective orator. take
any such active part in his canvass ir
1850 as was taken By Douglass and Gree
ley In theirs. Hancock aid a little talk
ing in ~ Interview. bUt this vas almost
rs unfortunate rs Sccit's palaver was ir
/, 1852. Hancock said the tariff was 10
| cal issue ard this excited so much
| rldicule that he was denounced for his
ignorance of this elemental issue IN
American politics. although the tariff had