New-York tribune., 1902-01-19
LlNCOLN-DOUGLAS DEBATE
REVERSAL OF POPULAR JTrDcvr>-
CALLED FOR ON IMPORTANT POINT

After n close study OF the IincoIn-D Do,,,
bate of 1858. Cbrk f. Carr former limited So a
Minister TO Denmark has reached the cor1" ees
'ndt popular pellef as well several historic.
ana widely read historical novel which -
with the period. are Inaccurate and do not a.
justice 10 either Lincoln or Douglas Mr. 60
believes that he is able to clear the martvr Pr,
dent OF the charge of cornering Senator DougI.s
ana FORCING from him an answer which menaceo
MS poltlcal future. They relieve Douglas q, a.
accusation of being lacking In acurnen ana .hu.
Inc contention centres the famous ausgs,
freeport conference concerning certain aues,iors
there to be propounded to Senator Douglas
Mr. Carr has prepared All exhaustive nana
upon the interesting subject which was puhI,shas
recently in 1.-The Chicago Record Herald " NJ
taxes up the most important of the four Question,
which Mr.. Lincoln is said TO have propounded y,
senator Douglas at the joint debate held at Free
port Ill., on August q. 1858. which was as folow.-
Can the people of United States Territorv q,
any lawful way, against the wish of any czsn "a "a
me Unlted states exclude slavery from It's lintt,
prior 10 the formation OF a State cOnStitution3
The popular belief has been that Iincoln MA,
advised not to put this question for fear thar :,
would ruin his chances of getting into the Senate
Douglas will adhere TO his doctrine of .squattsr
sovereignty and declare that Territory NAV ar
clude slavery" friend is said to have remarks,
when the question was shown him.
If he does that" said Mr.. Lincoln sba 90,
never be President
But" said the friend. "he may be Senator"
IeIHdpS, IepueU Lincoln nut i am afrar
larger game-the battle of 1850 is worth a. hun
dred of this
After careful scrutiny of the records Of ths
campaign. Mr.. Carr has decided that no such
question could have been considered at the con-
ference. He shows that. while the Freeport meet
ing held August p. Senator Douglas had
already fully answered the proposed question a.
Bloomington the previous July 1S and at spring
field a few days later. He shows. too that MT
Lincoln attended the Douglas meeting at Bloom
ington. These facts sufhcient to convince him
that the question not considered at the Free
port caucus. and that the comments Of Lincoln
thereon are mythical and imaginary.
In concluding the paper. in which much dozen.
meatary evidence is cited. Mr.. Carr saws:
If 1t is true that Senator Douglas had IN Al.
public a manner, before thousands of people Re-
peatedly. long before the Freeport debate declared
question under consideration. as he did al Frsa-
port and that Mr.. Lincoln had heard that ieclars-
that all persons interested in the contest must
known his position ii is cruel and Outra geous
10 say that he was driven into a corner at Free
port and compelled 10 proclaim the doctrine OF
unfriendly islatiOu''-that he forced 10 saw
yes" ''no'-that he had been driven to put his
head into moose and could only hope 10 az
There seems TO be a disposition in some quarters
10 belttle Senator Douglas. There are those who
Lincoln BY doing they are really depreciating
Mr.. Lincoln.
according to the Judgment or the American people,
overcame the mightiest debater and orator in pub
lie life the majesty Of whose forensic power moved
and controlled the United states Senate and vast
assemhages OF people and great representative
conventions, and dictated the policy OF the ma
tion; Il was because Mr.. Lincoln bravey met and
successfully coped with such persOnage. that he
was held In such estimation as to be accorded the
highest honors the people could bestow