The Logan Republican. [volume] (Logan, Utah) 1902-1924, 1907-02-27

JOSHUA f. SPEED.
ceeds Of the sales Of the public lands
In the nomenclature of Illinois, its
members might have been called nom
inal Jackson men"-that Is to say, men
who continued to act with the Demo
cratic party while disavowlng It's
cardinal principles traders, trlmmerss
cautious schismatics who argued the
cause Of Democracy from brief fur
nlshed by the enemy. The diversion
in favor Of white was Just to the hand
Of the WhIgs. and they aided 1t in ev-
cry practicable way. Always for an
expedient when IN expedlent would
answer. a compromise when compro-
mise would do, the "hand" Mr.. Lin
coin Showed" at the opening Of the
campaign contained the white card
among the highest OF Its trumps. "If
alive on the FIRST Monday in November,
I shall vote for Hugh l.. White for
president" A number of local Demo
cratic politicians assisting him to play
It, II won the game In 1886, and Sanga-
mon county went over to the wings.
At this election Mr.. Douglas was
made u representative from Morgan
county. along with Colonel Hardin,
from whom he had the year before
taken the states attorneyship. The
event Is notable principally because
Mr. Douglas was nominated by con-
vention and not by the old system of
self announcement. which, under the
influence of eastern immigrants. like
himself, full of party zeal and attached
TO the customs Of the places whence
they came, was gradually but surely
falling into disfavor. Mr.. Douglas
served only one session and then be-
came register of the land office at
Springfield. The next year lie was
nominated for congress In the Peoria
district under the convention system,
and In the same year Colonel Stephen
son was nominated for governor In the
same way. The Wings were soon COM
PEELED to adopt the device which they.
saw marshallng the Democrats in q
state Of complete discipline while they
themselves We're disorganized by host
OF volunteer candidates and the opera
lions of innumerable cliques and fac
lions. At first sit was considered
Yankee contrivance," intended TO
abrdge the liberties OF the people. but
the Wing people" were as fond OF
victory. offices and power rs their en-
emies We're, and In due time they took
very kindly to this effectual means Of
gaining them. \ speech OF EbeneZer
Peck of Chicago before a great meet
Ing OF the lobby during the special SEES
sion Of 1896 at Vandalia." being
production of special ingenuity and
power, Is supposed to have contributed
largely to the introduction Of the con.
ventlon system into the middle and
southern parts of the state. Mr.. Peck
was then Il fervent Democrat w''om
the Whigs delighiol 3 o. 4.
he was the =
their great leAticI, AuIl..'ft
IL was when the counters 90 So Al
land Offices were piled high with illu.
sorry bank notes In exchange for pub
lie lands and when IL was believed that
the west was now at last about to
bound forward In career OF unexam-
pied prosperity under the forcing proc
ess OF public improvements by the
states, with the aid and countenance
Of the federal government, that Mr..
Lincoln went up TO attend the first SEES.
sion OF the new legislature at Van
dalia. He was big with projects. His
real public service was just now about
TO begin. In the previous legislature
he had been silent, observant. studlous.
He had improved the opportunity so
well that OF all men In this new body'
Of equal age In the service Ire was the
smartest parliamentarian and the Gun
Ringest "log roller" He WAS fully dc.
termIned to identify himself consplcu-
ously with the "liberaI legislation In
contemplation and dreamed of fame
very different from that which he ac-
tunlly obtained as an antislnvery lead
er. 1t was about this time that he told
his friend Mr. Speed that he aimed at
the great distinction OF being called
''the De Witt Clinton of Illinois"
Meetings with view to this sort Of
legislation bad been held In all or near
ly oil the co7nyes In the state during
the preceding summer and fail Hard
money, strict construction. no monop.
oily, anuprogressive Democrats wero IN
q sad minority. In truth, there was
little division Of parties about these
matters, which were deemed 80 essen
tinl to the prosperity of new state.
There was Mr.. Lincoln ard there was
Mr.. Douglas In perfect unison as to
the grand object to be accomplished.
but MORALLY jealous as TO which should
take tho lead In accomplishing 1t.
Mr., Lincoln served on the committee
On finance and was q most laborlous
emberLlnstant In season and out-of