Coeur d'Alene evening press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1907-1929, 1908-09-24
Courage Of LincoIn.

The celebration Of various Illinois
towns Of the fiftieth anniversary of
the Llncoln-Douglas debates recalls
the most remarkable oFatOTical con-
terest In the nations history. Lincoln
aud Douglas were rival candidates for
the Illinois senatorship. Lincoln was
the head OF the newly formed Repub-
llcan party in Illinois. Douglas. the
Democratic candidate, was seeking re
election to the United States senate.
The year was 1853. The slavery ques-
ton was the question of the hour, and
practical politicians were handling II
in very gingeriy manner. Douglas
favored nonIntervention with slavery
in the territories. doctrine known as
popular sovereignty" and derided as
"squatter sovereignty" The day fol-
lowing bis selection an candidate for
senator Lincoln. despite the determin-
cd opposition Of his friends and we'll
wlshera, went on record before the
Republican state convention as fol-
lows:
Gentlemen Of the Convention II we
could first know where we are and with
or We are tending. we could then better
Judge what to do and how 70 do IT, We
are now far on into the nth year since a
policy was initiated with the avowed OBJ
lect and confident promise OF putting an
end to slavery agitation. Under the OPP
GRAFTON % that policy that agitation has
not only not ceased but has continually
Al Vk4 aNw.Nl "a
cease until q crisis shah have been reach
ed and passed "A house divided against
Itself cannot stand" l believe this gov
crnment cannot endure permanently half
slave and half free, do not expect the
Union TO be dissolved do not expect the
house 70 fall. but I do expect that II win
cease 20 be divided II will become all
one thing or all the other. Either the OPP
p0uentn 81 slavery will arrest the further
spread of Il and place Il where the pub
lie mind shall rest In the belief that Il IL
IN course OF ultimate extinction or its
advocates will push II forward tai II shall
become alike lawful IN all the states. old
as we'll as new. north as well as south.
Prophetic wordsi What a remarlka-
Bile mental vision Of the futurel What
courage the man who saw It possess
ed mo words so daring" says stod-
iard "No such unequivical state
lnent Of the great problem had yet
been uttered by any man OF political
prominence and power"
Eleven out Of twelve leading men Of
Tlncoln's acquaintance who saw the
speech before II was delivered con-
demned the bold utterance a. mean
Ing the destruction Of the party at the
hands OF It's captain. as being the po-
lltlcal death warrant OF the captain
himself. But Lincoln said. 'If II must
be that so down because Of this
speech. then let me go down linked
10 truth-die In the advocacy OF what
Is right and just"
Then came the debates with Doug
las, They revealed to tho entire Amer
lean people the commanding stature
Of Lincoln as consummate political
tacticlan aud national statesman. Lin.
coin compelled the "I.lttle Giant" to
face and commit himself upon ques.
tlon either answer TO which muse be
fatal to him--it would lose him the
senatorshlp or ALLEVIATE from him the
aouth's support In the coming presi-
DENTAL campaign. Douglas won the
senatorshlp, but Lincoln, who pos
Sessed far more wisdom as well as
courage than his friends, actually
used the debates 10 defeat two years
IN advance his most formidable presi.
DENTAL rival Douglas attitude on
slavery pleased northern Democrats.
who nominated him for the presiden,
~, but the south nominated John c.
arecklnridee instead OF Douglas. and
lincoln was elected.
The Lincoln Douglas debates led 20
he f1lallment Of two Of the chief
propositions Of two Of the great found.
ers OF the Fepubllc--that OF jefferson.
hat human slavery should be abel
shed Ia all the states. and that OF
Hamilton, that this should be not n
mere league % states, but an lndls.
oluble union.