The Washburn leader., 1908-09-04
Courage Of Lincoln.

Courage Of Lincoln.
The celebration of various Illinois
towns Of the fiftieth anniversary Of
the Lincoln-D Douglas debates recalls
the most remarkable oratorical con-
terest in the nations history. Lincoln
and Douglas were rival candidates for
the Illinois senatorship. Lincoln was
the head Of the newly formed Repub-
lican 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 1t
in very gingerly manner. Douglas
favored nonintervention with slavery
in the territories, doctrine known as
popular sovereignty" and derided as
'squatter sovereignty" The day fol-
lowing his selection as candidate for
senator Lincoln, despite the determin-
ed opposition of his friends and we'll
wishers, went on record before the
Republican state convention as fol-
lows:
Gentlemen Of the Convention If we
could first know where we are and whith-
er we are tending we could then better
Judge what to do and how to do 1t. We
are now far on into the fifth year since
policy was initiated with the avowed OBJ
ject and confident promise of putting an
end to slavery agitation. Under the OPP
i so hat hot TOD hoe
not only not ceased, but has continually
augmented. In my opinion it will not
cease until crisis shall have been reach
ed and passed. "a house divided against
itself cannot stand" I believe this gov
ernment cannot endure permanently half
Union to be dissolved. I do not expect the
house to fall, but do expect that 1t will
cease to be divided. 1t will become all
one thing or all the other. Either the op-
ponents of slavery will arrest the further
spread Of it and place t'where the pub
lie mind shall rest in the belief that 1t is
in course Of ultimate extinction or Its
advocates will push it forward till 1t shall
become alike lawful in all the states, old
as well as new, north as we'll as south.
Prophetic words! What remarla-
BILE mental vision of the future! What
courage the man who saw 1t possess
ed! "No words so daring" says Stod-
dard. mo such unequivical state
ment of the great problem had yet
been uttered by any man of political
prominence and power"
Eleven out of twelve leading men of
Lincoln's acquaintance who saw the
speech before it was delivered con-
demned the bold utterance as mean
ing the destruction of the party at the
hands Of its captain, as being the po-
litical death warrant Of the captain
himself. But Lincoln said, "If it must
be that I go down because Of this
speech, then let me go down linked
to truth-die in the advocacy of what
is right and just"
Then came the debates with Doug
las. They revealed to the entire Amer
lean people the commanding stature
Of Lincoln as consummate political
tactician and national statesman. Lin
coin compelled the "Lfttle Giant" to
face and commit himself upon a ques-
ton either answer to which must be
fatal to hint would lose him the
senatorship or ALLEVIATE from him the
south's support in the coming presi-
dental campaign. Douglas won the
senatorship. but Lincoln, who pos
sessed fur more wisdom as well as
courage than his friends, actually
used the debates to defeat two years
in advance his most formidable presf-
Dental rival. Douglas attitude on
slavery pleased northern Democrats.
who nominated him for the presiden-
cy, but the south nominated John G.
Breckinridge instead of Douglas, and
Lincoln was elected.
The Lincoln-D Douglas debates led to
the fuldllment Of two of the chief
propositions of two Of the great found
ers of the republic-tha Of Jefferson,
that human slavery should be abol-
ished in all the states, and that Of
Hamilton, that this should be not
mere league of states. but an indis-
soluble union.