The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1910-03-05
fair advantage tsto those favored its
entrance as a, Slave State.

OF the slave controversy as the FAITH
ers of the Republic had left it. He
stood on Constitutional ground.
The campaign of 1858 opened with
vigor. The Buchanan Democrats, par
ticulary the slave-holding element,
opened a Back fire on Douglas In
front of him and all along the line ap-
peared the giant parsonage of Abraham
Lincoln, the Republican candidate for
Senatorial honors.
Douglas and LINCOLN had been rivals
for years. In early manhood both of
them turned up in Illinois, the former
from Vermont an1 Western New York.
the latter from Kentucky and Indiana
Hardly before the Two men were aware
of it they were crossing their verbal
swords and making the sparks fly.
These two young men, by some
strange caprice of fate, were always
colliding against each other. In pub
lie debates In, eourting the same girl,
III NoiNlllS Ouk HLhSlA poliIlSdl uCStillESD
the big giant and the little were al
ways in strenuous combat.
To compare the two champions Is
natural. Both were born leaders of
men. Both loved the activity and
humanity Of politics. The one a
Democrat, the other Whig, each in
his own peculiar way was safely lodged
in the hearts Of his associates.
Lincoln was tall and homely, Doug
las was short and attractive. Lincoln
lacked the graces of polite society
Douglas was polished and popular in
social circles. Lincoln was a blending
of humor and melancholy, Douglas was
a. daring aggressive, forceful spirit.
Lincoln was a. 'feasoner, Douglas q de-
clairner. Lincoln had been unsuccess-
full in almost every Undertaking, Doug
lag had been favored by the good god,
Bil!iken, all along the way.
The result Of these unique and spec
tac.,lar de!,atestiR set down in history.
Douglas was re-saected Senator over
Lincoln by q sinhu majority though
the Republican State ticket was gen.
orally successful %&
III 1860 Senator Douglas in :the for
ty-seventb year of his age, was nomi-
mated by the Democratic party for
President of the United States. For
years l,e' had patiently labored and
1 waited for this great honor. Strangely
| enougl, the good fortune, which had
| accompanied him all his life thus far,
seemed to forsake him now that his
supreme hour had struck. To analyze
carefully and adequately the, political
situation az it cxisted in 1860 is i'm
possible in a brief sketch like this.
But CERTAIN great currents Of politics
and philosophy con be limited at.
AS Douglas hal been unacceptable to
the Buchanan Democrats In his fight
for the senatorial reelection in 1855
80 his nomination for President in 1850,
was unacceptaJn and unaccepted by
the Democrats of the South, who were
bent on prepetuating the institution OF
Slavery.
The Southern Democrats refused to
follow the banner of Douglas. They
went so far as to split the party wide
open and nominated a second ticket
and call it Democratic. Lincoln, who
was nominated over Seward in the Re-
publican convention, was the standard
bearer of the Republican hosts With
a united Republican party at his back
and a divided Democracy in front OF
him, it was no isuperable thing to be
elected to the White house.
Denied the nomination, when the
nomination meant an election, an1
given the nomination by a divided par
ty when the nomination spelt defeat, il
the melancholy record of Douglas
Presidential aspirations. Had the nom.
ination come to him when he deserved
it (but was passed by for obscure ant
So called available candidates,) he
would doubtless have been elected
President of the United States
Douglas was certainly great 1T
tie man. There have been few lik.
him in American politics. The Dem
ocratic party has never known a great
er or a better exponent of it's prin'
ciples. He was a prince of Democrat!
and he was a king amongst Americans
Loyal to his country, when the Souti
went over to disunion and secession
Douglas was on hand at the inaugura
ton of President Lincoln to demon
strate his patriotism and his loyalty
; 1t is written Of him that as Lincol,
was about to commence his inaugura
address, and looking for place to res
his high silk hat Douglas, seeing tn
l aft,ation in a glance, hastily. arose Ant