The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1910-03-05
One of the Great Men Who
Will Live Long in
History.
He Was Born in Vermont,
Where Democrats Are
Scarce.
As Orator and Politician He
Came to His Own in
Illinois.

Illinois. |
Some great men have been elected
President OF the United States. Some
great men have been defeated in their
Presidential aspirations Whether
those who were elected, great and
small just as they ran, will live as long
in history as those who failed is
! conundrum, writes John Sayles in the
National Monthly of Buffalo, N. Y.
for March.
Aaron Burr, Dewitt Clinton, Henry
Clay, Daniel Webster, Stephen A.
Douglas, not to mention more recent
; names, were all men of large parts in
their age and generation. Barring the
names of George Washington, Thomas
Jefferson, Andrew Jackson and Abra-
ham Lincoln, one will have to search
long to find names of Presidents which
will rank in history with those five
unsuccessful seekers after the White
House CHAIR
That Stephen A. Douglas was con-
summate politician history easily
demonstrates. Endowed with genius
for public speech, and fondness for
public life. he naturally gravited into
politics. From the outstart he was q
Democrat. Born in Vermont, where
Democrats are scarce and where poll
tical integrity is maintained by con-
stant battle, it was easy for him to
hold fast, to the faith. ST;
AS Democratic politician and ora
tor Douglas came to his own in the,
State of Illinois. Settling in the Pra:-,
irie State while young man he act
lively engaged in the concerns Of his
adopted Commonwealth. State At
torney- General, Member of the Legis-
lature and Representative to Congress
in turn, he rose step by step until he
was elected to the United States
Senate.
In 1882 the name Of Douglas ap-
peared before the Democratic National
Convention and was warmly supported.
In 1856 it again figured largely in the
balloting at the Democratic National
Convention. In both of these cam
paigns he was q conspicuous advocate
of Democratic measures and candidates,
and for his efficient service became
generally know as the Little Giant"
The commanding years of Douglas
life were those from 1852 to 1860
Though others received higher honors
from the Democracy than Douglas
there were none who so engaged the
attention and possessed the hearts Of
his party comrades as the eloquent
Democratic champion from Illinois.
There were other giants in those
days. Some were passing and others
appearing. Clay, Calhoun and Web
ster crossed swords with Dougles in
debate, but these three in 1850 were
feeble and were presently to pass on.
Seward, Chase and Greeley were soon
to fill large places in public life. But
speaking Of the period of 1852-185s, it
cannot be fairly said that they had in
the largest sense arrived. In 1858
Douglas was at his best. His term
us United States Senator from Illinois
was ending and his campaign for re-
| election was on.
To get correct understanding Of
the magnitude Of the task before him,
the reader must bear in mind that
Douglas had two kinds of adversaries,
those in front Of him styled Republi-
cans, and those in the rea, Buch-
anan or Administration Democrats.
In studying the cause of this clash
between President Buchanan and Sen
ator Douglas 1t appears that the Presi-
dent had offended Douglas by his atti-
tude on the proposed admission of
Kansas as q State. The Admfoistra-
tion Democrats, headed by Buchanan,
favored what is known as the Lecomp-
ton Constitution, measure which,
while leaving it TO the people Of Kan
sas to decide whether the State should
come in as Slave or Free, gave an un-
)