Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1910-09-14

when he was 2 months old and the
bachelor uncle who became his guar
dian was CLOSE" and Stephen, in his
young manhood, could not realize his
desire to go to college. Instead, he
was apprenticed to cabinetmaker, a
kindly man who gave him opportu-
mites to read great deal. .
Douglas was only little over five
feet in height when full grown, though
powerful and well knit. His ability
as fighter helped increase his pop
ularity In the new western country
to which he went before he was 20.
In 1888 he arrived in Winchester, ILL.,,
hoping to teach the village school.
However, he got into politics, was
elected district attorney and set out
to organize Morgan county, whig
county, for the Democrats. lie was
successful and went to the legisla-
tIre.
Four months later he was made reg
strar of the land Office at Springfield
and with the federal patronage back
ing he organized the whole state on
the Morgan county plan, creating the
Douglas machine that served as the
basis of his later strength. In 1887,
being not yet %, he received the nom
nation for congress in the northern
district. Twenty votes we're rejected
because his name WIS misspelled and
the law partner OF Lincoln, Stuart,
was declared elected by Ave votes.
Then for three years Douglas con-
fined himself to his law practice. In
1910, however, he became secretary
OF state and year later a justice Of
the supreme court In 1874 he was
elected to congress and remained
there for three successive terms, be-
ing elected United States senator be-
fore his third term closed. The latter
position he held until he died.
lie was good organizer. a good
speaker and good fellow. His POI
litical theories were those of Andrew
jackson A consistent states rights
man, he was a strong union man. He
was democrat in the pre- meaning
OF the word, believed In the rule of
the people and opposed concentration
of power in the hands of few. He
had the qualities that told in new
community. II was approachable,
kind, courageous, good looking. -.
Douglas was IA mixer" Ready of
speech, he was not really eloquent.
He had an answer for every occasion,
could turn question and escape from
a tight corner by adroit twisting. In
his famous debates with Lincoln he
met logic with "bluff" that served
ences went home and thought It over
they saw that Lincoln had made his
point fnr r.,...
Douglas did not at first pay atten.
ton to slavery. lie said II was pure.
ly local issue and should not be dis.
cussed. Then he seems to have been
influenced by two considerations, the
desirability OF placating the south tC
prevent disunion and for the personal
reason that he wanted its vote tC
/ manu- hlH pItSlutnl
Upon his return to Chicago after
showing his attitude, he found the city
intensely indignant toward him. The
city council voted an ordinance re.
lieving citizens from the operation
of the fugitive slave laws and the day
after that a monster mass meeting
was held denouncing the Illinois
statesmen who had voted for SLAYER,
measures. Douglas addressed the peo
pie, explaining his actions, won then
to his side and confidence was voted
In him Thereupon the council re.
scinded the ordinance He was tri
umphantly returned to the senate.
He was a candidate in the presi
dental convention of 1852. His fol
lowers made too much of his you'll
and theirs. Too much was said abou
"old fogies." On the thirthieth bal
lot he received more than ne-fourti
of the votes; then his strength de
clincd.
lie was the father of the Kansas
Nebraska bill, virtually repeating tn,
Missouri compromise, that forbad,
slavery In new territories north of tn,
southern boundary of Missouri. A
first the bill did not contemplat,
slavery in the new territory. But h,
allowed the sympathizers with SLAYER,
to engraft slavery amendments upoI
the bill, He was working to quie
fhp gnIth lint ha arnuaad tho north