Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1911-08-15

FlIIy year ago To-Day IneTS ulcu III LII
cago stephen Arnold Douglas, great as
the leader of the Democratic party.
His death. in the dark days thus early
in the war. was a serious loss to the
Union. for with the first news of SUM
ters fall he had gone to Lincoln, taken
the hand of his old~time political rival,
and had pledged his whole-souled sup
port to the government in its time OF
need.
q million voters to the polls in opposi-
ton to Lincoln's election as president,
meant much TO the cause OF the north.
What Douglas did most northern Gem
ocrats could indorse, for he was idolized
by his party followers as have been FEW
other Americans. His sudden death
brought deep sorrow TO homes from
Maine to Oregon, where the name OF the
Little Giant" had been revered.
Even beyond the Potomac. where north
was now mustered against south, the
news that Douglas was dead caused sim
cere regret, and Alexander H. stephens,
vice PRESIDENT of the Confederacy, could
join with Horace Greeley, of the Tr1o-
une, in. mourning and tribute.
There was the memory of his long
years of leadership in congress, the
young pleader for Andrew Jackson, the
ardent advocate of the occupation or
Oregon and Texas, the opponent OF John
Quincy Adams, of Webster and of Clay,
the apostle of popular sovereignty.
There were his famous debates with
Lincoln, their conflict for senator's seat
and Tor presidents chair, and that last
great campaign of 1860 when Douglas,
with but half of Democracy to support
him, had been conquered by the new,
Ic1ose-knit Republican party.
And last of all there was the mem
DRY Of a Douglas who stood side by side
with that former opponent and who said
that the men of his party should join
with those of Lincoln's, should serve
him as he wished, should forget party
distinctions and remember that there
was but one country, one government
for all.
DOUGLAS AND LINCOLN.
Since that 14th Of April, when he had
come to Lincoln, about to issue his first
CAL for volunteers, and had pledged
him full support in the war ror the
Union, Douglas had thrown himseif near
tily into the fight
To friends in Missouri, where the dis
union spirit was strong, he telegrapneo:
IT deprecate war, but IL 1t must come
I am with my country and for my
country under all circumstances and In
every contingency. 1ndividaul policy
must be subordinated to the public SAFE
ty."
Frequently he was in consultation with
Lincoln, and to him was attributed the
suggestion. after Baltimore had been
closed, of bringing troops to Washington
by way of Annapolis.
Then one day he had come hurrying
into the presidents Office with a tele-
gram stating that Egypt" as south
ern Illinois was called, was tending 10
sympathy with the south and urging
him to come and set things right.
A Vermonter by birth, Illinois was his
state by adoption as it was Lincoln's,
and he had an influence In the southern
Democratic counties greater than that OF
any other man. He saw, too, the military
Importance of holding the Ohio and
Cairo. at its mouth. Should he go. he
asked Lincoln, or could he do more good
in washington?
Lincoln told him to act as he thought
best but added that he could probably
accomplish more in Illinois, Douglas
then shook hands with him and hur-
rIed away to catch the next train west.
1t was the last time that the two men,
old rivals now Joined in one cause,
were to meet.
HIS MISSION TO ILLINOIS.
Through missing a train, Douglas was
detained half day at Bellaire, little
river town of Ohio, situated a short dis
lance below Wheeling where already the
movement was on foot that should re-
suit in the separation Of West Virginia
from the mother state.
The news of Douglas presence brought
crowds about his hotel, clamorons for a
speech From the countryside, from
across the river, by train from Wheel
ing. came men as yet undecided what
course to take-whether to give their
allegiance to north or south-aIl anxious
to hear the great Democrat.
1t was not as Democrat that Douglas
spoke, however. nor as northern man,
but as a supporter OF the union. Unite
as a band of brothers" he pleaded, "and
rescue your government and it's capital
and your country from the enemy who
have been the authors Of your calamity"
AT Columbus, Onio's capital, he again
broke his journey, and at the window of
his hotel bed room he appeared, half
dressed to repeat to the throng that
packed the street his plea for the pres
ervation of the union and his pledge OF
hearty support to Lincoln.
THE SPRINGFIELD SPEECH.
On April Is he reached Springfield, Ill,
where before the state legislature he