The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1913-02-14


ham Lincoln and Stephen A.
Douglas, and yet they constitute to this
day the greatest forensic struggle of
the kind in the history of the nation.
Douglas at the time was United States
senator and was not only the idol of
his party, but was generally regarded
as the most brilliant politician and the
foremost debater in the land. Lincoln
was little known outside of Illinois.
While he had the unanimous support
of his party in the state for United
States senator, his friends had misg1v-
ings that he would not be able to meet
the great Douglas. Lincoln himself
brought about the debates, however,
because he wanted to reach the Demo
Gratis with his arguments.
There were seven of the debates, the
first occurring at Ottawa, seventy miles
southwest of Chicago, on Aug. 81; the
second at Freeport, in the extreme
north of the state, six days later; the
third at Jonesboro, in almost the eX-
IRENE south, on Sept. Is; the fourth at
Charleston. in the east central portion
of the state, three days later; the fifth
at Galesburg, in the western part OF
the state, on Oct. Z; the sixth at Quin-
cy. on the banks of the Mississippi,
Oct. 10. and the last at Alton, short
distance north of st. Louis, Oct. Is.
The arrangements were that Senator
Douglas should open with an hour, Mr..
Lincoln following with an hour and a
half and Douglas closing with half an
hour on the first day, Lincoln opening
with an hour. Douglas following with
an hour and half and Lincoln closing
with half an hour on the second day
and thus alternating regularly.
All of this is now twice told tale,
vet it is one in which the interest Is
perennial Historians are generally
agreed that these debates not only
gave Mr.. Lincoln the Republican nomi-
nation for the presidency, but forced
Douglas into a position where to win
the senatorship he had to ALLEVIATE
southern support, thus dividing the
Democracy in 1860 and making Lin
coins election possible.
The debates naturally created ire
mendous excitement, and the crowds
were record breakers for that day.
Douglas began in a jaunty vein, and
his references to Lincoln were patron
izing. His opponent responded with
straight and serious argument, refus-
ing to resort to the wit for which he
was famous. Mr. Lincoln's chief
weapons were logic and clarity of
statement, and before the struggle was
over he had his antagonist worried.
The Little Giant" lost his temper
on several occasions, INDUCED in per
sonalities and on one occasion charged
Lincoln with attending convention
and helping frame radical set Of reso-
lutons with which he had not the re-
hottest connection. When this trick
was exposed it brought condemnation
on Douglas throughout the land. His
personalities also gave offense. On the
whole, the moral effect Of victory was
with Lincoln. The ability with which
he presented the Republican position
challenged nation wide attention.
The contrast between the two speak
ers was so marked as to be almost
ludicrous. Douglas was as short and
heavy as Lincoln was tall and lean.
Douglas voice was deep. and his
enunciation slow and somewhat pom
derous. Lincoln's voice was pitched
rather high. but had great carrying
power. Douglas sometimes attacked
his audiences, made bitter remarks
about the "Black Republicans" and on
at least one occasion talked about
fighting his opponent. Lincoln was al
ways good natured, eminently fair and
personally respectful in his attitude
Douglas was boisterously cheered for
his oratory, yet his hearers could re-
member little that he said. Lincoln
usually won less partisan applause, but
his points stuck In the minds of his
audiences for years afterward. He at
tempted no flights of rhetoric, no ap-
peals to passion or prejudice, but de-
pended on straight, hard reasoning.
All the meetings were very large,
with the exception of those at Jones'
'boro and Alton. One Of the biggest
was at Galesburg, where the stand
was erected in front of Knox college.
Here the crowd was with Lincoln. At
nearly all of the debates the farmers
drove in for fifty miles around, camp