Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1913-02-16
THE LINCOLN-DOUGLAS
DEBATES.
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since the Famous debates occurred Dt-
| tween Abraham Lincoln and stephen
A. Douglas and yet they constitute
to this day the greatest forensic strug-
| gle Of the kind in the history of tho
nation. Douglas at the time was
| United States senator ana was not
only the idol Of his party but was
generally regarded as the most brill
| liant politician ana the foremost de-
| batter in the land. Lincoln was little
known outside Of Illinois. While no
had the unanimous support of his
! party in the state for United states
senator, his friends had misgivngs
that he would not be able TO meet tho
| great Douglas. Lincoln himself
brought about the debates, however,
because he wanted TO reach the DEM
| ocrats with his arguments.
Seven in All.
There were seven of the debates,
/ the first occurring at ottawa, seventy
miles southwest Of Chicago, on Aug
ust 81; the second at I'reeport, in the
extreme north of the state, six days
later; the third at Jonesboro, in al
most the extreme south, on September
+ 10; the fourth at Charleston, in tho
east central portion of the state, three
, days later; the fifth at GalcsburG In
/ the western part Of the state, ON Oc-
/ tobcr 4 the sixth at quincy ON the
/ banks Of the Mississippi October l3,
and the last at Alton, a short distance
north Of st. Louis, October IS
The arrangements were that Sena-
rto Douglas should open with an hour,
Mr.. Lincoln following with aI-hour
and Douglas closing with half an hour
on the first day, Lincoln opening with
an hour, Douglas following with an
hour and a half and Lincoln closing
with half an hour on the second day
and thus alternating regularly.
All of this is now twice told tale,
yet it is one in which the interest IS
perennial Historians are generally
agreed that these debates not only
gave Mr. Lincoln the republican nom
lnation for the presidency but forced
Douglas into a position where to win
the senatorship he had to ALLEVIATE
southern support, thus dividing tho
democracy in 1860 and making Lin
coins election possible.
The debates naturally created tre-
mcndous excitement and the crowds
were record breakers for that day
Douglas began in a jaunty vein, and
his reference to Lincoln were patron
i2ing. His opponent responded with
straight and serious argument rcfus-
d.. I, l.
was famous. Mr.. Lincoln's chief
weapons were logic and clarity Of
statement, and before the struggle
was over he had his antagonist wor-
ried
The Little Giant lost his temper
on several occasions, induging in per-
sonalities and on one occasion charged
Lincoln with attending a convention
ana helping frame radical set OF
resolutios with which he had not the
rcmotcst connection When this trick
was exposed it brought condemnation
on Doug'as throughout the land. His
personalities also gave offense. on the
whole, the moral effect of victory was
with Lincoln. The ability with which
challenged nation wide attention.
The contrast between the two
speakers was so marked as to be al
most ludicrous. Douglas was as short
and heavy as Lincoln was tan and
lean. Douglas voice was deep, and
his enunciation slow and somewhat
pondorous. Lincolns voice was pitch
ed rather high but had great carry
ing power, Douglas sometimes at
tackled his audience, made bitter re-
marks about the "blaclt republicans"
and on at least one occasion talked
about fighting his opponent Lincoln
was always good natured, eminenuy
fair and personally respectful in his
attitude.
Douglas was bOisterously cheered
for his oratory, yet his hearers could
remember little that he said. Lincoln
usually won less partisan applause,
but his points stuck in the minds Of
his audience for years afterwards. He
attempted no flights of rhetoric no
appeals to passion or prejudice, but
depended on straight, hard reasoning.
Wide Interest.
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 i'm 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
ing out on the prairie where accom-
modations could not be found. Re-
porters were present from the big pa
pers.J one or more of the New York
dailies and nearly all those Of Chicago
being represented.
Noted Second Question.
The debate that has taken the chief
place in history was that at Freeport
Here Lincoln propounded his famous
second question regarding the right Of
the people Of n territory to exclude
slavery before the adoption Of con-
stitution. Douglas had asked Lincoln
a number of questions at Ottawa, and
at Freport, which was the next meet
ing point, Lincoln said he would re-
ply to his opponents inteyrogations
if Judge Douglas would answer an
equal number. When asked directly IL
he would accept the terms Douglas
remained silent Lincoln then said
he would answer his opponents mes