Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1920-02-10

stirred him deeply and he again making
political addresses on the slavery situation. He
and Douglas were quickly engaged In a forensic
duel. In 1856 at the organization of the Repub-
lican party at Bloomington H.. Lincoln made an
impressive speech, which fixed his position as
leader of the antslavery forces in Illinois. There
was civil war in Kansas and slavery was the issue
of the day In June of 1857 at Springfield. Ill.,,
Douglas made elaborate address the Kansas
Nebraska act and the bred Scott decision. Two
weeks later Lincoln made telling reply.
Thus the two great protagonsts were in fighting
array as the 1858 election of a successor to SEN
ator Douglas drew Douglas was unopposed
in his own party and the Republican state conven-
ton of June 6, 1853 nominated Lincoln
The battle in full swing. Douglas
assumed the offensive and Lincoln logged his foot
steps. After each had made speeches Lincoln. with
his unfailing political shrewdness, challenged
Douglas to a formal debate the questions at
issue. He wanted a chance to pin the elusive
Douglas down to facts. Douglas made the mistake
of accepting the challenge. The terms provided
that%the men should meet in seven congressional
distrcts-they had already spoken In the districts
in which Chicago and Springfield were located.
The meeting places and dates were: Ottawa, Au-
gust 81; Freeport, August 27; JonesborO Septem-
Der 10; Charleston, September 10; Galesburg Oc-
tober z; Quincy, October 10; Alton, October Is.
Douglas insisted on a schedule that gave him four
coin agreed; he wanted a chance at the Demo
Gratis who would be sure to stay to the end of at
least four of the debates.
Under these circumstances and conditions there
FORE Lncons question at Freeport put Douglas
on the horns of an awkward dilemma If he an
swered mo" he would be going back on his own
doctrine of popular sOvereignty"-whch his
enemies called "pro-slavery" and considered his
bid for Southern votes at such time 1t might
IT., Co.. q hoe ~
he would place himself on record as denying the
doctrine of the bred Scott decision that slaves
were property.
Lincoln's reading of the situation was that
Douglas would not dare to say "No" and would
choose to say Eyes, And if he denied that slaves
were property and could be handled like any
other property he would antagonze the slavery in
terests ALLEVIATE the Southern democracy and
make 1t possible for him to achieve the presidency.
Douglas said "Yes," as Lincoln had foreseen
In the election for senator the Republican ticket
received 12543O votes and the Democratic ticket
I21609. But by virtue of unfair legislative ap-
portionment the Democrats had 81 votes on Joint
ballot in the general assembly and the Republicans
4e. So Douglas vas reelected senator
In the presidential election of 1860 the South
turned against Douglas and the Democratic party
was split in two. Douglas was nominated by q
faction of it. With Douglas of Illinois as the can
didate Of the Northern Democrats, the Republicans
wee compelled to nominate a candidate from ILL.,
nois The logic of the situation forced the nomi-
nation of Lincoln.
Douglas was defeated for the presidency as
Lincoln had foreseen.
Out of Lincoln's election came the Civil War
Out of the Civil War came Lincoln's Emancipa
ton Proclamation. Thus Lincoln fulfilled his own
prophecy:
ga house divided against itself cannot stand
I believe this government cannot endure perna-
nently haf-slave and half-free 90 not expect
the Union to be dissolved do not expect the
house fall; but do expect it will cease to be
divided"
And all this goes straight back TO that question
asked by Abraham Lincoln and answered by
Stephen A. Douglas August 81 1855 at Free
port, ILL.,