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

citizen of the United States exclude slavery from
its limits prior TO the formation of d state con-
sttution?
Answer.-lt matters not what way the Supreme
court may hereafter decide as to the abstract ques
ton whether slavery may may not go into
territory under the constitution, the people have
the lawful means to introduce it or exclude it as
they please, for the reason that slavery cannot
exist day hour anywhere, unless it is
supported by local police regulations. Those po-
lice regulations only be established by the
local legislature and if the people are opposed to
slavery they will elect representatives TO that
body who will by unfriendly legislation efectually
prevent the introduction of it into their midst. IT,
on the contrary, they for it, their legislation
will favor its extension. Hence matter what
the decision of the Supreme court may be on that
abstract question, still the right of the people to
make Slave Territory Free Territory is per-
feet and complete under the Nebraska bill.
These Lincon-DougIas debates-sometimes they
are called the "Freeport Debates" because of the
mOmentOus results of the foregoing question and
answer-are unique in history. Never before
or since have two citizens engaged in series of
public discussions under such remarkable circum-
stances While the nominal issue was the election
of members OF the Illinois state legislature which
was to fill the United States senatorshp, for which
the two debaters candidates. the real issue
tremendous in Importance that it
destined within few years to plunge the country
into the greatest civil war of all history So Lin
coin did not eXaggerate when at Quincy, with
The prophets vision, he spoke of the seven debates
as successive acts of drama to be enacted not
merely in the face of audiences like this but in
the face of the nation and to some extent of the
face of the world"
To be sure, the two men were old-time rivals
They had competed in the courts for the hand OF
the same maiden and for political favors. Douglas
had become nationally famous; Lincoln To-
cal celebrity Douglas was the leader of a great
national party; Lincoln was an organizer of new
and untried party. Douglas was the aggressive
creator of the policy of popular sovereignty"
pretending to be Indifferent whether the people
voted slavery up or voted it down." Lincoln was
the earnest defender of the proposition that "all
men are created free and equal" And this time
it contest between them for the United
States senatorship from Illinois.
But Lincoln knew-whether not Douglas
realized the situation-that the contest between
them involved more than election TO the senate.
This is made clear in his speech of acceptance
I of the nomination made by the Republican state
convention the preceding June. Here his i'm
mortal words which sounded the keynote of the
whole momentous issue which was confronting
the nation:
IF we could first know where are, and
whittier we are tending, we could better judge
what to do now, and how to do it. We are now far
into the fifth year since policy was initiated
with the avowed object and confident promise of
putting an end to slavery agitation Under the
operation of that policy, that agitation has not
only not ceased, but has constantly augmented.
In my opinion 1t will not until crisis shall
have been reached and passed. a house divided
against itself cannot stand. believe this govern
ment not endure permanently half slave and
half free do not expect the Union to be dis
solved do not expect the house to fall but do
expect it will cease to be divided. 1t will become
| all one thing, all the other. Either the OPP
| ponents of slavery will arrest the further spread
OF It. and place 1t where the public mind shall rest
in the belief that it is the course of ultimate ex.
tinction, or its advocates will push 1t forward till
it shall become alike lawful in all the states, old
as well as new. north well SOUTH"
| And Illinois knew that this was more than a
personal and local contest between two political
] rivals. Ottawa, aided by the rest of the state
| started off the debates in blaze of glory Rival
/ professions the roar of cannon, city decked with
| hags and an enormous crowd marked the occa-
! sion Each of the debates attracted the same
great crowds. Neither party spared pains or ex-
pense. Delegations marched iD- from every cross
roads within fifty miles, Many of these professions
were a mile long In the main parades were floats
bearing young women representing the states of
| the Union; among the Republican beauties was
| usually one in mOurning-KanSaS-an over the
! Democratic madens foated a banner with the in
scription Protect Us From Negro Husbands"
Finally they all assembled before the grand
stand; seats could be provided for comparatively