The Dolores star., 1920-02-06

fuI way. against the wish of any
citizen ot the United States exclude slavery from
its limits prior to thc formation Of state
stitUton?
AnSwer.-It matters not what way the Supreme
c"urt may hereafter decide the abstract qucs
tiom whether slavery may may not 20 into
territory under the constitution, the people have
III" lawful means 10 introduce il or exclude II nS
ticy please. for the reason that slavery cannot
exist day or an hour anywhere. unless it is
supported by local police regulations. Those po
Hce regulations can only be established 10y the
local Legislature: and If the people are opposed TO
slavery, they VIII elect representatives to that
body who will by untrendly Legislation efTectuaiy
prevent the Introduction of It into their midst. IT,
the contrary they are for it, their legislation
will favor its extension. Hence no matter what
the decision of the Supreme court may be that
abstract question, still the right of the people to
make Slave Territory Il Free Territory is per
feet and complete under the Nebraska bill.
These LincoIn-Douclas debateS-sometues they
are called the "Freeport Debates" because of the
montcntouS results Of the foregoing question and
answer-are unique in our history. Never before
since have citizens engaged in Il series OF
public discussions under such remarkable circum-
staftceS. While the nominal issue the election
Of members OF the Illinois state legislature which
fill the United States scnatorship. for which
the two debaterS were candidates, the real issue
tremendous in Importance that 1t was
destined within 81 few years TO plunge the country
nto The greatest civil war of all history SO Lin
c,''n did not cXnggerate when at Quincy, with
thr prpphet'S vision he spoke of the seven debates
successive acts of drama to be enacted not
iAcrcly in the face Of audiences like this, but in
the face of the nation and 10 some extent of the
face Of the world
TO be sure. the men 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-
ca! celebrity. Douglas the leader of "a
national party; Lincoln was organizer of "A
aud untred party. Douglas the aggressive
creator of the policy of popular sovereignty"
pretending be Indifferent "whether the people
voted slavery up voted it down" Lincoln
the earnest defender of the proposition that "alI
created free and equal" And this time
1t a contest between them for the United
States senatorship from Illinois.
But Lincoln knew--whether or 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
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 confronting
the nation:
"If we could first know where we are and
whittier tending. could better Judge
what to do now. and how to do it. We now far
into the fifth year since policy was initiated
with the avowed object and confident promise of
putting end to slavery agitation. Under the
operation of that policy, that agitation has not
only not ceased. but has constantly augmented
In my opinion. it will not until crisis shall
have been reached and passed. "A house divided
against itself cannot stand. l believe this govern
ment not endure permanently half slave and
half free. do not expect the Union be dis
solved; do not expect the house fall but do
expect it will cease to be divided. II will become
all one thing or all the other. Either the op-
poner:s Of slavery will arrest the further spread
of It, and place it where the public mind shall rest
ia the belief that 1t is the of ultimate ex.
tnctIon, its advocates will push 1t forward till
1t shall become alike lawful In all the states old
as well as new north as well as SOUTH
And Illinois knew that this was more than n
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 of cannon, a city decked with
flags and enormous crowd marked the occa-
sion. Each of the debates attracted the same
great crowds. Neither party spared pains or ex-
pense. Delegations marched in from every cross
roads within fifty miles Many of these professions
n mile long. In the main parades were floats
bearing young women representing the states of
the Union; among the Republican beauties was
usually in mournng-kansas-and over the
Democratic maidens foated banner with the in
scrtpton. Protect Us From Negro Husbands"
Finally they all assembled before the grand
stand seats could be provided for comparatively