The Wolf Point herald. (Wolf Point, Mont.) 1913-1940, 1927-02-11
.incoln-Douglas
Debate Greatest
in Our History

Lincoln first attracted national
attention in the LincOln-DOugiaS
debate in 1858. Concerning this
debate a writer who heard it says:
Both with reference to the ability
of the speakers and its influence
upon opinion and events, il vas
unquestionably the most important
in American history; that the
speeches of Lincoln. published. cir
culated and read throughout the
free states, did more than any other
agency in creating public opinion
which prepared the way for the
overthrow of slavery" 1t was in
speeches in that debate that Lin
coin made frequent Use of the dec
laration that "a house divided
against itself shall not stand a
declaration that is both scriptural
and s~elf-eyident in the application
made by Lincoln: Il believe this
government cannot endure perina-
nently half slave and half free. /
do not expect the house to fall, but
I do expect 1t Will cease to be di-
yided. 1t will become all one thing
or the other. Either the opponents
of slavery will arrest the further
spread of it and place it where the
public mind shall rest in the belief
that it is in the course of ultimate
extinction, or its advocates will
push IL forward until it becomes
alike lawful in all the states, old
as well as new, north as we'll as
SOUTH The position of Douglas
on the question OF slavery was one
of Indifference. In his speeches he
severely criticized the declaration
Of Lincoln and his application of Il
'house divided against itself"
Douglas advocated with all his
power the doctrine OF popular SOW
ereignty'-a proposition which, as
quantity put by Lincoln, meant
that IF one man chooses TO en-
slave another no third man has a
right TO object"
Both Giants In Intellect.
AT the time of this memorable
discussion both Lincoln and Doug
las were in the full maturity of
their powers, says a writer in the
Indianapolis News, Douglas being
at the aye of forty-1ye years and
Lincoln four years his senior.
Douglas had long been recognized
as an able and popular speaker. In
congress and in the United States
senate he had been accustomed to
meet the ablest debaters of the
state and nation. His friends in
sisted that never, either in conflict
with A single opponent. OF when re-
pelling the assaults Of a whole par-
ty had he ever been discounted.
His manner was bold, vigorous and
aggressive. He was ready and flu
ent in language, elegant in diction,
fertile in resources and especially
familiar with political history. Lin
coin was at that time a trained
speaker, having ~contended success
fully at the bar, in the Legislature
people with the ablest men in the
West including Douglas. with
whom he always rather sought than
avoided a discussion. !
Such were the champions who
engaged In that famous discussion
before the people of Illinois, with
the whole nation as spectators and
audience. the political questions
then pending-especially the vital
question relating to slavery. It
was not a single combat, but ex
tended through a whole campaign
The meetings we're held in the open
air, for No hall was large enough
to accommodate the immense
place TO hear the discussion. The
speeches were published in all the
principal newspapers OF the coun
try and were ea9eriy read by a ma
tority of The voters i'll the United