The Wilmington morning star., 1940-09-02
WASHINGTON
DAYBOOK
BY JACK STuNNETT

WASHINGTON, Sept. l.. History lesson:
There has been a great deal of talk of late
about the Lincoln-Douglas debates, and of
whether they established political precedents.
I have run across some sidelights which
seem to me far too interesting to be buried
in history books.
The debates were held in 1858, when Stephen
A. Douglas, the senatorial incumbent was rum
ing for reelection and Rail-splitter Abe Lin
coin, a newcomer in national politics, was en-
deavoring to upSeat him.
MANY WERE INFORMAL
The debates started, and many of them were
continued, on a purely informal basis. Senator
Douglas would appear for a scheduled speech.
Sometimes when he was well along, gangling
Abe would show up Longing around the rim
of the crowd, and, either by accident or de-
sign, Republicans in the audience would de.
mand to hear from Lincoln after Douglas had
completed his address. Sometimes the two did
not appear on the platform on the same day.
There is a story that Douglas, driving into
a southern Illinois town for a scheduled speech,
met Lincoln rushing to the town Douglas had
just appeared in to make his rebuttal address.
1.-THE Little Giant hailed his opponent and
said, ABE, you better come on back and ar
que with me here. With me along, you'll get
an audience
NONE IN 1860
In 1860, when Lincon was nominated at
Chicago and Douglas at Baltimore (after the
first Democratic convention at Charleston had
deadlocked and rebellious, fire-eating south
erners withdrew to name their own candidate)
there were no debates.
AS a matter of fact, Lincoln did no active
campaigning, remaining in Springfield to
answer correspondence and receive delega-
tons. Douglas did campaign. When he start.
ed speaking in Maine, it was almost a political
scandal, because for 70 years it had been a
tradition that presidential candidates should
never SO far stoop from dignity as to make
speeches for office.
By the time Douglas had swung into the
South, it is said, he was weary, discouraged
and perhaps convinced that Lincoln would win.
At any rate, he opened his st. Louis speech
with: I am not here tonight to ask for your
votes for the Presidency. . . 1 am here to
make an appeal to you on behalf of the union
and the peace of the country" From then on
The Little Giant pleaded more for the cause
of the union than for his candidacy.
PLEDGED HIS SUPPORT
When Lincoln came to Washington for his
inaugural, one of the first to greet him at the
Willard hotel was Douglas, his longtime foe,
and it is reported that Douglas, gripping Lin
coins hand, said:
"You and 1 have been for many years poll
tically opposed to each other, but in our de-
votion and attachment to the Constitution and
the union, we have never differed-in this we
are one-this must and shall not be destroyed.
Our union must be preserved. Partisan feeling
must yield to patriotism. 1 am with you, Mr..
President, and God bless you.'
When Lincoln later made his inaugural ad-
dress and stood hesitantly a moment before
the cluttered, rickety table, debating what to
do with his tall beaver hat, it was Democratic
Sen. Stephen A.. Douglas who stepped to his
side, took the hat and held it throughout the
remon a