1

Senator Douglas is Dead.

Our flag is at half-mast — our people are sad, and our paper is dressed in mourning. A great and a patriotic American statesman has gone to his grave. We can hardly realize the fact that DOUGLAS is dead. It seems but yesterday that his voice, a very trumpet call, rang over valley, hill and mountain, rallying the loyal of our land to the support of the American Government and the American flag. We have opposed him politically, warmly, and with a determination to defeat him in his aspirations and his measures, if possible. But, in the hottest of the conflict we have ever respected him for the manly front he presented to every foe. He was a determined, fearless party leader. He wielded more influence than any other one man in America. — In his warfare with Buchanan he gave evidence of his mighty power. Without office to bestow — without patronage to distribute, he weaned the great mass of the Democratic party from the support of the administration, and rallied them beneath his own standard. Betrayed at Charleston, belied and betrayed throughout the South, he yet led every candidate, except his successful rival and friend, LINCOLN, in the late presidential struggle, in the popular vote. — His party loved him and all classes respected him. He came to Illinois a poor boy — without money, and without influential friends. The hardy pioneers of Morgan and Scott counties, soon learned and appreciated his talents, and made him their representative in the legislature of the State. Elsewhere we give his biography, for which we are partially indebted to the America Cyclopedia, published by Appleton & Co. Suffice it to say, in a few brief years he rose from an Illinois school teacher to the head of the list of American Statesmen. In the House of Representatives and in the Senate, he never forgot the State that had honored him. The Illinois Central railroad is only one of the many great Western enterprises that stand as monuments to perpetuate his fame. As a popular debater and a party leader, he stood unrivalled in America or the world. His political speeches were the admiration of his party, and commanded the attention and close study of his enemies. He is dead. The mighty party leader, the wise statesman, and the pure patriot is sleeping the last long sleep of death. He was human, and he had his faults. They are buried with him. He had his virtues, and they will shine while American history is read. He died in a gloomy hour, but ere he went he saw the sunbeam streaming through the cloud. He saw his country engaged in civil strife, but he saw his own brave North united in support of the flag of his native land. He saw party chains melt in the crucible of patriotism. It was his proud privilege, and oh, it was worth a lifetime of struggle, to stand before his countrymen, and urge them with all the power of his eloquence to rally beneath and uphold the Stars and Stripes in this dark hour when traitor hands are upraised to tear it down. His last two speeches, one in this city and the other in Chicago, shed fadeless lustre on his name. He was for his country and against all assailants. He is dead. Relatives and friends weep, a party mourns, a nation is shrouded in gloom. Peace to his ashes. The light of a great intellect has gone out — the voice of a wise statesman is hushed and a warm and generous heart is still and cold.