Let the Democracy Speak Out.

2

Thursday, September 23, 1858.

If the Democratic editors all over the Union will speak out as plainly as has the Cincinnati Enquirer, the proscription going on in Washington City against the true Democracy of the northwest, would soon cease. No power on earth can ride down a free people any great length of time, and it is the duty of the President, and all concerned, to shut down the proscription going on against Douglas and the Democracy of Illinois, and the whole northwest. But read the following from the Cincinnati Enquirer on this subject:

Upon the issue of Douglas or Lincoln, Lincoln or Douglas we confess to a serene indifference. – Washington Union.

We do not know who edits or controls the Union; nor is it material to our purpose that we should. We wish to speak in condemnation of the articles upon Illinois politics. It confesses to a "serene indifference" upon the "issue of Douglas or Lincoln, Lincoln or Douglas." If that is really so, why do we find not one word against Lincoln, and all against Douglas? And if it is really as indifferent as it pretends, why meddle at all in the contest? Why not keep silent, and let the Democracy of Illinois settle the matter among themselves?

We wish to say to the Union in all kindness, that its course is exciting a deep indignation all over the West and Southwest. We have the best reasons for saying so, and most painful evidence of the fact. It may think it is damaging Douglas alone; that is a great error, and the sooner it is made aware of that fact, the better for the Administration and the Democratic party.

The opposition papers draw their main support from the columns of the Union. It furnishes them with material to war on every Democratic candidate for Congress in Ohio, Indiana, Pennsylvania, New York and other states. If it would close its columns, shut up shop, and take a nap until the first Monday of next December, the Democracy, North and South, we venture to say, would be under great obligations to it. It is very evident it lacks the tact, and sound comprehensive judgment to be, for a single moment, considered the organ – and we know it is not – of the President and his Cabinet. The Democracy out this way do not feel a serene indifference between Douglas and Lincoln. They are unequivocally for Douglas over his Republican opponent. And that feeling is universal among them. An exception may be found here and there, but very rarely. The Union may learn, therefore, that while it is doing Douglas an injury – if, indeed, such be the case – is doing much more mischief to the Democracy in Ohio and other States.

We thought we would have been saved the necessity of saying what we now have, but the course of the Union has afforded us no alternative. Our party, with which is identified the glory and prosperity of the country, commands our first regards, and we cheerfully give them to it.