The Canvass in Illinois.

1

Tuesday, August 31, 1858.

No canvass in Illinois has ever excited so much attention out of the State as does the present one. Its progress appears to be watched with much of the anxiety of a battle between two contending armies, on the result of which great consequences hang, and the suspense of the balance is regarded in every quiver of the beam with a precision almost mathematical. Our own feelings and faith are with the Republican cause, and with Mr. LINCOLN, its honest veteran standard-bearer. We content for principles that we have cherished and followed through life. With him we expect success. In his election we expect to record simply a triumph of the pure and generous principles of the Republican party. We urge a CONSOLIDATION of the friends of these high minded, hearty, whole-souled principles in his favor, for that end. We urge this CONSOLIDATION of Republican feeling and action as against all opponents whatever. It matters not with us whether the opponents of Republican principles, which it is the mission of our party to protect and advance, divide into two or ten factions, or what may be the degree of hatred which those several factions bear to each other – it is sufficient for us to know, that each in their feelings toward us would tear the Republican party to pieces and sink their principles if they could. The soil of Illinois was never tred upon by a more violent and vindictive opponent of those principles than Stephen A. Douglas. Two years ago, this Mr. Douglas materially assisted in procuring the electoral vote of this State to be cast for James Buchanan, because he was opposed to the principles of the Republican party. They have since quarrelled, it would seem. Buchanan accuses Douglas of conspiring with the Republicans to defeat his Administration – Douglas accuses Buchanan, in retort, of conspiring with the Republicans to defeat his re-election to the U. S. Senate – but both claim that their title to be called "Democrats" is proven beyond all question from the peculiar hatred that they bear to the Republican party and its principles! The republicans, for themselves, do not see why such a plea of enmity to them by these factions constitutes a valid inducement to warrant their friendship. The two things appear to them to be as unreasonable and irreconcileable as "popular sovereignty" and the Dred Scott decision, which Mr. Douglas pretends to mix up and harmonize in the same democratic bottle. Consequently, with us, the features of the canvass are much as in years heretofore – A CONTEST FOR REPUBLICAN PRINCIPLES, against all opposition. Fellow Republicans, such is the object for which we work. To make our principles triumphant is our duty. The anxiety to see how well we discharge this duty now occupies the free mind of other States. Be vigilant, be firm, be true to your cause, and yours will be the victory!