Chicago (IL) Press and Tribune, "The Charleston Debate," September 21, 1858

THE CHARLESTON DEBATE.

We print this morning the fourth great debate between Mr. Lincoln and Mr. Douglas. It came off at Charleston, Coles County, on Saturday last, commencing about 3 o’clock P. M. The crowd was enormous beyond precedent for that section of the State – not differing more than two or three thousand, in point of numbers, from Ottawa and Freeport audiences. The enthusiasm on both sides was tumultuous and unflagging, and the whole marks perhaps the greatest political event of the Eastern and Central portion of the State.

We regard this debate as the GREAT TRIUMPH of the campaign for the friends of Mr. Lincoln. It is unquestionably the strongest effort put forth by that gentlemen since the inauguration of the joint discussions, and in its immediate effects upon the audience his concluding half hour surpassed anything yet brought forward in the heated contest. The readers of the debate will perceive whether the storm of applause which followed almost every sentence was property bestowed or not.

We will not comment further at this time than to observe that Mr. Lincoln has again produced a wholly new argument, while Mr. Douglas has again rehearsed, with a few alterations, his Jacksonville speech, and the “same old speech,” which did its last duties at Jonesboro. If Mr. Douglas can afford to give his green-room performance at all the joint discussions as well as all his private gatherings, it is of course his business and not ours.