Cheering News.
The campaign in Illinois goes bravely on. Douglas is “carrying the war into Africa,” and assails, without fear or favor, the hybrid opposition arrayed against him. He exposes alike the ultra, and dangerous fanaticism of Lincoln, and the mercenary and malevolent machinations of the satellites of the administration. He is every where [everywhere] greeted with enthusiasm, and his fearless and man’y course, both in the Senate, and at home, is raising up for him a host of friends, even among those who have for years opposed him.
The last move of his Administration opponents will be worth thousands of votes to him; the famous Col. Clarkson, of Lecompton notoriety, having retired from the Post Office of this city, has been imported into Springfield, Illinois, where he is now editing an Administration and Anti-Douglas paper. A fugitive, as he is, driven out by the hatred and contempt of our citizens, he will find congenial employment in the dirty work required of a pensioned editor in a most infamous cause.
If the people of Illinois will tolerate such men, we can send them many more of the sweepings of the Augean stables of Lecompton politics. It would be a most benevolent design on their part to establish a hospital for the diseased and decayed political hacks, who have spent their scanty fortunes, and still more scanty reputations in patriotic labors to subdue, swindle and degrade the people of Kansas.
We know the people of Illinois must look upon such fugitives from justice with contempt and disgust; yet we hope for the sake of the good cause, they will tolerate Clarkson and his sheet. Their opposition will be a tower of strength to Douglas.
The Republicans base their only hope of success upon the supposed disaffection in the democratic ranks. They forget that those who lead in this so-called disaffection are utterly destitute of moral strength – their opposition to Douglas is either purely vindictive, or purely mercenary – they are leaders, without followers.
This attempt of the Republicans to cultivate this office-holders crusade, and the ill-concealed alliance to compass the defeat of Douglas, is looked upon with disfavor by all honest Republicans in all parts of the country. It is creating a sympathy and enthusiasm in favor of Douglas, which will carry him back to the Senate with a unanimity and prestage [prestige], such as he could not have hoped, had the canvass been confined to strict and honorable party warfare.
