Douglas Tottering!
Our conception of the nature of the meeting to take place in Chicago, noticed in yesterday’s paper, has proved to be correct. It has taken place, and is described as a large and enthusiastic meeting of the Democratic party, supporting the Administration and opposed to DOUGLAS. Attempts to break up the meeting were repeatedly made, but failed, through the efficiency of the police. We have no space in our paper to-day to give the account of the meeting or any of the speeches. We hope to be able to give a part of the speeches tomorrow. By this course of the Administration portion of the Democratic party, we suppose that DOUGLAS must fail in his election. The Democratic party and the Black Republican party are nearly equal in strength in Illinois. This movement shows that he cannot command the undivided support of the Democratic party.
For our part, we rejoice in the course the Democratic party has pursued in Illinois. It is plain, from his speech at Chicago, that if he succeeds in getting back to the Senate, he will head the Black Republican movement to overthrow the Conference Act, by attempting to force Kansas into the Union with a population less than that Act requires for admission. The Washington Union puts a correct construction on his designs. To have supported him, after his speech at Chicago, would have been helping him to accomplish and to boast of another victory over the Administration. The Democratic party in Illinois, and the Washington Union, and the Administration, are right in cutting loose from such an arrogant and mischievous foe. He has done more harm to the South and the Administration than a half dozen Black Republicans could effect. Yet after the South had been stricken down by him with the Administration, we saw Southern journals rebuking the Administration for not stooping to conciliate him. They have talked of the Administration making war on DOUGLAS, only because it would not bend to an unconstitutional subserviency and surrender to his imperious will. It gives us pleasure to acknowledge, as we understand matters, that the Administration and its supporters in Illinois have been more faithful in vindicating the rights of the South and the integrity of the Democratic party. One false friend is often worse than a thousand open foes.
When the Abolitionists are thwarted or defeated, they make no terms with their enemies. They make a square fight and keep it up. It has been by this bold and decisive course that they have built up the powerful party which now supports their policy. The South is beaten, and the next day for securing official success hugs her enemies to her bosom. What can be expected from such a union, but weakens and continual overthrow?
