probability-he will have to do that; in the congressional arena, the words of debaters are snatched from their lips, as it were, and immediately enter into and become a permanent part of the literature of the country. But it seems, from the difference between the two versions of Lincoln's speech, that the Republicans have a candidate for the Senate of whose bad rhetoric and horrible jargon they are ashamed, upon which, before they would publish it, they called a council of "literary" men, to discuss, re-construct and re-write; they dare not allow Lincoln to go into print in his own dress; and abuse us, the TIMES, for reporting him literally. We also printed Senator Douglas literally. Our accomplished reporters alone are responsible to us for the accuracy of our version of both speeches. There is no orator in America more correct in rhetoric, more clear in ideas, more direct in purpose, in all his public addresses, than Stephen A. Douglas. That this is so, is not our fault, but rather it is the pride of the Democracy of Illinois and of the Union. [Galesburg, Ill., Democrat, October 13, 1858] One Hundred and Eighty Mutilations Made in Lincoln's Speech by The Chicago Times!! We had heard of the numerous frauds to which the Douglas party resort to mislead the public mind, beginning with the forgery of the platform at Ottawa and ending with Douglas' declaration that Mr. Lincoln is hired by the Illinois Central Railroad Company, at $5,000 per year, to cheat the State of its 7 per cent. dividends of the earnings of the Road (the very post occupied by Mr. Douglas), but were not prepared for such rascality as is exhibited in the Times' report of the debate in this place. There is scarcely a correctly reported paragraph in the whole speech! Many sentences are dropped out which were absolutely necessary for the sense; many are transposed so as to read wrong end first; many are made to read exactly the opposite of the orator's intention, and the whole aim has been to blunt the keen edge of Mr. Lincoln's wit, to mar the beauty of his most eloquent passages, and make him talk like a booby, a half-witted numbskull. By placing him thus before their readers they hope to disgust the people with Mr. Lincoln, and at least keep them at home if they do not vote for Douglas. Even that beautiful apostrophe, quoted from the "REVERED CLAY," as Douglas hypocritically called him at the Bancroft House, could not go unmutilated. We have taken the pains to go over the reports of the speeches carefully and note the material alterations-saying nothing of long passages, where the Times' Reporter appeared to aim only at the sense, without giving the language-and find that they number ONE HUNDRED AND EIGHTY! We believe that an action for libel would hold against these villains, and they richly deserve the prosecution. [Chicago Times, October 12, 1858] GARBLING SPEECHES.-THE OLD CHARGE We do not mean, by this remark, to cast any imputation of unfairness on Mr. Hitt, the reporter for the Press and Tribune; such imputation would be unjust, as we have reason to believe. Our controversy is not with the reporter at all; for even if he should maltreat Senator Douglas' speeches, he would do so under instructions; he being the employee of our neighbor, he could not relieve the editors of the odium of the act. But such are the facts; we give them, not because we feel very deeply on this point, but to put the public right with regard to them. We can prove their proof by Mr. Hitt himself, if he will go upon the stand under oath. Even, however, after Senator Douglas' speeches are marred by striking out words, here and there, by mangling sentences to hide their meaning, by mis-punctuations, etc. etc.—and after re-writing and polishing the speeches of Lincoln, those of Douglas so much excelled those of his opponent, in all respects, that we cannot find it in our hearts to complain much. Poor Lincoln requires some such advantage-though it be mean-in his contest with the irresistible advocate of liberal principles-the acknowledged champion of living principles in Illinois. [The Daily Whig, Quincy, Ill., October 16, 1858] Douglas carries around with him a reporter by the name of Sheridan, whose business it is to garble the speeches of Mr. Lincoln, and amend and elaborate those of Douglas, for the Times. As almost everybody present on Wednesday could hear Mr. Lincoln distinctly, and not a hundred in the crowd could understand Douglas, we are curious to see the report that this fellow Sheridan will give of the speeches. Our word for it, he will serve his master to the best of his ability, and lie about the whole proceedings. CHAPTER V THE OTTAWA DEBATE [Chicago Press and Tribune, August 18, 1858] THE GREAT DEBATE AT OTTAWA The first grand encounter between the champions of Slavery and Freedom,-Douglas and Lincoln,-takes place at Ottawa on Saturday afternoon, Aug. 21st. A special train will leave the Rock Island depot at 8 A. M., passing Blue Island at 8:45, Joliet at 9:55, Morris 10:50, and Ottawa at 11:45, which will give plenty of time for dinner, to arrange the preliminaries, and to prepare the polemic combatants for the contest. The train will leave Ottawa on its return at 6 P. M. and will be back in Chicago at 9:45. Passengers will be carried the round trip for half-fare from all the stations above named. How big a crowd is going from this city? The Lincoln boys should be on hand. [Chicago Press and Tribune, August 21, 1858] Special Despatch to Press and Tribune. OTTAWA, Aug. 20, 1858 Lincoln will take the Special Train from Chicago at Morris tomorrow morning. Please give notice to the public. REPUBLICAN COMMITTEE [Chicago Press and Tribune, August 21, 1858] HO! FOR OTTAWA The gallant LINCOLN will enter the lists at Ottawa today, with DOUGLAS. The meeting will be a memorable one, and the first of the present campaign. A large delegation will be in attendance from this city, leaving here by the 8 A. M. train on the Chicago & Rock Island Railroad, returning this evening. Let there be a good attendance of our Republicans. THE PRESS AND TRIBUNE of Monday will contain a full Phonographic verbatim report of the speeches of LINCOLN and DOUGLAS. |