Stephen A. Douglas: A Study in American Politics
Public-domain ebook
Stephen A. Douglas: A Study in American Politics
English3,885 downloads on Project GutenbergDownload EPUB
Public-domain ebook sourced from Project Gutenberg #15508.
About this book
The work is a scholarly biography of Stephen A. Douglas, the Democratic statesman whose name has largely survived as Lincoln’s opponent. Written by Allen Johnson in 1907, the book opens with a reflective preface that frames Douglas’s career as an “interpretation of a personality” whose life spanned the turbulent years before the Civil War. Johnson explains that his perspective is shaped by a New‑England upbringing in an anti‑slavery environment, yet he draws heavily on Midwestern sources, letters from Mrs. James W. Patton of Springfield, an autobiographical sketch supplied by Judge Robert M. Douglas, and recollections from a host of contemporaries, to balance his own bias. The introductory material outlines the book’s structure, dividing Douglas’s story into three major parts: his western migration, his doctrine of popular sovereignty, and the looming national crisis, each populated with detailed chapters that trace his early years in Vermont, his apprenticeship, and his ascent into national politics.
Johnson’s voice is that of an early‑20th‑century historian, earnest and meticulous, employing a formal, narrative style that blends biographical detail with broader social commentary. The prose reflects the period’s reverence for primary documents and a belief in the moral purpose of history, while the extensive footnotes and citations reveal a commitment to scholarly rigor. Readers who enjoy dense, source‑rich studies of American political figures, particularly those interested in the antebellum era, the development of democratic ideas, or the regional forces that shaped the nation, will find this volume a rewarding, if demanding, exploration of a man whose legacy has been eclipsed by his more famous rival.
Who appears in Stephen A. Douglas
- Stephen A. DouglasMiddle‑aged man, full beard, side‑parted hair, dark frock coat, waistcoat, cravat, 1850s portrait
- Abraham LincolnTall gaunt figure, beard, high‑crowned stovepipe hat, black coat, solemn expression, mid‑19th‑century style
- Mrs. James W. PattonElegant woman, modest bonnet, high‑collared dress with shawl, gentle smile, 1850s Springfield attire
The opening · free to read
To describe the career of a man who is now chiefly remembered as the rival of Abraham Lincoln, must seem to many minds a superfluous, if not invidious, undertaking. The present generation is prone to forget that when the rivals met in joint debate fifty years ago, on the prairies of Illinois, it was Senator Douglas, and not Mr. Lincoln, who was the cynosure of all observing eyes. Time has steadily lessened the prestige of the great Democratic leader, and just as steadily enhanced the fame of his Republican opponent.
The following pages have been written, not as a vindication, but as an interpretation of a personality whose life spans the controversial epoch before the Civil War. It is due to the chance reader to state that the writer was born in a New England home, and bred in an anti-slavery atmosphere where the political creed of Douglas could not thrive. If this book reveals a somewhat less sectional outlook than this personal allusion suggests, the credit must be given to those generous friends in the great Middle West, who have helped the writer to interpret the spirit of that region which gave both Douglas and Lincoln to the nation.
The material for this study has been brought together from many sources. Through the kindness of Mrs. James W. Patton of Springfield, Illinois, I have had access to a valuable collection of letters written by Douglas to her father, Charles H. Lanphier, Esq., editor of the Illinois State Register. Judge Robert M. Douglas of North Carolina has permitted me to use an autobiographical sketch of his father, as well as other papers in the possession of the family. Among those who have lightened my labors, either by copies of letters penned by Douglas or by personal recollections, I would mention with particular gratitude the late Mrs. L.K. Lippincott ("Grace Greenwood"); Mr. J.H. Roberts and Stephen A. Douglas, Esq. of Chicago; Chief Justice Melville W. Fuller and the late Hon. Robert E. Hitt of Washington. With his wonted generosity, Mr. James F. Rhodes has given me the benefit of his wide acquaintance with the newspapers of the period, which have been an invaluable aid in the interpretation of Douglas's career. Finally, by personal acquaintance and conversation with men who knew him, I have endeavored to catch the spirit of those who made up the great mass of his constituents.
The book keeps going
Keep reading, and see it illustrated
Reading is free forever. Sign up and watch scenes appear while you read.
Scenes Storieta drew for other classics.
