“Ifeveryotherfellowgrumbledatthebilloffarewhichgreetedusatmanyofthedingytaverns，Lincolnsaidnothing。“[13]
　　Buthiscomplacencywasofthesurfaceonly。Hisideaswerehisown。Heheldtothemwithdoggedtenacity。HerndonwasmerelythefirstofseveralwhodiscernedonclosefamiliarityLincoln’sinwardinflexibility。“Iwasneverconscious，“hewrites，“ofhavingmademuchofanimpressiononMr。Lincoln，nordoIbelieveIeverchangedhisviews。Iwillgofurtherandsaythatfromtheprofoundnatureofhisconclusionsandthelaboredmethodbywhichhearrivedatthem，nomanisentitledtothecreditofhavingeitherchangedorgreatlymodifiedthem。“[14]
　　Intheseyearsoftheearly’fifties，Herndonhadmuchoccasiontotesthispartner’sindifferencetoothermen’sviews，histenaciousadherencetohisown。HerndonhadbecomeanAbolitionist。HelaboredtoconvertLincoln；butitwasalostlabor。TheSphinxinaglimmerofsunshinewasasunassailableasthecheery，fable-loving，inflexibleLincoln。Theyoungermanwouldworkhimselfup，and，flushedwithardor，warnLincolnagainsthisapparentconservatismwhentheneedsofthehourweresogreat；buthisonlyanswerwouldbe，“Billy，youaretoorampantandspontaneous。“[15]
　　NothingcouldmovehimfromhisfixedconvictionthatthetemperofAbolitionismmadeitpernicious。Hepersistedinclassifyingitwithslavery，——bothofequaldangertofreeinstitutions。Hetookoccasiontoreassertthisbeliefintheoneimportantutteranceofapoliticalnaturethatcommemoratesthisperiod。AnorationonthedeathofHenryClay，containsthesentence：“Castintolifewhenslaverywasalreadywidelyspreadanddeeplysealed，hedidnotperceive，asIthinknowisemanhasperceived，howitcouldbeatonceeradicatedwithoutproducingagreaterevileventothecauseofhumanlibertyitself。“[16]
　　ItwillberememberedthattheAbolitionistswereneverstronglynationalinsentiment。Incertainrespectstheyremindoneoftheextreme“internationals“ofto-day。TheirallegiancewasnotfirstofalltoSociety，nortogovernments，buttoabstractideas。Forallsuchattitudesinpoliticalscience，Lincolnhadaninstinctiveaversion。Hewaspermeatedalways，byhissenseofthecommunity，oftheobligationtoworkintermsofthecommunity。Eventheprejudices，theshortsightednessofthecommunitywerethingstobeconsidered，tobedealtwithtenderly。Hencehisunwillingnesstoforcereformsuponacommunitynotripetoreceivethem。Inoneofhisgreatestspeechesoccursthedictum：“Auniversalfeelingwhetherwellorill-founded，cannotbesafelydisregarded。“[17]
　　Anticipatingsuchideas，hemadeinhisClayoration，astartlingdenunciationofboththeextremefactionsof“ThoseAbolitionistswhowouldshiverintofragmentstheunionoftheseStates，teartotattersitsnow’veneratedConstitution，andevenburnthelastcopyoftheBibleratherthanslaveryshouldcontinueasinglehour；togetherwithalltheirmorehaltingsympathizers，havereceivedandarereceivingtheirjustexecration；andthenameandopinionandinfluenceofMr。Clayarefullyand，asItrust，effectuallyandenduringlyarrayedagainstthem。ButIwouldalsoifI
　　could，arrayhisname，opinionandinfluenceagainsttheoppositeextreme，againstafew，butincreasingnumberofmenwho，forthesakeofperpetuatingslavery，arebeginningtoassailandridiculethewhiteman’scharteroffreedom，thedeclarationthat’allmenarecreatedfreeandequal。’“[18]
　　InanotherpassagehestatedwhatheconceivedtobethecentralinspirationofClay。Hadhebeenthinkingofhimself，hecouldnothaveforeshadowedmoreexactlythebasaldriftofallhisfutureasastatesman：
　　“Helovedhiscountrypartlybecauseitwashisowncountry，andmostlybecauseitwasafreecountry；andheburnedwithazealforitsadvancement，prosperity，andglory，becausehesawinsuchtheadvancement，prosperityandgloryofhumanliberty，humanrightandhumannature。“[19]
　　VIII。ARETURNTOPOLITICS
　　Meanwhile，greatthingswerecomingforwardatWashington。
　　TheycenteredaboutaremarkablemanwithwhomLincolnhadhithertoformedacuriousparallel，bywhomhithertohehadbeencompletelyovershadowed。StephenArnoldDouglaswasprosecutingattorneyatSpringfieldwhenLincolnbeganthepracticeoflaw。TheywereintheLegislaturetogether。BothcourtedMaryTodd。Soonafterward，Douglashaddistancedhisrival。WhenLincolnwenttotheHouseofRepresentativesasaWhig，DouglaswenttotheSenateasaDemocrat。WhileLincolnwasfailingatWashington，Douglaswasbuildinganationalreputation。InthehubbubthatfollowedtheCompromiseof1850，whileLincoln，abandoningpolitics，immersedhimselfinthelaw，DouglasrenderedaservicetothecountrybydefeatingamovementinIllinoistorejecttheCompromise。WhentheDemocraticNationalConventionassembledin1852，hewassufficientlyprominenttoobtainaconsiderablevoteforthepresidentialnomination。
　　Thedramaticcontrastofthesetwobeganwiththeirphysicalappearance。Douglaswassosmallthathehadbeenknowntositonafriend’skneewhilearguingpolitics。Buthisenergyofmind，hisindomitableforceofcharacter，madeupforhistinyproportions。“TheLittleGiant“wasatermofendearmentappliedtohimbyhisfollowers。Thementalcontrastwasequallymarked。ScarcelyaqualityinLincolnthatwasnotreversedinDouglas——deliberation，gradualness，introspection，tenacity，werethecharacteristicsofLincoln’smind。ThemindofDouglaswasfirstofallfacile。Hewasextraordinarilyquick。InpoliticalStrategyhecouldsenseanewsituation，wheeltomeetit，throwoverboardwell-establishedplans，devisenewones，allinthetwinkleofaneye。Peoplewhocouldnotunderstandsuchrapidityofjudgmentpronouncedhiminsincere，oratleast，anopportunist。ThathedidnothavethedeepinflexibilityofLincolnmaybeassumed；thathisconvictions，suchastheywere，didnothaveanethicalcastmaybesafelyasserted。Nevertheless，hewasagreatforce，animmensehumanpower，thatdidnotchangeitscoursewithoutgoodreasonofitsownsort。Farmorethanamereopportunist。
　　Politically，hesummedupachangethatwascomingovertheDemocraticparty。Janus-like，hehadtwofaces，oneforhisconstituents，oneforhiscolleagues。TothevoterhewasstillaJeffersonian，withwhomtheoldphraseologyoftheparty，liberty，equality，andfraternity，werestillthecatch-words。TohisassociatesintheSenatehewasessentiallyanaristocrat，laboringtoadvanceintereststhatwerecarelessoftherightsofman。AlateragehasaccusedtheSenateoftheUnitedStatesofbeingthecitadelofBigBusiness。Waivingthelatterview，thehistorianmayassertthatsomethingsuggestiveofBigBusinessappearedinourpoliticsinthe’fifties，andwaspromptlymadeathomeintheSenate。Perhapsitsfirstdefinitemanifestationwasanewactivityonthepartofthegreatslave-holders。Toinvokeagaintheclassificationsoflaterpointsofview，certainofourhistoriansto-daythinktheycanseeinthe’fiftiesavirtualslaverytrust，acombineofslaveinterestscontrolledbythemagnatesoftheinstitution，andhavingasreal，thoughinformal，anexistenceashastheSteelTrustortheBeefTrustinourowntime。ThispowerfulinterestallieditselfwiththecapitalistsoftheNortheast。Inmodernphraseology，theyaimedto“finance“theslaveinterestfromNewYork。Andforatimethealliancesucceededindoingthis。TheSouthwententirelyuponcredit。ItboughtandborrowedheavilyintheEastNewYorkfurnishedthemoney。
　　Hadtherebeennothingfurthertoconsider，theinvasionoftheSenatebyBigBusinessinthe’fiftiesmightnothavetakenplace。Buttherewassomethingelse。Slavery’ssystemofagriculturewasexcessivelywasteful。Tobehighlyprofitableitrequiredvirginsoil，andthefinancialalliancedemandedhighprofits。Earlyinthe’fifties，theproblemofBigBusinesswastheacquisitionoffreshsoilforslavery。Theproblementeredpoliticswiththequestionhowcouldthisbebroughtaboutwithoutappearingtocontradictdemocracy？TheWestalsohaditsincipientBigBusiness。Ithingeduponrailways。NowthatCaliforniahadbeenacquired，withasteadystreamofmigrationwestward，withallAmericadazzledmoreorlessbygold-minesandPacifictrade，atranscontinentalrailwaywasaWesterndream。Butwhatcourseshouldittake，whatfavoredregionsweretobecomeitsimmediatebeneficiaries？HerewasachanceforgreatjockeyingamongbusinessinterestsinCongress，forslave-holders，money-lenders，railwaypromoterstomanipulatedealstotheirhearts’content。Theyhadbeendoingsoamidahighcomplicationofsquabbling，whileDouglaswastravelinginEuropeduring1853。Whenhereturnedlateintheyear，theunityoftheDemocraticmachineinCongresswasendangeredbythesedisputes。Douglasatonceattackedtheproblemofpartyharmony。Hethrewhimselfintothetaskwithallhischaracteristicquickness，allhisenergyandresourcefulness。
　　Bythistimetheproblemcontainedfivedistinctfactors：TheupperNortheastwantedarailroadstartingatChicago。TheCentralWestwantedaroadfromSt。Louis。TheSouthwestwantedaroadfromNewOrleans，oratleast，thefrustrationofthetwoNorthernschemes。BigBusinesswantednewsoilforslavery。TheCompromiseof1850stoodinthewayoftheextensionofslaveterritory。
　　IfDouglashadhadanyseriousconvictionsopposedtoslaverythelastofthefivefactorswouldhavebroughthimtoastandstill。Fortunatelyforhimasapartystrategist，hewasindifferent。Then，too，hefirmlybelievedthatslaverycouldneverthriveintheWestbecauseofclimaticconditions。“Manmightpropose，butphysicalgeographywoulddispose。“[1]Onbothcountsitseemedtohimimmaterialwhatconcessionsbemadetoslaveryextensionnorthwestward。Therefore，hedismissedthisconsiderationandappliedhimselftotheharmonizationofthefourbusinessfactorsinvolved。Theresultwasafamouscompromiseinsideaparty。HisKansas-NebraskaBillcreatedtwonewterritories，onelyingwestwardfromChicago；onelyingwestwardfromSt。Louis。ItalsorepealedtheMissouriCompromiseandgavetheinhabitantsofeachterritorytherighttodecideforthemselveswhetherornotslaveryshouldbepermittedintheirmidst。Thatistosay，bothtotherailwaypromoterandtheslaveryfinancier，itextendedequalgovernmentalprotection，butitpromisedfavorstonone，andlefteachfactiontoriseorfallinthefreecompetitionofprivateenterprise。Why——wasnotthis，rememberingDouglas’sassumptions，amaster-stroke？
　　Hehadexpected，ofcourse，denunciationbytheAbolitionists。
　　Heconsidereditimmaterial。Buthewasnotintheleastpreparedforwhathappened。Astormburst。ItwasfiercestinhisownState。“Traitor，““Arnold，““Judas，“werethepleasantepithetsfiredathiminabewilderingfusillade。Hecouldnotunderstandit。SomethingotherthanmereAbolitionismhadbeenarousedbyhisgreatstroke。Butwhatwasit？WhydidmenwhowerenotAbolitionistsraiseahueandcry？Especially，whydidmanyDemocratsdoso？Amazed，puzzled，butasalwaysfuriouslyvaliant，Douglashurriedhometojoinbattlewithhisassailants。Heenteredonacampaignofspeech-making。OnOctober3，1854，hespokeatSpringfield。Hisenemies，lookingaboutforthestrongestpopularspeakertheycouldfind，choseLincoln。ThenextdayherepliedtoDouglas。
　　TheKansas-NebraskaBillhadnotaffectedanychangeinLincoln’sthinking。Hissteady，consistentdevelopmentasapoliticalthinkerhadgoneonchieflyinsilenceeversincehisProtestseventeenyearsbefore。HewasstillintolerantofAbolitionism，stillresolvedtoleaveslaverytodieanaturaldeathintheStateswhereitwasestablished。HedefendedthemeasurewhichmostoffendedtheAbolitionists，theFugitiveSlaveLaw。Hehadappearedascounselforamanwhoclaimedarunawayslaveashisproperty。[2]Nonetheless，theKansas-NebraskaBillhadbroughthimtohisfeet，wheeledhimbackfromlawintopolitics，begunanewchapter。ThespringsofactioniniscasewerethefactorwhichDouglashadoverlooked，whichinallhiscalculationshehadfailedtotakeintoaccount，whichwasdestinedtodestroyhim。
　　Lincoln，nolessthanDouglas，hadsensedthefactthatmoneywasbecomingapowerinAmericanpolitics。HesawthatmoneyandslaverytendedtobecomeallieswiththeinevitableresultofashiftofgravityintheAmericansocialsystem。
　　“Humanity“hadoncebeentheAmericanshibboleth；itwasgivingplacetoanewshibboleth-“prosperity。“Andthepeoplewhoweretocontrolandadministerprosperityweretherich。Therightsofmanwerebeingsupersededbytherightsofwealth。
　　Becauseofitsplaceinthisnewcoalitionofnon-democraticinfluences，slavery，toLincoln’smind，wasassuminganewrole，“beginning，“ashehadsaid，intheClayoration，“toassailandridiculethewhiteman’scharteroffreedom，thedeclarationthat’allmenarecreatedfreeandequal。’“
　　Thatphrase，“thewhiteman’scharteroffreedom，“hadbecomeLincoln’sshibboleth。Variousutterancesandwrittenfragmentsofthesummerof1854，revealtheintensityofhispreoccupation。
　　“Equalityinsocietybeatsinequality，whetherthelatterbeoftheBritisharistocraticsortorofthedomesticslaverysort“[3]
　　“IfAcanprove，howeverconclusively，thathemayofrightenslaveB，whymaynotBsnatchthesameargumentandproveequallythathemayenslaveA？YousayAiswhiteandBisblack。Itiscolorthen；thelighterhavingtherighttoenslavethedarker？Takecare。Bythisruleyouaretobeslavetothefirstmanyoumeetwithafairerskinthanyourown。Youdonotmeancolorexactly？Youmeanthewhitesareintellectuallythesuperiorsoftheblacks，andthereforehavetherighttoenslavethem？Takecareagain。Bythisruleyouaretobeslavetothefirstmanyoumeetwithanintellectsuperiortoyourown。But，yousay，itisaquestionofinterest，andifyoumakeityourinterest，youhavetherighttoenslaveanother。Verywell。Andifhecanmakeithisinterest，hehastherighttoenslaveyou。“[4]