Charles Duran - Or, The Career of a Bad Boy - By the author of "The Waldos",",31/15507.txt,841
15508,"Stephen A. Douglas - A Study in American Politics by Unknown
page 111 of 549 (20%)
page 111 of 549 (20%)
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The absorbing interest of Douglas at this point in his career is
perfectly clear. To span the continent with States and Territories, to create an ocean-bound republic, has often seemed a gross, materialistic ideal. Has a nation no higher destiny than mere territorial bigness? Must an intensive culture with spiritual aims be sacrificed to a vulgar exploitation of physical resources? Yet the ends which this strenuous Westerner had in view were not wholly gross and materialistic. To create the body of a great American Commonwealth by removing barriers to its continental expansion, so that the soul of Liberty might dwell within it, was no vulgar ambition. The conquest of the continent must be accounted one of the really great achievements of the century. In this dramatic exploit Douglas was at times an irresponsible, but never a weak nor a false actor. The session ended where it had begun, so far as Oregon was concerned. The Senate failed to act upon the bill to establish a territorial government; the earlier bill to protect American settlers also failed of adoption; and thus American caravans continued to cross the plains unprotected and ignored. But Congress had annexed a war. * * * * * FOOTNOTES: [Footnote 186: Message of December 3, 1844.] [Footnote 187: _Globe_, 28 Cong., 2 Sess., p. 85.] [Footnote 188: _Globe_, 28 Cong., 2 Sess., App., p. 65.] |
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