[Sidenote] 1858.

Douglas and his friends had indeed entered upon the canvass with an unusual flourish of trumpets.  Music, banners, salutes, fireworks, addresses, ovation, and jubilation with enthusiasm genuine and simulated, came and went in almost uninterrupted sequence; so much of the noise and pomp of electioneering had not been seen since the famous hard-cider campaign of Harrison.  The “Little Giant,” as he was proudly nicknamed by his adherents, arrived in Illinois near midsummer, after elaborate preparation and heralding, and made speeches successively at Chicago, Bloomington, and Springfield on the 9th, 16th, and 17th of July.  The Republicans and their candidate were equally alert to contest every inch of ground.  Mr. Lincoln made speeches in reply at Chicago on the 10th and at Springfield on the evening of Douglas’s day address; and in both instances with such force and success as portended a fluctuating and long-continued struggle.

[Illustration:  ANSON BURLINGAME.]

For the moment the presence of Douglas not only gave spirit and fresh industry to his followers, but the novelty impressed the indifferent and the wavering.  The rush of the campaign was substituting excitement for inquiry, blare of brass bands and smoke of gunpowder for intelligent criticism.  The fame and prestige of the “Little Giant” was beginning to incline the vibrating scale.  Lincoln and his intimate political advisers were not slow to note the signs of danger; and the remedy devised threw upon him the burden of a new responsibility.  It was decided in the councils of the Republican leaders that Lincoln should challenge Douglas to joint public debate.

The challenge was sent by Lincoln on July 24; Douglas proposed that they should meet at the towns of Ottawa, Freeport, Jonesboro, Charleston, Galesburg, Quincy, and Alton, each speaker alternately to open and close the discussion; Douglas to speak one hour at Ottawa, Lincoln to reply for an hour and a half, and Douglas to make a half hour’s rejoinder.  In like manner Lincoln should open and close at Freeport, and so on alternately.  Lincoln’s note of July 31 accepted the proposal as made.  “Although by the terms,” he wrote, “as you propose, you take four openings and closes to my three, I accede and thus close the arrangement.”  Meanwhile each of the speakers made independent appointments for other days and places than these seven; and in the heat and dust of midsummer traveled and addressed the people for a period of about one hundred days, frequently making the necessary journeys by night, and often speaking two and sometimes even three times in a single day.  Thus to the combat of intellectual skill was added a severe ordeal of physical endurance.[2]