“How about California?”

“It was a compromise.  And as I have said before if the people of California had wanted a slave state they would have had it, any law to the ...”

Voices crying:  “Benedict Arnold!  Judas!” Douglas’ voice rose to its fullest power.  He was fulminating Black Republicans, Know-nothings, Anti-Catholics, humbug Whigs.  I felt sure that he would be attacked.  For two hours he fought with this wild and wicked audience.  He appealed to their sense of fairness.  If he was wrong, what harm to hear him through, the better to see the wrong?  If he was right, why condemn him unheard?  I could only make out a few sentences from time to time.  He grew weary at last.  He drew out his watch.  The audience quieted to hear what he would say.  “It is now Sunday morning.  I will go to church and you may go to hell.”

He stepped from the platform, walked boldly through the angry mob, ready to assault him.  Without a tremor, fearlessly he edged his way along to his carriage, got into it, and was driven away, the mob hooting, bolder rowdies running after him, and covering him with vile epithets.

We walked away slowly without speaking to each other.  We were too shamed, too sympathetic with Douglas to tolerate this exhibition of lawlessness.  We were disgraced by an American audience which had tried to disgrace an American Senator, who asked for nothing except for the privilege of being heard.

When we arrived at Clark and Randolph streets Aldington and Abigail paused for a moment before turning in a direction different from mine.  They said good night and went on.  I walked with Mr. Williams until I arrived at my house.  Then I went in, to lie awake and to think of the spectacle of the evening.

CHAPTER XLIX

The next day I went out to look at the ten acres which Douglas had given for the founding of the University of Chicago.  I walked over the ground, came to the lake.  I was thinking that if Douglas’ life were ending in failure how futile was my own life!  I was rich to be sure, but what had I done?  I had inherited money.  Douglas had started in poverty and accumulated a fortune.  I had done nothing but increase my wealth.  Douglas’ activities had covered many fields, and now if he was to fall!  What was American liberty?  How could their devotion to a liberty, bring liberty to him?  Douglas’ wife was dead; Dorothy was an invalid.

In a few days I went around to see Abigail.  That terrible evening remained a subject that must sometime be discussed between us.