State Central Committee in regard to the times and places, that he should himself proceed to designate seven places where Mr. Lincoln must meet him, if at all.
The friends of Senator Douglas claim that Mr. Lincoln is no match for him, before the people. Every canvass for the last twenty years has found these two champions of their respective parties side by side with each other, and often addressing the same audience, and Mr. Lincoln never asked any favor of his adversary. He does not now. If Mr. Douglas really felt his superiority, those who know him will be slow to believe that he would not take advantage of it. He, however, shows the white feather, and, like a trembling Felix skulks behind the appointments of the emasculate Democratic State Central Committee!
The challenge should properly have proceeded from Senator Douglas, but it having become apparent that he did not intend to meet Mr. Lincoln, it was thought proper by Mr. Lincoln's friends that the challenge should come from our side. The delay was a matter of courtesy toward Mr. Douglas, and not for the reasons the Senator intimates in his reply. In courteous demeanor, as well as in the honorable conduct of an argument before the people Mr. Douglas will ever find, as in many campaigns he has heretofore found, Mr. Lincoln to be at least his equal.
We much regret that the two candidates cannot canvass the whole State, by speaking together at every county, and in every town of any size or importance. We desire the people to have a fair hearing and a full understanding of the positions, sentiments and argumentative ability of the two men. But the seven meetings proposed, will be better than none. They will give the people of the several Congressional districts an opportunity to get together on the days appointed, in great mass meetings, to hear the great political topics of the day discussed, (fairly and ably we trust) and to "reason together" in the spirit of candor, and with the desire to get at the truth.—Let Congressional Mass Meetings be the order of the day.
[Illinois State Register, July 29, 1858]
From the Chicago Times
LINCOLN'S CHALLENGE.—DOUGLAS' REPLY
On the 9th of July Judge Douglas made his speech in Chicago, and the next evening Mr. Lincoln replied to it. Both gentlemen remained in Chicago for several days thereafter. Subsequently, Judge Douglas
