 ever thee I sing I can sing such grandeur and glories about you the prairie grass dividing demanding the spiritual corresponding of men demanding the blades to rise of words acts being those are the open prairies those that go their own way erect stepping with freedom and command leading not following those of inland America of this America I see from the Illinois farm lands came Abraham Lincoln and Stephen A. Douglas two men across whose lives fell the shadows of disunion tonight on the cavalcade of America DuPont brings you the story of Stephen A. Douglas in a radio play Eve of Conflict adapted from the biography by George Fort Milton the role of Stephen A. Douglas is played by Kenneth Delamar of the cavalcade players and Springfield Illinois Mary Todd a young lady from Kentucky is visiting at the home of her brother-in-law Ninnian Edward and one spring evening yes Ninnian Abe Lincoln and Stephen Douglas are both in the parlor what are you going to do about it they've been caught in you for some time now you know Mr. Douglas is a clever man isn't he Douglas is a very smart lawyer Mary and Mr. Lincoln well not exactly clever no not like Mr. Douglas at all Mary yes when you're going to make up your mind oh I've already made it up good well I'm glad to see you sensible Mary after all I suppose it isn't difficult to choose between Douglas and Lincoln Ninnian I want to marry I want to marry a man who's going to be president some day oh so that's it well Stephen Douglas has had his eye on the White House all along I hope you're right Mary I know I'm right Ninnian just as I'm sure I know which one's going to be president of the United States 14 years past 14 years and at the end of them Mary Todd Abraham Lincoln and Stephen Douglas are no longer young for the nation it is 14 years of compromise distrust and fear in the America of 1854 secession is imminent and to a United States Senate read asunder in sectional conflict goes a new senator from Illinois Stephen a Douglas then one day in Washington well well senator howdy howdy Jim sit down sit down saying well what's new out in Illinois well senator their money riled up over your Kansas Nebraska bill whoever heard of allowing the people in the territories to save for themselves whether they'll become a free or slave state that's gonna cost you votes not in the south at state's rights what about the north that's where you'll hear plenty some say you've made a fatal blunder Steve who for instance Jim well I had a talk with Lincoln before left Springfield he does hey blinkin you think I have to worry about him and worry a lot of why were you senator listen can't you see you're just straddling still compromising with the south and the north is looking for someone who'll come out flat put it against slavery and well might as well be you senator Douglas and split the Democratic Party and split the Union wide open no my friend my Kansas Nebraska bill will save the Union I'm right about this Jim I'm leaving for Illinois in a few days to prove it come along you'll see I'm right reception committee and everything all right George I'll just step out on the rear platform don't care face that howling mob out there mob I wish to address these towns people don't do it senator don't you see that they've got a scarecrow burn it's got your name on it my effigy a fire yonder sir I could travel from Boston to Chicago by the light of my own effigies open the door please I'm going out on the platform right my Kansas may have slavery if he wants it but it will never be forced upon her that is popular sovereignty fellow citizens that is free government it's slave government whether Kansas votes slavery up or votes it down it's not for us in the north to say whether slavery is a blessing or a curse senator Douglas you're a Jew and there you're 30 pieces of silver see what I mean senator that's what they think of you and your Kansas Nebraska bill in the north you might know that bill is right I'll stand by it no matter what the consequences it's right sir what about slavery slavery is a curse George both black and white someday we'll stop it off curse but you just said yes I know I know privately I can admit it's a curse my boy but not publicly when all I say is it's a good thing you weren't up for reelection to the Senate in Illinois this year and as for the president of this fight involves more than my office Jim more than my fame the union itself is the issue I will not violate the Constitution to abolish slavery I will not split the union the only power that can destroy slavery is the sword once that is drawn no one this way senator Douglas is having his gathering tell the Douglas you'll find him right inside gentlemen thank you not at all not at all it's open house you're all welcome in here right Mr Lincoln there he is I'm glad to see you I came to Springfield just to shake hands with you senator Douglas I'm glad to shake hands with you sir well right to see you here in Springfield Mr Lincoln how are you sir horrible thank you senator you're going to speak at the courthouse this afternoon I am I'd like to divide time with you you can have a rebuttal of course Mr Lincoln people came to hear me and I want to talk with them might be necessary to reply to you there tomorrow senator mr. Lincoln it looks to me very much like your dog in me far from it matter of fact I was going to suggest you dog me tomorrow you're welcome to be present and if you wish reply mr. Lincoln I accept I shall be there you are listening to the DuPont cavalcade of America presenting Eve of Conflict the story of Stephen A. Douglas adapted from the biography by George Fort Milton and starring Kenneth Delmar as Stephen A. Douglas the cavalcade of America is brought to you by DuPont maker of better things for better living through chemistry 1854 it's wrong to let slavery into equal privileges for their property only if there is no difference but October 6 1857 the home of Stephen A. Douglas my dear this is mr. Herndon Springfield how do you do Mr. Herndon how do you do Mr. Herndon is Abraham Lincoln's law partner there I'm a little surprised to see you in Washington Bill I want to look you in the eye senator well look me in the eye Bill I won't dodge I hope you won't senator I want to ask you some straight questions I'd like straight answers to take back to Lincoln how is Lincoln and how's Mary Todd I don't see much of Mrs. Lincoln senator but Lincoln well I'll tell you senator Lincoln's not in anybody's way not even yours what do you mean I mean the Supreme Court decision and the dread Scott case I won't talk about that Herndon the court ruled Congress hasn't any power to prohibit slavery in a territory that's all I see anyway you're going to accept the Illinois Republican endorsement for reelection to the Senate Herndon Lincoln's entitled to that he's the strongest man the Republicans have you see know what the talk is the Easter Republicans advised him not to run on the Illinois ticket for the Senate not to stand in your way but you all know that senator give mr. Lincoln my best regards Herndon tell him the Democrats already want me as senator from Illinois and the Republicans ought to back him I think they will sure you don't mind a blink and running against you I think mr. Lincoln knows the answer to that of United States senator from Illinois the issue between senator Douglas and myself is clear it is the extension of slavery a house divided against itself cannot stand I believe this government cannot endure half slave and half free I do not expect the union to be dissolved I do not expect the house to fall but I do expect it will seem to be divided I have a letter from Abe Lincoln wants to divide time with me during the present canvas address the same audience well isn't it the usual custom to meet your opponent in debate yes but that isn't it suppose Lincoln brings up the Supreme Court and the dread Scott decision I don't want to argue with him about that and that's just what Lincoln hopes I'll have to do but isn't there some question whether the Supreme Court was right my dear I can never admit the Supreme Court is wrong and admit it's right either or if neither Congress nor a territorial legislature can prohibit slavery where's the right for the people themselves to prohibit it as I've always held a right is gone my reelection with it you've gotten yourself into a dreadful mother Stephen Lincoln knows he has everything to gain and I everything to lose by these debates the country has me measured whereas he's almost unknown outside the state but for me this senatorial election of 1858 is a preliminary to the presidential campaign of 1860 I lose now I won't even be considered for the presidency then what if Mr. Lincoln has his eye on 1860 Lincoln president why that's ridiculous my dear he hasn't a chance it seems to me Stephen you must meet him otherwise the people will think you're afraid of him yeah you're right Adele and I'm not the least afraid of Lincoln I guess I'm big enough to meet him anywhere and I shall yes let's see Ottawa Galesburg Quincy free ports Alton Jones Borough and Charleston report August 27th 1858 and let me say in conclusion my fellow citizens this is not the first nor is it the last time I will face my opponent upon the same platform and followed issue with him as I have here in free port and elsewhere Mr. Lincoln will now address you and I will reply thank you my opponent senator Douglas this one question can the people of the United States territory in any lawful way against the wish of any citizen of the United States prohibit slavery from its limits prior to the formation of the state Constitution I answer emphatically they can how about the Supreme Court the great decision it matters not what the Supreme Court may decide if the people are opposed to slavery they will elect representatives who will by unfriendly legislation officially prevent the introduction of slavery there thank you friends thank you for your kind words and renewed confidence and now if you will please excuse me good night congratulations senator on your reelection thanks Jim there's a hard fight and I'm glad it's over it was over at freeport Lincoln lost the election right there and you won it by your answer yes I suppose I reassured a few doubtful voters in Illinois but I don't know if the South will ever forgive me Jim there's heresy to them we've got a battle on our hands to get ready for the presidential campaign of 1860 Chicago May 19 1860 the Republican National Convention the National Democratic Convention in 1860 election night I conceded Lincoln's election about midnight I guess I might as well have conceded it two years ago at freeport you see Lincoln knew what he was doing realized he'd lose the election of 1858 but Lincoln knew the presidential election of 1860 was worth a hundred of that Illinois contest still Stephen it was a splendid retreat and I'm proud prouder of you than if you'd won now by doing other words I don't know my dear I hardly know what to think and the people of the United States won't know how to take this election either I wish it had been really decisive but isn't it mr. Lincoln is elected he's only a minority president my dear he has more votes than any of his three opponents but together we have more than Lincoln in other words the country simply isn't all behind him what if the South refuses to accept his election I'm afraid we can't stop secession now what shall I do what can I do over a million people voted for me probably two-thirds as many as Lincoln you see I think I do Stephen with your support Mr. Lincoln might have the majority of the nation behind him if they'd follow me but without it this union is certain well we'll see we'll see when Abraham Lincoln and Mary Todd get to Washington it was thoughtful of you and Mrs. Douglas to call on the Stephen I believe my husband is an old bow of yours Mrs. Lincoln yes Mrs. Douglas if I'd have been Mary Todd I'd have picked senator Douglas as a husband instead of me but you weren't Mary Todd and now a few gentlemen will excuse us Mr. President I'm not quite president yet senator I learned long ago following circuit out in Illinois not to cross bridges before you come to Illinois you and I fought each other pretty much all over the state didn't we mr. Lincoln yes we certainly did Douglas mr. Lincoln I've heard rumors of trouble at the inaugural I'd like to stand behind you on the platform well won't be the first time we've shared platform no this time if any man attacks you he attacks me too I wanted to be no question in any mind of where I stand however much we've fought we've never differed have we in our devotion and attachments to the Constitution and the Union no we haven't I guess we always took that for granted I'm on the side of the Union sir and I pledge you all my aid all my strength and all my energy in whatever course you take to save it you cheer and warm my heart Douglas I wanted you to know mr. President I thank you with all my heart the people with us and God helping us all will yet be well God bless you days later a recently constructed platform before the unfinished capital building in Washington there sits Stephen a Douglas before him facing the inaugural prong stands the tall gaunt figure of Abraham Lincoln the gusty March wind is chilly that day in 1861 and not all in the crowd can hear the words of the president elect but there is one close by him who does one who understands them one who might have held the office of president himself but who now holds only the stove pipe hat of Abraham Lincoln Stephen a Douglas the little giant we are not enemies but friends we must not be enemies low passion may have strayed it must not break our bonds of affection the mystic chords of memory stretching from every battlefield and patriot grave to every living heart and heartstone all over this broad land will yet swell the chorus of union when again touched as surely they will be by the better angels of our make DuPont story of chemistry at work in our world is in a field in which public education has a tremendous job to do now as well as in the future it is a fact and a shocking fact that only one American in three owns a toothbrush it is a fact that in large areas of the United States men and women and children still go to the dentist not to have an aching tooth cleaned or filled but to have it pulled and it is a fact regrettable and unpleasant but still a fact that millions of Americans do not go to a dentist at all have never visited one the modern dentist many Americans still need to learn is a man who saves teeth a scientist himself he has all of modern dental science at his command the contributions of chemistry to dental science are not worthy today the dentist can actually look inside a tooth and find out what's wrong with it thanks to x-ray photography DuPont x-ray film a product of chemistry has replaced guesswork with knowledge and when treatment becomes necessary we no longer need to suffer pain gas and other safe effective anesthetics are available those two are contributions of chemistry the amalgam and porcelain the dentist uses for his fillings along with gold our products of the laboratory that have been improved and improved again by the research chemist and at the present time DuPont chemists are at work on a plastic which if it passes the exacting tests demanded by the profession will give dentists a new material for inlays light acid resistant and so precisely matched to the color of your teeth as to be virtually invisible the cold sterilization that keeps the dentists instruments free of germs as a chemical contribution to as are many of the antiseptics and drugs he uses from the methylates to sulfonylamide and while it's still too early to hold out promise experiments underway suggest that a solution of crystalline carbamide used as a mouthwash may be of help in enabling us someday to say goodbye to cavities forever ingredients for toothpastes tooth powders and mouthwashers toothbrushes with plastic handles and sanitary nylon bristles that don't get soggy DuPont dental x-ray film lucid tone denture material allowing the dentist to make dentures that are strong that assure a lasting fit that are permanent in color all our contributions to dental science of the chemist who brings you in the words of the DuPont pledge better things for better living through chemistry the cavalcade of America presents Jeanette Nolan in a romantic play about the Indian maiden whose name was sacajawea her simple faith in the great American explorer William Clark forms a beautiful and touching story that has enriched the legendary lore of our country in our story of chemistry at work in our world we will tell you about cellophane cellulose film and how it safeguards and preserves the food supply of the nation we hope you'll join us at the same time next week when DuPont again presents the cavalcade of America our play was written by Garrett Porter and was adapted from eve of conflict the biography of Stephen A. Douglas by George Fort Milton published by Houghton Mifflin the orchestra and the original musical score were under the direction of Don Voorhees on the cavalcade of America your announcer is Clayton Collier sending best wishes from DuPont this is the red network of the national broadcasting coverage