I hope to have interposed no adventitious obstacle. But, clearly, he is not now with us--he does not pretend to be, he does not promise ever to be. Our cause, then, must be entrusted to, and conducted by its own undoubted friends--those whose hands are free, whose hearts are in the work--who do care for the result. Two years ago the Republicans of the nation mustered over thirteen hundred thousand strong. We did this under the single impulse of resistance to a common danger. With every external circumstance against us, of strange, discordant, and even hostile elements, we gathered from the four winds, and formed and fought the battle through, under the constant hot fire of a disciplined, proud, and pampered enemy. Did we brave all then, to falter now?--now, when that same enemy is wavering, dissevered, and belligerent! The result is not doubtful. We shall not fail--if we stand firm, we shall not fail. Wise counsels may accelerate, or mistakes delay it; but, sooner or later, the victory is sure to come. STEPHEN ARNOLD DOUGLAS, OF ILLINOIS. (BORN 1813, DIED 1861.) IN REPLY TO MR. LINCOLN; FREEPORT, ILLS., AUGUST 27, 1858. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN: I am glad that at last I have brought Mr. Lincoln to the conclusion that he had better define his position on certain political questions to which I called his attention at Ottawa. * * * In a few moments I will proceed to review the answers which he has given to these interrogatories; but, in order to relieve his anxiety, I will first respond to those which he has presented to me. Mark you, he has not presented interrogatories which have ever received the sanction of the party with which I am acting, and hence he has no other foundation for them than his own curiosity.