text_original: AUGUST 21, 1858 _Douglas's Opening Speech_ LADIES AND GENTLEMEN:  I appear before you to day for the purpose of discussing the leading political topics which now agitate the public mind.
text_transcription: OIS AUGUST TWENTY ONE EIGHTEEN FIFTY EIGHT DOUGLAS'S OPENING SPEECH LADIES AND GENTLEMEN I APPEAR BEFORE YOU TO DAY FOR THE PURPOSE OF DISCUSSING THE LEADING POLITICAL TOPICS WHICH NOW AGITATE THE PUBLIC MIND
phonemes: ˈɔːɡəst twˈɛnti wˈʌn, wˈʌn θˈaʊzənd ˈeɪthˈʌndɹɪd fˈɪfti ˈeɪt dˈʌɡləzᵻz ˈoʊpənɪŋ spˈiːtʃ lˈeɪdiz ænd dʒˈɛntəlmən:  aɪ ɐpˈɪɹ bᵻfˌɔːɹ juː tə dˈeɪ fɚðə pˈɜːpəs ʌv dɪskˈʌsɪŋ ðə lˈiːdɪŋ pəlˈɪɾɪkəl tˈɑːpɪks wˌɪtʃ nˈaʊ ˈædʒᵻtˌeɪt ðə pˈʌblɪk mˈaɪnd.