The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1868-07-01
Is PALMER A PATRIoT Z

Waters, the gallant and talented soldioredi' |
tor of the Mercer County Press, publishes
the following scorching editorial on John
NJ. Palmer the radical candidate for govern.
or
Pure patriotism il unselGsh. This noble
trait Of mankind prompts the offer OF hte
itself for country. The spectacle OF a eiti'
zen uniting his home to take up arms
against the enemies Of his nation is usually
accepted as a satisfactory evidence OF pa
triotism. But every man who ventures
upon the battlefield Is not a patriot
Frequently selfish and dangerous ambition
influences men TO encounter this dreadful
peril. History is full Of instances, where
even towards grasped for hOnors among the
swift aud Kissing messengers Of death
The true patriot has certain marked fen
lures that distinguish him from the mere
meIeenary and reckless Gdventurer. lie
uncomplaiuingly assumes the faithful dis
charge Of whatever he may be assigned to
discharge, whether Of a humble or cOnspo.
nous nature. He only seeks to be useful
The bogus patriot is always ready 10 quarrel
with his 5upcriors for more authority. no
one doubts that Washington would have
served as faithfully in the ranks as he did as
commander in chief; no one doubts that
Arnold would have remained true to the
rsvOlutiOnists had congress recognized the
demands Of his ambition; no one supposcs
that the naughty Lee would have carried n
musket at Monmouth, but as q conspicuous
| figure, he was willingly there. In the bloody
strife through which VIC have just passed,
| many OF our leaders displayed the very ele-
Inents that mark the mere adyenturer. No
man displayed these elements moro often
sively than did John NJ. Palmer Ia the fall
| Of 1863, Palmer WAS major general com
manding n division Of the army Of the
Cumberland That gallant army had 10
September Of that year been nearly doclmat'
cd by the hordes Of Bragg, Hood and Long.
! street, upon the banks Of Chicamauga, and
was only saved from destruction by the stub.
| born courage Of Gen. Thomas. After that
battle it was concentrated in Chattanooga,
| when its reorganization was planned aud
| ordered by Rosecrans Some corps com.
| manders were relieved several division com.
mandcrs were assigned to brigades Palm
or was assigned to u division, and was the
| only one dissatisfied with his command. Ho
| flew up about it, and rendered his resigna'
| tior. His staff officers followed his exam,
pie. At this time Bragg overlooked Chat.
| tanooga with IL powerful force from Mission.
AIRY Ridge and Lookout Mountain The Tn.
ion army was completely besiegcd. They
were nearly naked, aud on less than halt
rations. All supplies had to be sent to them
by AndcrsOn's cross roads over Waldrons
Ridge from Bridgeport, distance OF 60
miles, inimud, axle deep, and across swollen
mountain streams. The disatiecuon OF a
general officer under such circumstances
was but little short Of treason, Only an Ar.
mold would quarrel for place then. But
Palmer snid in effect "if am not 10 com
mand corps will 60 home" His reoig.
nation, with those Of his staff officers was
accepted, and he was ms far as Bridgeport
on his way home, when Mr.. Lincoln inform
ed Palmer by telegraph that the acceptance
Of his resignation was revoked, and he was
ordered back to Chattanooga TO assume com
mand of the 18th corps. That suited Palm.
er; he would serve at the head Of the SPLEEN
did / lth corps, but rather than serve at the
head Of a division, he would unbuckle his
armor and say: "rebels, you have one man
less to fight Oh, wasn't he u patriot
Georgr ILL.,, procured thousands OF such pa.
triots in Hcsse Cassel for gold in l776.
At tho head of the l4th corps Palmer re.
mnined satisfied until crisis of great i'm
! poraneo in the Atlanta campaign was
reached. On &e 18th of August, 1864,
Gen, Sherman charged Geu Scofeld with
the task Of turning Hood left, AMI direct.
cd Palmer on that day "to report to, and II
ceiye orders from Gen. Schofeld," and TO
"obey his orders and instructions" Palmer
at once refused to DO so, and claimed he
ranked SchoGed. Sherman decided against
Palmer's claim, but complained bitterly OF
the delay caused by Palmer's conduct. II
d note to Schofeld dated "ln the field
I near Atlanta, Ga, August All, 1884, Sher
q says;
81 want all Of your army and Gen. Palmer
Corps, to turn the Unemy's LETT, and she soOne
g it is done tho better. l wish you to make writ
ton orders SO TINT Generals Palmer and Bair
cannot mistake them, Their delay this alternoo
WAS objectionable
. On the same day, from the same place, a
10. As, z. M, in deciding between Schofel
\ and Palmer, Sherman says;
n "Ir,yari hc ioss Of time THE afternoon,
= cqHuI 10 the loss u tco thousand men.
=, Think ofthat, this patriot Palmer in qua
. reling for rank frittcred away the lives
& two thousand men-in the opinion of She
G man. Whose brothers, whose sons, who's
q fathers, were the victims of this aspiring ra,
;. ical candidate for governor of Illinois
But Palmer was not satisfied with Sherman
g decision. If he could not command Sch
field is army aud his corps, he would resigl
The same old dodge be persisted in at Cha
= tanooga only few months before he tende
!. ed his resignation. Sherman wrote hir
i. August 9th, 1865.
It al YOU want to resign, wait few days, OIL
!, hllege some other YeRson-oHe that lciH stead 3
IL 'csi Of time"
J. Sherman as much rs said to him: "Yot
reason for resigniug is an unworthy on,
It 1t will not be approved BY high-miude
men; you are disgracing Yourself" 81
40 Palmer persisted. He was relieved frol
)" the command of his corps by Gen. J. {
We Davis. Palmer made straight for Wasl
90 Ingtou, where, with his political crones, ia
~ out OF danger, It was arranged that his re
ignation should not be accepted, but he W,
II TO be grstlfed with the command of Il
be Department Of Kentucky. At ChattanooV
ly he would resign unless promoted from q
no vision to q corps command. AtAtlanta,
would resign unless promoted from a corr
"a command to the leadership of an arm
d. Both times he was gratfed.
be In politics he has attempted the san
"a. game. He felt sure be could be goyernc
but he wanted to be United States senate
70 as long as there was hopes Of Yates resig
go ing be declined the nomination for 90