The Cairo bulletin. [volume] (Cairo, Ill.) 1872-1878, 1876-11-04
E>6ov. paimtr's speech
From ihe hi, go 1inles

political parties. The speech was two
hours in length. A portion o. ii is pub
lished below. On being introduced to
the audience Gov. Palmer was greeted
with cheers. He said
In 1856 the Democratic party was in
power in this state, and was a member
of the state senate from The district in
which lived. ] made ~ my mind that
| ought 10 vote for rcmHnt. At the same
time it occurred to me that my constilu-
entS ought to have the right to elect some
one who agreed with them in opinion. I
resigned my position in the senate because
| would not misrepresent those who cleo
ted me. quit a pretty good office as
thought, and strong party TO unite
| with very weak one /: but | lived
to see that party triumph all
oyer the country. Ii occurred TO me that
my duties lead me in another direction.
and abandoned that party to unite with
the minority. 1t has been my lot to sur
render my place again to take a position
With the minority.
My friend, Gen. Logan. the other day.
in as peech at Beleville, rather wittily re-
marked that he hadn't heard from Gov
Palmer for three days, but he supposed
he was still a Democrat. Laughter. |
Now | can tell you the difference between
Gen. Logan and myself. | have always
quit majority to go to a minority Gen.
Logan always quits week party to go to
the strong. Cheers. That has been
the difference all our lives. You need
not have much apprehension of my
changing again until the party with which
| | act comes into power; and you need
not expect Gen. Logan to change until
| the party with which he acts is beaten.
Laughter and applause. Still, ladies
| and gentlemen that is hardly an indict-
ment which ought to argue among any
portion of my fellow-ctiZcns especially
here in Lexington. never had the pleas
IRE ofaddresslng you at this point before.
but Tor good many years | have heard
Of this neighborhool-thls part ofMcLean
county-a- being distinguished for Its de-
votion TO the principles which cherish
| was an original anti-slaverv man. 1
was educated TO hate slavery. regarded
it % the embodiment of all crime and all
wickedncss. Hook back now with aston
! ishment that we endured it so long. |
| am not able now TO be sufficiently thank
iul 10 the Great Ruler of the Universe
that He has allowed me 70 live to see the
| end OF that terrible inliction upon man
KID. have ielt always that all govern
| meuts that could claim obedience from
men, were bound 10 protect il citizens in
| all these precious rights which constitute
| AL we haye-liic, liberty, and property
liberty the most precious OF all Natu-
rally, as my friend Mr.. Ming says, when
| discovered that the Democratic party,
with which had acted, in obedience 10
the cOdnsels OF the party, or, a. thought,
by tue mistakes ana crimes OF its leaders.
was placed in false position in regard to
the slavery question, exercised for nv
self that great conservative right of a
freeman to bolt. And lei me tell you, nv
iellow-citiAens. when you come come 10
think Of ii, thi, right of boiling Is a most
precious one. This demand from poll
ticians that you and shall take the law
OF our conduct from political conventions,
and political leaders, i, one of the most
selfish doctrines that can be taught TO
freemen.
LEFT THL DEMOCRATIC PARTY
Because it had taken the wrong position
in regard to the slavery question. | lett
IL because il wa, tyrtunicIl and oppres-
eiye; but such Is human nature. You
give men position Si.i power for long
time, and they become arbitrary and ex-
| acting. | rccollect, in 1851, when re-
fused 70 support the repeal Of the Mis-.
sour compromise, the cry was, Hang
| the traitor; shoot the lcscrtcr." This
was IN The palmy and proud days Of the
Democratic party. They had been in
power great many years, and they
|
the Republican party l. to-day. re-
| sisted The repeal OF the Missouri COM
promise, and When, in 1856, it was nee
essary 10 form political organization 10
give force 10 the growing anti-slayery
sentiment OF the country, took par in
| the organization Of the Republican
| party. look back to-day with great
deal of pride to the fact that | was, ia
your neigh5Oring city ot Bloomington.
the president Of the first Republican state
convention held in the state. there
met John Framework; and might 90
Oh anu give you long list OF the earnest
men, Who We're there TO resist the preten-
SONS oil the slave interest. After a
While, IN carrying ont this same policy
the great mistake OF the sotlth-thc ma.
tionaliZing OF slavery they chose 10
ri-k the CONFERENCE.-The Life OF the i'm.
sututlon on the battle field. think no
man has more aversion 10 the shedding
OF blood IN civil war than have. loof
p back To that dark chapter in our national
history with sadness. Ii has been a dark
shadow over the history OF our country.
bul we were invited 10 the battle field
thihk was one OF the very f1r,t 10 oo
INTO the army. know was one of the
= very last 10 leave il. ielt. when the
war was over and slavery was destroyed
i ielt grateful TO the Almighty that as
e The result OF all this sorrow and mi.for-
'uhe, slavery, the cause Of the war. was
Il abolished. [Cheersl " "'
/. -