Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1880-03-19
PALsIER'S BOOM.
The Ex-Governor of Illinois An
nOunces Himself Candi.
date for President.

SPRINGFIELD, March 1.-THE
John M. Palmer club held public
meeting tonight at the court house,
which was crowded with citizens of
Springfield, irrespective Of party and
those democrats from abroad now in
the city. Ex-Governor John NJ.
Palmer delivered an extended ad-
dress in which he accepted the posi-
tlon Of candidate for the democratic
nomination for president. He said he
did not disparage or antagonize any of
the great men mentioned for the DO
sltion, and would pledge the support
of the club and democracy of Sanga-
mon and Illinois in support of the
democratic nominee, whoever
he may be. He said VIC will labor
with the most earnest zeal to make
the union of the states perpetual, the
constitution aud laws supreme, and
the rights and liberties OF every hu
man being within the limits of the
union secure under their benign rule.
| do not say, and would be inexpressi
hly sad if | believed, that demacrats
alone are attached to principles
Ut republican liberty, but l am com,
PEELED to declare that the great body
of the republican party are so blinded
by prejudices engendered during the
civil war, and pesistently kept alive by
their leaders, that they do not see that
while they are aiding to subject the
country to the despotic will of a reck
less political majority, they are sub
Verting the liberties of all. 1t was
palpable in 1872 that General Grant
was unequal as we'll as indifferent. to
the civil duties of the chief magistra-
oy. 1t was then foreseen bythoughtful
men that, if he were re- elected, hissec
ond term would be characterized by co, :
ruption and prodigacy. The republican
party was invited by Greeley and Sum
ner and Schurz and TrumbulI and 9th.
Others, who we're amongst the founders
ofthe party, to resist Grantism, which
was then, as now, we'll defined and
dangerous element in American poll
tics. 1t refused to oppose Grant, and
be was reelected and his second ad-
ministration affords abundant material
for chapters disgraeeful to that Amer
lean character. II | had the selection
Of the republican candidate for The
presidency | would choose Gen. Grant,
He alluded to Blaine and Secretary
Sherman aud Washburne in terms Of
reproach for their delinquencies in va.
rious respects as citizens. He referred
to the doctrine Of state sovereignty as
the bulwark of the nation, and con.
cluded as follows
But while we contend for the main
tcnance OF rights and powers of the
states, we must not forget that the
government created by the oonstitu-
tion Of the United States was estab.
lished by the fathers in order to form
a more perfect union, establish JUS
tlce, insure domestic tranquility, pro
vide for the common defense, promote
the general welfare and secure the
blessings of liberty to the American
people forever. The objects of the
government are national, and it was
designed to effectuate national ends
alone. That government, its powers
rightly understood, ought not to be
and is not an object of jealousy to the
democratic party. In my Judgment
the contest of 1880 is not less imnort.
ant than that of 1860, and | may be
permitted in the presence of this club
to say that, as in 1860, and the sub
sequent years of our great national
struggle in resistance to secession. |
gave my best efforts in the cause of
federal unity, l am now prepared to
unite with the great democratic party
and exert myself with equal energy
and no less Zeal to support the right
Of the people to the blessings of regu-
lated constitutional liberty,