The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1890-08-02
JOHN M. PALMER.
He Open Ills Campaign for the United
State. senatorship In IA speech at Girsrd,


GiRARD, H., July 2s.-General John
NJ. Palmer opened his campaign for the
United States Senate at farmers pic
mic at this place Saturday afternoon
The crowd in attendance numbered
about 1000. General Palmer said at the
outset: k.ssa
II stand in peculiar position. have been
nominated strange as IL may seem by the De.
mocracy Of the State-not 10y state conVen-
ton, but by the people OF the townships ana
counties in the Statc--as u candidate FOR Sen
ator We Democrats must make an effort to
brin" this great body under popular control
II possible. There is growing tendency
on the part Of our political institu.
tions TO centralism. Power is escaping from
the hands of the people and is being collected
and grasped 10y olber organizations not under
the control Of the people, and the people OF IL
linois with whom have associated, feeling that
the time had come when an effort must be
made In the direction of increased popular In
fiuence in the Government OF the United States,
have chosen to nominate me-"
Sneaker Reeds policy was denounced as
having no precedent. The minority had been
made to control the majori y. Despotism has
been esta blished in the House Of Represents
tives, the only department Of the Government
elected directly by the people. Not being
satisfied with this despotic control OF the
House OF Representatives In its own hall, the
same party under the same leaders had de-
termined that the election OF members
I'm the House Of Representatives shall be
taken from the control OF the people
and placed in the hands OF officers appointed
for their management" exclaimed General
Palmer. THE theory is the people can no
longer be trusted with the control OF the cleo
tion OF "a House OF Representatives. IL Is true
they say the condition OF things in the South Is
the Justification. My friends, despotism
knows no territory That is IA pretense-a
mere pretext. The real purpose Is to subject
not only Southern but Northern free men to
the rule OF these irresponsible election OFF,
GERS"
General Palmer then referred TO the control
OF matters Of taxation aud finance by Congress,
declaring that the power OF Congress in this
particular was absolutely uncomfortable
He advised the people to take the con
troll OF their own affairs, and asked II
any man presented or delegated TO another the
management OF his own home. He spoke OF
Baines opposition To the Mckinley bill and
said quoting Blaine's letter: 1T does not offer
q market for q bushcl OF wheat nor any other
product OF the farm" He secuted the idea
that protection benefited the farmer
The orator then spoke Of unmarkctablc farm
lands and unremunerative prices for farm
products, OF the decrease In rural and the In
crease OF the city population, and declared the
principal reason for this condition was the
high tariff on the utensils and clothing OF the
farmer and the M:..C OF market for his
products.
He denounced what he termed the officehold-
ing trust established by the Republican party
and declared the tendency toward II centralized
despotism was apparent on every hand. The
enormous appropriations Of nearly $500 100000
by this Congress was ably reviewed and the
subsidies To ships denounced.
General Palmer closed with an eloquent
reference to the position Illinois ought to take
in the country. Two States, New York and
Indiana have dominated in the politics OF the
country for many years, and everybody knew
how patiently Illinois had taken an In.
feriOr position. II Is now third in
population and wealth, has the great metropo
lis Of the Northwest and West, and 1t is time IT
was taking its place at the head OF the process
sion. The Northweste0 policy Is sure TO pre-
vail What is itS The largest freedom In trade
consistent with the wants OF the Government
economically administered Whisky and to-
bacco taxes have been released in order to fur
nish excuses for more protection, In time the
business OF the country will be paralyzed
by these artificial helps that simply disturb
and never benefit. Illinois must shed itself OF
these leading strings OF the Northeastern
States Your agriculture is dying under this
take hold Of these policies and reverse them
II you are free you will do IT, and il you are the
slaves of prejudice you won't. 49, .~rsrp-.