New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-08-21
CHALLENGED TO A JOINT DEbAlE'

REPRESENTATIVE MAsoNls INVITATION ToGEN
ERAL JOHN NJ. PALMER, OF ILLINOIS
WHY THE LATTER DECLINES IT.
Washington. Aug 20 (specal.-some days ago
,o,,nosortot,,o Naeon NJ Illinois. addressed to Ger
eral John VI. Palmer letter OF WHICH '"o i'N'"''e
is a copy: III
The Hon. John II. Palmer, Springieu ~ ~ ha extracts
Nv Dear Sir: have read what purpo ~ ~ nro
OF sposUe ad Ivy thc present House OF Representa-
tyes and believing the people wouia e0 ~ ,HeN Wer
in and understand pupil yey respectfully invite
you to meet in joint discussion uP I. Cong,ess
which have been pending IN tne Of the Republican
u.ptv On tno silver tariff National election; a ~
trust and pension LEGISLATION mas penn s,m,sr legislation
offered or passed by the Democratic party u''''e
four years Of powor. .o,,ro IN discuss live
suggest these questions, as desire 10 Won NAV
issues but will take up any other question YOU 'I
desire Comparing the record OF tne I'm IN and am
am sure no personalities will be indngeu III, a in
I'D 70 believe YOU will receive this commulcaQ3hh, u,
the spirit In which it IS written rieasc Nv
ai0 aTvar and as an orator and trusting nothing
to nv own ability in that direction, hut WHOLLY 10 iopt
the Justice of my desire to meet you yours
discussion" '"8s''''D william E. MASON.
Mr. Mason has not yet received a reply 10 MS ie.'
bUt he seems to entertain doubt that General ra,e
win accent the challenge In speaking OF the matter
cussons | think the fair TO try case Is -
have both sides OF the question discussed nadc .'
suggestion on my own motion; and. while have gfoa.
regard for General Palmer personally the wpId
his which ! have read make me tinn wv Nv is.ter *
Ike to talk It with him In pubic MS ~; -
in respectful language, and am sure WIN 80 Icon
re spccfu reply from General Palmer, - snca, for
invited by our State Central Committee 20 spcaN rc
,he marty and | would Ike 10 DO " IN tle way QUO
cested il it is convenient all round.'
Mr. Mason today received ponderous letter
from General Palmer. declining the challenge "cn
oral Palmer says: The Democratic party OF ILLINOIS
share with you in the belief that the people VIII
take more interest. and understand pubic Huesli'''
better Jointly discussed in their presence and hearing
and tbe Democracy in nearly every county IN inc
state gave expression that belief wheh' !" 'nc.'
urinary meetings they declared that souiu p"D.'o
motley dictated the nomination OF cahuiu'oo ~.
senator in the Congress Of the United states anu ui1
me the honor Of expressing ther ~ nro,ound
os such candidate And 1t was a source VI ~, =, tha
regret and something Of surprise. no, , -, iorg.
r. oc g Who yG re not in harmony with either
~ tho polltical parties. that the kepup'eti
convention only declined to nominal ,incIs5eI
for the senate but refused to designate uis'l-I.o
citizen whose name, ! informed "'1o suHt" ~.
jointly TO discuss WITH me tne Po"'i'''
Understandings from these facts, that the hepuoh-
can leaders in Illinois in d;clinng TO name any b one
n o, vrjIlinr 10 be responsible in Joint discussion
snrh "a You propose am not abe 10 So, VIM puo, r
nd
Invtltion II will readily occur to YOU that 0ur
relations To- the people Of the state arr essen,laS
different A very large number OF the cl"cto.s oi
his state by nominating me a. caididate iHn %
s"at in tie tinted states senate. have made them
cl,s responsible not Only for my political Opinions
and conduct but for all the important acts OF my
hubble life while. on the other hahd' INC p oi,,
marty to which You attached has decllned haN,ils
telf responsible not only for vou but for all o'hr
of ts public men, .,, J.. Ia ton
neither Republicans nor Democrats ought 70 pe t2bS ,
Vii, i'm cen ,nrlng General Palmer fOr sH9%hS w. o
,rbi,e foatherr under the circumstances I've ~ ~
match Tor Mason and he seems 10 realize ult tae.
R,houch thc latter is Of the youngest nemDes
~ The House he has already woICa place III ue svi
rant ~ dcisters I'm that body. ana han esirheu
lsnn . ~ A. pr,rtical legislator which Is cgnal
~ Nat gained by most members OF that ponS aer
yeors ~ toll and effort and which some OF them never
achieve .,- ,.,~ .ta, bc 4 moi nreDarcd
. 80, % non who has thorough 4 kno|l'7ige anu
arm grasp Of the political situation ana ISSUES ~ ~
han NJ Mason who, withal Is man not nlly o
strn,g arrnmcnative powers and keen common us Snse
~, 900 Who + "A master 81 the art of putting lhtnss
uV undcr.tord that General Palmer VIII not Slake
nI Mr. Mason by declining Joint Discussion, as t n
Representative proposes 10 toiio" mn "''"e" VIZ