Iron County register., 1891-04-02
PALMER'S DAY.
a Large Gathering of Illinois DEM
ocrats at Springfield
To Celebrate the Election of Gen. Palmer
to the United States Senate-Ad-
dresses Made by Prominent
Guests of the Occasion

"eaeheI, ouI III was gOOQ-SlZed enInu-
siastic crowd nevertheless. At 10
o'clock a procession was formed at the
St Nicholas hotel and marched over to
the state house. The column was COM
posed of the Pullman band, of Pullman;
the Cook County Democratic Marching
club, 80 strong: the Jacksonville
band; the Young Mems Demo-
cratic club, of Jacksonville; the
Logan County Democratic club
and the Frances Cleveland drum corps.
OF Petersburg. composed of young
ladies' reception took place in the
supreme court room, Gen. Palmer shak-
ing hands with the large crowd which
hled through the room. Among those
who assisted in the reception were
Congressman Mansur, of okfeld
Mo-; Congressman w. C. Newberry, of
Chicago: Congressman Owen Scott, of
bloomington; Congressman Fithian, of
Newton; Congressman Busey, of Ur-
bana; Congressman Forman, of Nash
vile, and Congressman Lewis B. Par
sons, of Flora.
An immense crowd filled representa-
tive hall this afternoon. The south gal
lery was set apart for the democrats.
Speaker Crafts introduced Gen. Pal
mer, who spoke as follows:
GEN. PALMER's SPEECH
MY FELLOW W-CITIZENS-There can be no
prouder moment in any mans life than this
is in mine. Nearly three years ago the dem
ocratic party of the state of Illinois was de-
feated. 1t had been defeated 1t was dis
-couraged, and it determined to make one
more earnest fight for success and for the
yindtcation of democratic principle. do
not know why it is that 1 was honored with
the leadership in that
cratic convention named me for the Office of
governor. / went out among the people. 1
discovered the growth of new elements in
the state; that the young men were coming
TO the front. / discovered that they needed
nothing more than energetic, plain,
manly leadership / would have been
elected governor in 1888 if the Demo
cratic party had been accustomed to vic
tory. We had then the elements of success,
but we lacked the courage that is always
sential to insure victory. In 1890 the demo
cratic state committee wisely and patriotical-
ly determined that the people OF the state
should be consulted in the choice of a sena-
tor. More than ninety counties in the state
responded to the call of the state committee,
and again and again they mentioned my
name as suitable to be presented to the peo-
pie of the state a candidate for the senate.
accepted the duty. L entered upon a can
vass. went out to the people. I summoned
them to assert their own rights. 1 called up
on the young men of the state to rally, and
to rally for the right. They responded, and
plurality of 10000 votes was given your
candidate for the senate. TApplausel
not only learned a lesson in politics, but
the occasion taught lesson to the people in
the science of politics. The lesson learned
and the lesson taught was that any party in
this country which hopes for success must
win that success by an honest, earnest, man
iy, frank appeal to the people themselves.
fApplause.l 1t furnished new illustration
that was needed-that the people of the state
of Illinois are the best protectors of their
own rights, and when they are appealed to
in a frank and honest way, upon the ground
of principle, they will respond as they did at
the November election of 1890. Applause
What else was it that won the victory over
which we are rejoicing to dayi
When the legislature assembled there were
.hree parties. There were 1O1-and may God
bless them lapplausel l-I01 men who re-
Sponded to their names whenever the roll
was called. In season and out of season at
I'll times, when their names were called they
answered, and / used to sit back in the
speakers room, and I recollect one man
whose name may ymention-Bowlin laugh
ter-a gray bearded man, like myself.
iLaughter] May God bless him. He not
only answered, but he answered in tones
that not only gave me assurance that he
was there in earnest, but that all of the 1Ol
were present. 1 felt like the prisoner of war
on the British fleet at Baltimore in the story
we have heard. You remember, in the morn
iDB WHeu lie looked out ana saw the nag NV
ing, he said: 1.-The flag is still there" When
heard Bowlin vote / knew the IO1 were all
there. daughter and applause Nothing
but the fact that these gentlemen were the
representatives of an honest, manly, earnest
people insured the victory.
But in addition there were gentlemen who
were earnestly seeking success for indie
pendent ideas, patiently and earnestly as
serting their own views, was right OBJ
serving that the time had come when they
rOnid nnitp and end the
patriotic grounds, in a manner consistent
with the best interests of the people, they
united with the l01 and the 103 became con-
spicuous and won the battle [Applause.l
The whole business was predicated upon a |
manly appeal to patriotic people, and the |
secret of the cohesion, the secret of the en-
ergy the secret of the frmness of the lO3, |
was the fact that they were obeying the voice |
of the people who had been appealed to in q
manly and honest manner.
believe that these gentlemen who thought
that the interests of the country demanded
the defeat of Palmer. never said that Palmer
faltered in the expression of principle.
There was no pretenSe, there was no con-
cealment 1t was fair. open canvass, made
before an honest people, and we received
an honest response. Applause. recollect
young man down in Hamilton county who
said to me some time ago: Governor, we
young men owe you an immense obligation"
-'What is that?'' / asked. why he said,
you have made democracy so respectable
that the girls will go home with US now"
tLaUghter and applause.l think he will re-
main during the balance of his life demo
crat. GLaughter.1 This victory has made
democracy more than respectable. 1t has
made it victorious, and we have before us
the promise of future victories. care not
about mere party victory. The victory must
bring with it some great result must give us
better government. must insure us greater
liberty. tApplause.l
Now, my fellow citizens, it is needless for
me to tell you that am gratified at your
presence. 1t is a source of great pleasure to
,ne, that while 1 am myself exceedingly
gratified at my election, there are Others
who feel the same way. No man has leen
more frequently spoken of during this can
Vass than Mr.. Cockrell. He said good
thing at Carlinville the other day. whether
L am right or wrong" said he, Il pleased
more people by voting for Palmer than /
could in any other way" Laughter and ap-
plausel / believe that it affords me the
highest satisfaction to know that you are
ali pleased. [Laughter.l Now, my fellow
citizens, here are other gentlemen behind me
who will address you. / need not refer to
them particularly. 1 some gentlemen
from Missouri. L see my friend Gen. Black,
of Illinois. my military comrade. Prolonged
applause These gentlemen will address
YOU and will entertain you. So far /
am concerned, am rather supernumerary
at this gathering. You have come here to
rejoice over the result of the victory. l re-
ioice and you rejoice that it is done. Now,
if Won will allow me to give place to these
gentlemen, who will address you more seri |
ously and eloquently and profitably, 1 will
take my leave of you saying this, that if 1
have the privilege of taking my seat IN the
United states senate, i trust L will be rep
resentative of the people of the state of Illi- |
nois. tGreat applause L have spent no