, 1891-03-12
RATES or ADVERTIsING.
P4LWEP'.S ELECTION.

ton that TIE LEADER has to CIV its
readers this morning is the news Of the
election Of the grand old man, Gen. John
NJ. Palmer, as United States senator from
Illinois. There has seldom, if ever, been
a senatorial contest IN the United states
which has been fraught with so much
public interest. Gen. Palmer originally
entered the campaign on a platform Of
his own making. 1t was that a United
States senator should be elected, or in
this case endorsed, By a direct vote Of the
people OF bis state. The proposition
was discussed long before Gen. Palmer
took it up but it never before took such
strong hold ofthe people or received such
practical illustration. Gen. Palmer FIRST
received the endorsement of the Illinois
state Democratic convention aud as soon
as the campaign opened began a stump
ing TOUR Of the state in which he visited
and spoke in every county. His addresses
were marvels of outspokeu honesty.
shrewed wisdom in discussing public
questions and high patriotism, marking
him as every inch a man, who, while he
might be old 10 years, was still nimole in
intellect, fertile in and fully
abreast OF the best modern thought
His campaign attracted the attention Of
the whole country and when the result was
announced no honest admirer Of pluck
and viri.ity sonld withhold from Gen.
Palmer the tribute Of his admiration aud
respect. Ia the previous legislature the
vote on Joint ballot gave the Republicans
a clear majority OF twenty four. The
present legislature included l0l Demo
Gratis, 100 Republicans and three Farm
ems Alliance. 1t will therefore be OBJ
served that lO3 votes were necessary to
a choice, the Republicans requiring three
and the Democrats two to insure the
election Of the candidate of either party.
The balance Of power was consequently
10 the hands OF the Farmers Ali
ance men and as they threw their
strength so the contest would be
determined. 1t was from the very first
an extremely delicate, critical aud inter
esting contest. All sorts of Establishments
we're held out to the Alliance men. The
Democrats throughout voted solidly for
Palmer. The Republicans put forward
such men as seemed most likely to cap
ture the Alliance vote but finally staked
everything on Streeter. One Alliance
man was pronounced in favor Of the Re
publican candidate. This gave Palmer
and Streeter equal strength, each requir-
ing but two votes to elect. There was IN
douttedly much ccuuotting on both sides
with the Alliance men, who ultimately
discovered that Streeter was so bound up
with promises to the Republican party
that he could in no sense repre-
sent the Alliance, An interview
with Palmer showed that he was
rot in complete accord with the
Alliance platform although there were
features Of it Of which he had been an
exponent. When the question narrowed
down to a comparison of the personal
qualifications of the two candidates the
Alliance men naturally turned to Palmer
who was thus elected. That the Alliance
men acted honestly in the matter is
evidenced by the fact that one Of them,
DR.. Moore, was offered the full Re
publican vote if he himself would accept
the Office OF United States senator.
The election of Gen. Palmer will
rejoicing throughout the length and
breadth ofthe land 1t is a noble victory
and is another proof that the scepter OF
power has passed away FROM the Re
publican party forever. The next senate
will stand 46 Republicans, SO Democrats
and . Farmers Alliance with a successor
10 be elected in California to Hearst, d.
John McCauley Palmer was born in
Kentucky in 1877. He received an ordi-
nary education aud removed to Illinois in
1882. where IN 1910 he was admitted to
the bar. He was successful in practice,
prominent in political life and in 1852
was elected state senator. He was a dele
gate 70 Ine hepuullCau hatioua' Neu'N"
ton at Philadelphia in 1856 and to the
peace convention at Washington, Feb
ruary 1860 At the BEGINNING Of the
rebellion he was given command Of the
Eleventh Illinois volunteers, took part in
Fremont's Springfield expedition and
was soon afterward made a brigadier
general. He was present at the
battles of New Madrid, Island No. 10
and Pennington, and at Stone River
commanded the lst brigade, LIST division,
of the army OF the Mississippi. 10 No
vember, 1862, he was made a major gem
eral, and in Sherman's campaign Of 1864
IN Georgia, had command Of the l4th
corps. Later he was in command of the
military department Of Kentucky, resign
ing 1866. In 1867 he was elected gov
ernor Of Illinois by the Republican party
and served two terms. He took part
in the liberal Republican movement
which resulted in the nomination OF Hor-
ace Greeley at Cincinnati, and since that
that time has acted with the Democratic
party. His name was prominently mem
toned in connection with the Democratic
nomination for the presidency in 1880.
He Proved It
Al; lence grocer wagered hat he