Los Angeles herald., 1892-03-28
SENATOR PALMER.
An Interview About a Presidential
Possibility.

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Possibility.
There is time when everything per.
tanning to probable presidential NOM
inees is of interest to the public. Know
ing that Attorney Frank W. Burnett OF
this city formerly lived in Springfield,
ILL.,, the home OF Senator John M.
Palmer,Ea HERALD reporter asked him
yesterday some questions in regard to
his distinguished former fellow-towns-
man. In reply to various questions
asked by the reporter, Mr.. Burnett said
said in substance:
II have known Governor Palmer
since my boyhood, and have been with
him and against him in many legal
contest. l believe that no one, without
regard to party. who knows him has any
feelings but those of the highest respect
and admiration for his splendid quail
ties of heart and head. He sprang from
the ranks of the people, with no assist
ance to success except such as his own
sterling qualities afforded. He was a
leader in the Democratic party of H.
linois, as opposed to the Wings, before
was born. On the approach of the civil
war he sided with the Republican party
upon the issues of that contest, and on
their final settlement he again acted
with the party of his youth, whose un-
derlying principles he has never in his
whole career abandoned or ceased to
maintain.
"When, after the Chicago fire of 1871,
the United States government under
took, on the plea of protection to
property, to occupy the city with
its military, Palmer, as governor of
Illinois, took prompt measures to resent
and prevent go dangerous a precedent
of unconstitutional infringement of the
rights of the states to independence in
matters of local government.
PERSONALLY, Governor Palmer is q
man OF dignifed and imposing presence,
of iron strength and iron will, tempered
with the utmost degree of charity for
the weaknesses and faults of mankind.
The same sympathy for the oppressed
which led him to enlist against slavery
has in thousand instances been mani
tested in his subsequent career. A
lawyer whose services were constantly
sought by the most responsible clients,
1 have known of his declining hand
some retainer that he might find time
to attend before Justices court to de-
fend, without the hope of pecuniary re-
ward, some person who in popular esti-
nation was too poor and too worthless
to have any rights.
''That he is dear to the people of
Illinois is shown by the last election.
in which the members of the legislature
pledged to vote for him for senator were
elected by a majority of $4,000, thus
making Illinois, with Palmer as leader,
sure Democratic state.
"There is a growing conviction that
the nominee should be a man from the
west. The reasons for this are evident
to any one who is familiar with the
situation in New York. OF the western
men Palmer is undoubtedly the most
prominent today. l believe he is the
best man and will get the nomination.
"The only objection that friends of
other candidates can have to him is age.
But age is no objection if unaccompanied
with decay in mental or physical pow
ers; on the contrary, such old age brings
but added wisdom from prolonged expe-
rience. Governor Palmer is older than
the other candidates, if age is measured
by years alone; but, measured by the
standard of health, power of endurance
and mental and physical vigor, he is as
young today as any one named for the
office. There are not many men of any
age who could have endured the wonder
full canvass made by him before the
people at the last election. And yet,
after speaking daily, and often several
times daily for months, he appeared on
the eve of the election as fresh and Wig
orous as ever. He is ten years younger
than Gladstone and nearly twenty years
younger than was Cardinal Fleury when
he ceased to guide the destinies of
France. History is full of instances of
men whose greatest services have been
rendered when past the age of 20.
"No one ever thought of questioning
his honesty, and as long and prominent
as his career has been, Democrats need
have no fear that any act of his could
be unearthed which would cause them
to blush for their candidate. On the
contrary, if nominated, l believe that
his history and his personal traits
would, when fully known, appeal with
greater force to the people than those
of any other candidate of recent times.
Palmer is in accord with his party
on all the great issues, and is especially
one of the ablest exponents of tariff
reform. In addition. he is distinctively
the leader in the movement to elect
senators by the direct vote of
the people; being the same propo-
sition so ably advocated before the
democratic state convention of California
two years ago, by Hon. Stephen M.
White.
The Democratic convention of Illinois
nominated Palmer for senator, and the
Legislature was elected on that issue.
Palmer is poor, and represents no great
corporate interest, and therefore would
have no standing before the ordinary
state legislature. He was, however,
elected by the people. and believe his
election marks the beginning of prac-
tice which will end in putting brains
and merit, instead Of bonds and bullion
in the senate to represent the people,"
Mr.. Henry Mylander, a well-known tailor of
Baltimore, writes 81 have been suffering for
some time with severe pain in my back from