St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1892-02-29
Although He Asserts That He
Is Not Seeking the Nomi-
nation.
Enthusiastic Speech by the
Old War Horse to Spring.
field Democrats.
He Asserts That We No Long,
er Need Depend on
New York.
Illinois the Center of a New
Political Force in This
Country.

SPRINGFIELD, ILL.,, Feb. 2S.-The
Democratic central committee of Sang
amou county met here yesterday and
called its convention for April IL. Sem
ator John NJ. Palmer was present and
made an address, which was largely
devoted TO his own position as presi
dental candidate. In the course of his
address Senator Palmer said: My
friends, your chairman very kindly
alludes to me with reference to the
pending canvass for the next presiden-
tial election, and am gratifed that any
Democrat in the state would think that
l would be ServiceabIe to the
country in that important position.
| have never aspired to the
presidency. l have earnestly desired
the confidence of the Democracy of the
state of Illinois. My ambition has been
limited to rendering to the party iD the
state such services as would entitle
me to its confidence, and in that l have
found an abundant reward. 1t is true
that the newspapers and some public
men speak of me as a candidate for the
presidency, and [ suppose l am not at
liberty to overlook the fact that it is
within the range of mere possibilities
that the nomination might reach me. l
give you my word l am not seeking it.
What the accidents of politics may de-
termine in the future no man can fore
tell. But my interest in politics, gentle
men, has no personal end. l am
Not Seeking a Place
for myself. [ am seeking that which is
to me of infinitely more value. l have
seen the Democratic party in this state
defeated, divided, unorganized and I'M
able to make steady, persistent fight
for principle: and / have lived to see it
living, moving, active political force.
We Won victory in 1890 in Illinois. l
believe that the Democratic party has
the control of Illinois if it can unite and
act with VigOr and earnestneSS to that
end. / mean, in other words. that Illi
nois is Democratic state applausel,
and, Illinois being Democratic state,
it now becomes force IN the politics of
the United States. Up to now, perhaps
yet, the Democracy of the county has
been dependent upon one Of the states
for a candidate for the presidency not be-
cause other portions of the Union have
not patriotic citizens who have the con-
fidence of the Democratic party, but it
has been thought to be necessary to al
low one of the states to select candi-
date. What the success of that has
been you know as we'll as /, and even
now there is an impression throughout
the country that New York is to furnish
the Democratic candidate; that if it is
true that New York, and New Jersey,
and Connecticut, and Indiana control
the situation and that candidate must
be furnished by some of these states
that is acceptable to the others New
York must still be appealed to to furnish
candidate for the presidency. l have
no complaint to make myself of the
Democratic
Leaders of New York.
have no doubt that that has been
heretofore the Sounder policy, but if, as
l believe, Illinois is a Democratic state
new force is created in Democratic
politics. Illinois being the center of
the Northwest, surrounded by Indiana.
Michigan. Wisconsin, Iowa, Minnesota
and Missouri, we have new political
force developed in this country LAP
plausel and we need not depend alone
candidates. [Applausel. Look at it for
a moment-apd l am not speaking in
derogration of the Democracy of New
York. They have been laboring for
years under gerrym ander, which has
kept the control of the state in the
hands of the minority. l know that
that Democracy of the state of New
York carried New York by 10000 Or 3d.
600 or 10000, and the districts were
SO arranged that New York has been
constantly represented by Republican
senators. But l say that, if l am cor
rect in my opinion that Illinois is 4
nQmnarofi0 Ctatn If ic q fnrna bat
brings hope to the country. and this
great Northwest comes into the contest.
and will seek to control the politics of
the United States. Applause. l con-
feSs to you that my own personal inter-
est is as nothing compared to the inter-
ests of the great party. l desire that
the Democratic party shall carry Illi-
nois. [Applause.l l know that we can
do that with any candidate that the
Democratic convention will nominate.
Applause 1t is not necessary that l
be nominated. l am thankful for the
confidence of my Democratic fellow cit
liens; but | should be ashamed to say
that l alone can carry Illinois. APP
plause.] Now let US recollect that we
are
Not AntagOnizing Anybody.
We are not criticiSing any other state
The Democracy of New York have held
their convention. The time of holding
that convention has been criticised. 1t
is to be criticised by the Democracy of
New York alone. We hold our cOnven-
tons when we please, and so let New
York. New York has spoken its prefer
ence, and New York will come to the
heXt national convention an organized
and efficient body. They know what
they want and they have the courage to
ask for it. Applause.] This is politics.
What ought Illinois do? Illinois ought
to go to the convention knowing what
she wants and having the courage to ask
for it. Any other course invites di-
vision and is weakness. If we go
to the next national convention hav-
ing no definite purpose in view, simply
willing to accept such favors as they
will give uS-weak, unOrganiZed, havngi
no end, Illinois will be, as it has been
for the past thirty years, without force
as a factor in the Democratic politics of
the country. And if Illinois says: 1--WE
have determined to carry Illinois for
the national ticket, and, having thus de-
termined,
We Want Voice
in the selection of the national candi-
dates, we come here not devoted to any
particular man, but to nominate the
best, and strongest, and trueSt repre-
sentative of the Democratic party, and
we come mere as one man demanding
such nomination; if Illinois has name
that it will tender, so let it be. 1t will
have definite purpose in thar. But if
you wait until the convention meets be-