New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-05-15
B5ITING 4 GREAT STATESMAN.

The information which reaches us through
the pages of The Congressional Record leads
us TO believe that an eminent Western states
man. the Hon. John NJ. Palmer, Of Illinois, Is
not receiving at the hands Of his associates in
the Senate the Difference and consideration to
which his years, his attachments and his virtues
entitle him.
Mr. Palmer is one of the Vests favorite sons.
He belongs to the school Of the Wabash Syca-
mores He is powerful Of lung, garrlllous of
speech, a fountain Of resoundng platitudes and
as impatient Of the restraints Of information
and logic as the zebra and the wild gazee are
of the bride and the brccching-strap. Elderly
but ardent rckcty but impulslve. venerable but
frisky, the Hon. John NJ. Palmer is at once
picturesque. surprising and profound. There is
no subject Of human controversy upon which
he IS not prepared 10 talk for the cdincation Of
the Senate Modelled upon the lines Of that
lustrious blathcrsktc the Hon. Daniel w.
Voorhees,, and rlvallng in wndiness the very
caves of Boreas he presents 10 the Senate
combination Of Captain Jack Bunsby and Mrs.
Nicllcby the like Of which has never been seen
upon the earth Nobody has ever tapped him
without starting n mountain torrent OF con-
vcrsation. Nobody has started him with the
result OF obtaining either fact or reason. He
spluttcrs and gcsticulates and talks upon the
smallest prov0cation. and nothing less than
physical exhaustion stops him. His eloqucncc
is like The chatter Of birds Of the cracking Of
thorns under Il pot.
Nevertheless We do not approve the manner
In which the lIxn John W. Palmer, OF Illinois.
Is treated almost every day 10y the other Sell
ators. and especially by the Republicans The
Record" unfortunately does not give the exact
time nj which Mr.. Palmer is In the habit OF
engaging in debate. but from a number Of indi-
cations we suspect it 10 be near 3 o'clock the
hour he returns from the restaurant below filed
with commiSSary stores and enthusiasm. His
entrance, it seems is the signal for a wicked
and irrcvcrcnt ribaldry calculated 10 make the
judlcious gricvc No sooner does the Hon. John
VI. Palmer take his seat and east proud but
rhcumv eye over The asscmblagc than the bait
ing Of that powerful statesman begins. Whether
it be the duty on isocclcS irianglcs. or IN" rrli-
ton between the political hypOthcnusc and the
bias of Jurisprudence. or the capacity OF
chmcra Eliminating In vacuum 10 dcyour
second intentions. that eminent statesman rises
10 the bait with f,rvor that bcggars cul9gy.
He gets upon his honorable legs and shakes out
his chin vhiskcrs 10 the breeze and makes the
very wclkin shivcr with his noise. He talks
Of twcclcdnm and twecdlcdcr Of the Pebble
that has no toes Of The People he loves with all
his heart and the Dong with the luminous nose.
And we regret to say il. Mcssrs. Adrich and
Chandler and Hale and others too numerous 10
mention. sit around ana picnic on that great
mans frrvor
We repeat: if is not right II is almost wickei.
I.hu NJ Palmer il a Itsfiunriisllpl
and q mighty statesman. He is Il fountain that
eushcs NJ the liehtcst touch, and his language
IS Ike The tears ~ Niobe it slobbcrs OH for
ever. They should not bait that hOary patr-
arch nor stir The waters Of his turgid eloqucncc
II is cruelty 10 Democrats. and, what Is worse
IL checks The flow of Democratic craftsmanship
Let mp on the Hon. John VI. Palmer. we say
aud usher IN the fat millennium M once