Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1895-11-23
JjHR p. kLTGeLD.

our esteemed contemporary. the
Evening Journal. finds fault with en-
Judge samuel L. Mcconnell for offer.
Ing words of praise regarding Gov Alt
gcld'~ announced determination not To
be Il candidate for recollection.
Tie journal. staid. sober aud unprci-
lilcrd In most things. seems to hp NJ
fictel with Altgcldphohia II IL u
species of disease with our elderly con-
temporary. aud will be one Of the
faults tor which it, friends viii sigh
when II shall have PASSED through the
ihroos Of lis.olution---for. he II known
The journal. the good, old reliable
Journal. l. on the edge % that bourne.
and about tO embark upon It, from
which no traveller shall return.
Parting words. however, are often
bitter. rs the following from the pen
OF the gifted editor of the Journal am
ply cXrmplitics. Speaking OF eX-.Iudgc
McGurncll> word. ~ Commeulation
for Gur. Altgr!d. he says:
'TAcrr was II time thai he eN-Jud:e
wa, credited with II judicial mind and
u mic" regard for the eternal vcriiics
But Tliai WAS before ne shaved and
went bald-hcadod into ihc camp of the
free -ilvcritps. How iar hc has been
shorn Of the acute fcarlossncss OF opin.
ion that distinguished him OH die bench
!, sadly illustrated In the following NJ.
teIaucc evoked by Governor Altgeld's
uOt.t0.hC. sufficiently deter
minailon To retire from politics az the
end Of his present term:
In my mind Governor kltgcld j. by
FAR the ablcst man who was ever Gov
ernor of the State Of Illinois. He Is i'm.
bued with broad sympathics AMI Il
great lo,lr" to better the condition of
humanity. with Il good understanding
of social needs and social defects.
have never known u man who, In the
combination of courage. conscientious
Ness and intelligence, came anywhere
near him
stun. nauseating stuff. Samuel T..
Mcconnell! talks like an eXpectnnt heir
In tue ante-chamber of Il dying testatOr.
In the list Of Governors of Illinois that
stretches from Shadrich Bond to John
l.. Altgeld are the names of men the
latchets of whose shoes for ability and
patriotism Governor Altgeld Is not
worthy 10 loosen. The shade of Rich
ard Yates aud the honorcd presence
still with us, Of John VI. Palmer and
grand old Dick Dgleshy rise 10 refutc
rx.Judg- MrConnells statement"
The Eagle acCordS 10 the shades"
of John W. Palmer and Grand Old
Dick o-leSby' all rhar Is due to them
when II says they were Staunch party
men and In their time rendered their
country ana The stat. good and efficient
service ~ Governors Of Illinois. but IN
The record Of die career of neither can
there be- found anything which place,
him one niche higher In the temple Of
fame than John l.. Altgeld, and We are
mistaken If, when the history OF the
three men comes 10 be written. the his
toriln T. not forced To pay to John T..
Alleged The highest tribute for absolute
fearles ,ncss In the discharge Of duty.
for utter contempt for public clamOr
whenever IL would lead from the path
of Justice for brave and unwavering in,
tegrity IN all rhings, for general ability
and general honesty Of character and
loftlnesS Of purpose.
We do not know exactly what our con,
temporary means hy broad sym
pathles for humanity outside the
rcams Of words he has written and
published fuT political ends only" hut u
1t means sufficient strength of character
to do Justice 10 The pJor and the lowly
10 synipaIlhze with the labOrer and
the artisan in the struggle for existence
with capital and monopoly, readiness
10 extend tO the ,oiling MASSES a helping
hand Ia rycry movement for their amcl
ioratiOn, "a SENSE OF justice sufficiently
strong IA recognize that when the law
had been sufficiently indicated the