The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-09-04

quainted with the situation he would have
weakened two weeks before the election
and yielded TO a clamor to withdraw from
the race. This demand to unSkilled ears
seemed nearly unanimous at one time. The
man who assisted at the creation of the
Republican party in Illinois and who had
weathered many a heavy political tempest
and had thrived upon trouble was not TO be
frightened out of or cajoled into abandon
ing a contest in which a senatorial seat
was hanging up. He simply sat down and
received the reward of patient waiting sup
chine.
Bluff and rugged John McAuIey Palmer is
an ideal type of the American citizen
Farm boy. notion seller, school teacher,
lawyer, soldier and statesman politician
all the time, but an honest one-he owes
his prominence among men to his own I'M
faltering energy and unWavering, well-di-
rected ambition. He has had the courage
of his convictions to a degree which can
scarcely be understood, or when connre>
hended, fully appreciated by atter-day pol
iticians for place or revenue only.
General Palmer distinguished himself IN
various engagements during the civil war
and happily combined the qualifications OF
courage and good Judgment. Later in the
war in the defense of Nashville and Stone
River where the waterway ran crimson
with blood. and other desperate fields he
made himself conspicuous His gallantry
and services at Stone River won him the
unqualified praise of General Rosecrans
and the two stars of a major general. he
closed his military career in charge of the
administration of Kentucky. General Palm
er'S connection with the army was diver
Sln6d by several more or less dcrl1uOnIOuS
disputes with the late General Sherman
General Palmer's campaign for the gov>
ernorship the Republican ticket was
brilliant one. A newspaper man who was
with him through the entire season is au
thority for the assertion that the Demo
cratic hide-that of individuals ana OF the
party in masS-Was never so thoroughly
and unsparingly removed as by General
Palmer. A ready, if not a daZZl1ngly elo-
quent speaker his oratory was of the kind
that caught the people, and in many of the
interior sections of the State it is said That
after one of Palmers speeches ii Democ-
racy had been a crime there would not nave
been left an unhanged Bourbon in the
great State of illinois.
One of General Palmer's secrets of popu-
larity is his wonderful tenacity of memory
for names and faces 1t has been asserted
that in the campaign of 1872, when he left
of the ill-starred liberal leader, Horace
Greeley, General Palmer enjoyed the per-
voting reputation of the State. and knew
the remaining 10 per cent. by sight. During
his term as Governor he vetoed the Chi
cage lake-front bill. Other marked events
of his administrator were the calling OF a
special session of the Legislature after the
Chicago fire, his protest against the occu-
patton of Chicago by troops under General
Sheridan, and the adoption of a new State
Constitution in 1870 After the decline of
the Liberal movement General Palmer did
not return to the Republican party, but
attached himself to the Democratic organi-
cation.
General Palmer's first wife died many
years ago. April T. 1888, he married Mrs
Hannah l. klnball. daughter or the late
James L. Lamb. of Springfield. Mrs. Palm
er is as widely known in the charities and
benevolent enterprises of Springfield as her
husband is in politics.
1t is almost Unnecessary to describe the
appearance of the General. He is a
little above the average height, stoutIy
built and of q strong constitution. He car
ries his seventy-nine years without MOTTO
ing their weight. His hair is not so plenti-
full as it was when he was elected Senator.
and is not barbered according to the latest
London mode Like his beard, it is white
A black, wide brimmed SLOUGH hat is the
favorite head covering of General Palmer
and his raiment is always of black broad
cloth. AT ease he wears a large standing
c collar WIN an opulent craVat; On the
casts both to the winds to give his ideas
free and untrammeled egress to the world.