New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-09-26
GENERAL JOHN II. PALMER.

The death of General John NJ Palmer closes
a public career reaching back through three
generations, and revivlng political memories
with which it is difficult to fancy any active
leader of our day associated. It was General
Palmer's chief gift of leadership, perhaps that
he bridged over his career from one period Of
our history and politics to another So easily and
completely that he seemed equally himself and
equally in touch with his surroundings at every
point in its progress. The same buoyancy, the
same frankness, the same desire to adapt him
self TO what he considered changing conditions
in politics marked every stage of his public
activity. There was something of the spirit of
youth about him which kept his political inter
ests fresh and his political enthusiasms unslack-
ened. No cause he espOused-and the causes
he espoused were many and varied-ever lacked
his sincere, whole hearted, conscientious advo-
cacy. Firm in his cOnvictiOns-when once his
convictions We're tXed-he brought to their sup
port an energy and courage which were unfail-
ing. And these qualities shone unclouded at
the very close of his career, when he broke
away from his party to denOunce It's financial
heresies, as they did in 1S54-fifty-two years
earlier-when he left its ranks to champion the
cause of free soil and free labor
What a range of experience and achievement
is embraced in these six decades Of political ac-
tivity. General Palmer's public service had
run further back indeed than his break with
the Douglas wing Of the Democracy on the
Kansas-Nebraska issue His first speeches in
Presidential canvass were made in support
of Martin Van Buren,, and as a Democrat he
had been elected to county offices in Illinois as
early as 1913. But after 1854, when by holding
out for and forcing the election of Lyman Trum-
bull as Senator over Stephen A. Douglas he
paved the way for a new organization Of anti
slavery forces in Illinois. his role on the political
stage became a more or less commanding one
and his voice and influence have been recOg-
nzed in practically all the great movements and
counter movements of party opinion which have
Since swept over his adopted State Joining the
Republican party in 1856 and working ardently
for the final success which came in 1860 Gen
eral Palmer's entry into the Union Army was
a fOregone step. On the field one promotion
followed another, till the Illinois colonel rose
to command an army corps and then depart
ment Governor Of Illinois after the war he
found himself drifting into antagonism with
the policies of the second Grant Administration
and in 1872 allied himself with the Liberal Re
publican movement Turning with ardor little
later to certain Democratic principles which he
found attractive and cOngenial, he rose to lead
ership in the Democratic party and after two
unsuccessful candidates. was at last chosen
United States Senator from Illinois In the can
vass Of 1890. His devotion to revenue tariff
and the other paramount Democratic doctrines
OF his second period of utilization with that
party was unquestiOned. but on the capture of
the organization four years ago by the radical
free coinage agitators, true to n sense OF public
duty as he interpreted it. he courageously cap
tanned that element in the party which refused
10 surrender its name and principles without n
struggle. His campaign experiences confirmed
MS aversion to the party leaders who had risen
10 power on the Chicago platform, and this year
In letter written early in August he had an
nounced his intention 10 support the Republican
presidential ticket, thus bringing him once more
In active sympathy with the organization in
whose ranks his earlier and more signal polti-
cal trumphs had been achieved
Through all his changes of party faith Gen
eral Palmer retained the highest measure of
public respect and confidence His sincerity
was never seriously questioned and the fair
and independent spirit he carried into public
discussion broke the force Of intended sheers M
his political Inconsistency. AS a type of the older
school of statesmen-of ruggeder minds and