Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1873-12-08
SPE.ikER BLAINE.

Speaker Blaine enters upon his third term
as presiding officer of the House with the gem
eral appreciation of the country. His speech
upon taking the chair is commended as a
very happy effort, brief, but comprehensive
in meaning, and of n temper specially adapt
ed to the occasion. Many appreciative notices
have appeared in the press concerning the
Speaker, few of which we transfer to our
columns.
The New York Times says:
..That he is worthy of the office the nation
knows BY the manner he has filled it hereto
fore, and it is doubtful whether any better
selection could be made
respondent, wiring at date before his cleo
ton said:
CHE is by far the most skillful and saga
cious politician in the House, and it would be
| hopeless for any rival to attempt TO make
Roadway against him If he were poor
Speaker, his ability as politician might not
save him from attack, but he is altogether the
best presiding officer that has occupied the
chair within the memory Of the oldest mem
bers, dispatching business with great rapidity
controlling and directing the turbulent House
with remarkable tact, and, while never losing
sight of the interests of his party, rarely ex.
hibiting in his appointments and decisions the
unfairness Of partisan
The Albany Journal mentions him in an
editorial as follows:
1.-The unanimous denomination of Hon.
James &. Blaine as Speaker of the House OF
Representatives was entirely in accordance
with public expectation and deserved tribute
to an able and faithful public officer. Mr..
Blaine combines III unusual degree all the
qualifications needed in the Speaker. He
| has fine presence, excellent voice, thorough
familiarity with parliamentary rules and great
energy in the despatch of business. Beyond
all that he is a sagacious counsellor and a
skillful leader and excrts his influence in be-
half of wise legislation. The Speaker has
great power in moulding the action of Con.
gress, and Mr.. Blaine will use it prndenly
and efficiently"
| The Boston Advertiser says Mr.. Blaine
was reelected Speaker ''by most eompli-
mentary vote.
The Boston Journal says his speech on tax.
ing the chair "will be generally admired" and
adds:
THE Speaker enters upon his new term of
office with such prestige that he is able thus
far to conceal his cast of the committees as
effectually as if it were among his private
matters, instead of something over which
Washington il bursting with curiosity
The Lewiston Journal says editorially:
"Without distinction of party, the Wash
ington correspondents and the leading news
papers of the country speak in the highest
terms of Speaker Blaine, on the occasion of
his third election to the speakership. They
all agree that he is clearly one of the ablest,
most skillful and most successful Speakers
that ever occupied that high position; and
that in fertility of resources, foresight and in
sight and practical craftsmanship he stands
confessedly in the front rank of public men of
the country. Probably no man in the coun-
try, aside from President Grant, exercises so
great an influence to-day on public affairs as
the distinguished Speaker. Maine may feel a
just pride in such n representative"
The Washington correspondent of the Bid
deford Union and Journal runs over the
names of distinguished men which Maine has
furnished to Congress, and among them clas-
ses Mr.. Blaine of whom the writer says:
.'Mr. Blaine is indebted for his position in
the Republican party to his great personal
popularity; his capacity for public affairs;
the facility with which he is able to dispose
of business; the energy and rapidity with
which he executes whatever he undertakes !;
his faculty for public speaking, without which
no nan can rise to prominence in the House :;
and lastly to a commendabie ambition to
achieve success in the vocation for which he has
thus far exhibited remarkable qualifications,
while unlike most of the public men whose
heads have risen above their associates in the
past ten years, he has committed no error of
sufficient magnitude TO retard his advance
ment in a political career the zenith of which
has probably not been reached"