The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1885-12-08
CURRENT COM M EMIT.
THE WORLDS POSITION.
st. Louis Globe-Democrat.


Speaking of civil service reform, the New
York World proclaims its hearty sympathy
with all special measures looking to improve
ment in that connection, but goes on to say
that it is useless to talk about enforcing such
measures until we shall first have accom-
and rectifcation" of the public service. The
position of the World closely resembles that
of the youngster who said to his Sunday
school teacher: "When sing L want to be
an angel does it mean that want to be an
angel right away? If itdoes' I'm going to
quit singing it.
THE ENGLISH STYLE.
Springfield Union
What under the sun should we Americans
come to if our national election were strung
along for two or three weeks as the British
elections are? 1t was as much as we could
endure to have few States voting in Octo-
Der and the rest in November, but happily
we have done with that. Our election in the
future will resemble the darkey's method of
arm, den de lef' arm, and glib one general
conwulsion." The English have something
to learn from us in this matter. There may
be party advantages in having the Torres
ahead one day and the Conservatives ahead
the next, but the temptation to bribery and
corruption at elections is increased by the
method of serial contests ito be continued
in our next"
CHAIRMAN BROWN CONSTRUCTS AN ARGU-
MENT.
Brooklyn Union.
The Chairman of the Democratic State
Committee of Maine has been constructing
the best possible argument for the extension
of the civil service rules to cover appoint
ments at least to the fourth-class postofices
He has been in Washington doing what he
could to secure offices for the faithful and
simple; and when an appointment was made
whether through his influence or not, he semi
to the new postmaster a confidential letter
saying: Il have secured your appointment
as postmaster at your place. and the papers
will be forwarded in a few days. If you are
willing to send reasonable sum to help de-
fray the expense of my being in Washing
ton looking out for Maine interests, | shall
be glad to receive it, This incident occurs
in good time to show that an act prohibiting
members of Congress from soliciting ap
pointments would not strike the evil at its
root. The only method of eradicating it is to
put the offices out of the range of Soliclta
ton.
MIR. REED AND THE sPEAKERsHIP.
Boston Advertiser
The honors of the Republican nomination
fell upon Mr.. Reed of Maine. He would
make an excellent speaker if he could bt
elected; but this nomination means that HI
is to be the recognized leader of the Repub
lican minority on the floor, and is especIall.
tribute to his talents and influence as a de
batter. There is no man on the Republican
| side, and there has not been one for two OF
three sessions, whom the Democrats more
fear to encounter. He has the faculty Of
making five minute speeches, or even Drlefel
ones, which set forth the issue clearly, anC
he can unmask a sophistry or prick bubble
of rhetoric with unmatched shrewdness and
certainty. There will be no lack of courage
or spirit in the leadership of the minority.
Bangor Wing.
Mr.. Reed has long been considered as one
of the ablest members of the lower branch o.
Congress and his unanimous selection al
nominal leader of the minority will be highly
gratifying to his many friends in this State
Philadelphia Press.
The Republicans of the House cOuldn't
make mistake in a candidate for speaker
with two such strong men as Mr.. Reed an0
Mr. Hiscock to choose from; and in nomin
ating Mr.. Reed they have honored one Of
the brightest and keenest leaders who has
appeared in the House during the last ter
years. He is wittier than Sunset Cox, more
acute than Ben Butler and has a reader in
teIlectual play than Mr.. Carlisle. The Dem
ocrats have no man to match him in debate
Lewiston journal.
Mr.. Reeds nomination was not an empt,
honor, however. 1t gives him prestige al
the leader of the Republican side of thu
House; and experience has already demon
strated his superior aptness for this cap
taincy The nomination also puts Mr.. Ree(
in the line of succession to the chair. The
next Congress may have Republican ma
iority. If so, Mr.. Reed probably will b,
elected Speaker. The honor to Congressman
Reed is one in a great pile of tokens O.
Names intellectual wealth and power.