The Portland daily press., 1886-06-17
MR.. REED OF MAINE.
His cannibaIistlc Fondness for Mr..
Springer of Illinois.
TCor of Cincinnati Commercial Gazette.l

[COr. of Cincinnati Commercial Gazette-I
While She face of Mr.. Reed OF Maine is
far from being expressionless, it conveys
little hint of the the keenness Of his wit and
the nimbleness of his brain. 1t is a big,
round, smooth moon-like face, under white
bare dome of Uranium, and there is in 1t a
suggestion of heaviness and immaturity and
of worldly innocence. But when that ooun-
tenanee, with its round, prominent eyes,
looms up on the Republican side and faces
across the aisle, there is an uneasy flutter on
the other side and a disposition to dodge the
expected shot.
His mouth is heavy, and almost denotes
stolidity; but from it comes such swift sallies
of wit, such keen arrows of eloquence and
shots of sarcasm as to make the hall ring
with applause. There is no other member
more thoroughly enjoyed, or whose speeches
are more eagerly awaited. The Democrats
fear him in debate more than any other
Republican, and in the reporters gallery the
admiration for Reed is unbounded, and his
bright things, quaint conceits and pat Illus
trations are current among the corre-
spondents.
Occasionally, in the early part of session,
a young member on the other side will boldly
confront Mr.. Reed, who will let his eyes
rest upon him with benign expression OF
fatherly concern, encourage him until the
fresh member feels that Mr.. Reed ism t much
of man after all, and then mildly but sud
denly crush his presumptuous opponent In
some odd and ridiculous figure that makes
the members and the gallery shout with
laughter.
Whenever Mr.. Springer gets upon his feet
Mr.. Reed is wide awake. He starts up like.
hunter at the sound of the horn, and glows
like big bear over beehive. 10 worry
Springer is the keenest enjoyment Mr.. Reed
knows. He revels in Springer. He bats
him and pricks him with bandanillo darts,
and shakes little red flags at him until the
gentleman from Illinois gets fairly wild, and
goes dancing about pounding and gestlcu-
lating. If anybody else presumes to bother
Mr.. Springer, Mr.. Reed comes to his aid at
once, and tiercely attacks his opponent. lie
reserves Springer to himself. and will en-
dure no poaching on his premises.
In the present condition OF the Democratic
side, Mr.. Reed is as happy as boya a clam
bake.
The Democrats are disorganized and split
up, and Mr.. Reed is all the time either benev-
olently assisting one of the factions against
the other, or holding them both up to ridicule
or arraigning them in scorching eloquence.
In this he has but one rival, and that is But
terworth, whose speech on the civil service
rider, few days ago, was one OF the most
notable heard in Congress for long time
Democrats appear to be hopelesslY split in
two. Morrison is fatty opposed to Holman
and Randall, and the fights between them
and their followers are fierce and bitter
There is no bringing them together, and this
breach is as wide as that between the Ran
dali protectionists and the Carlisle free-trad-
erS or revenue refOrmerS. The lack OF pop
ular administration, about whose policy all
could rally, or through which a ground of
compromise could be reached and compare
tive harmony secured. renders the dpmOral-
iZation greater.
The endeavors of Mr.. Holman to cut down
every appropriation, in accordance with the
policy of making the Senate responsible for
the heavy increase, are defeated by the Nor
risOn men voting with the Republicans, amid
the laughter of both sides of course when
the tariff bill comes up it will not be pr0duc-
tive of any additional harmony among the
Democrats.
Not only ON National matters are the Demo-
Gratis divided in the House of Representa-
tives, but the State delegations indulge in un-
seemly wrangling among themselves. Every
one knows how harmonious the Democrats Of
Ohio are.
Last Friday the floor of the House was the
scene of a disgraceful quarrel that apparent
ly threatened to come to blows between two
Democrats of Maryland, Messrs. Compton
and Findlay.
Just before that the Tennessee people were
fighting over Porter and Harris, and Ken
lucky some time ago had her innings.
1t is this condition which gives such man
as Reed his best opportunity. Saturday he
took advantage of it to condOle with his
Democratic brethren on their split-up condi-
ton, but encouraged them with the intima-
tion that so long as they are split in two fac
tions one of them may be right, which is bet
ter than for all to be wrong, as is the case
when the party is united; he added further
encouragement by the assurance that all the
lower organizations of life multiply and
fructify by splitting up. After giving them
this pleasant consolation, he kindly inter
ceded to mend another little Democratic diff
ference. Mr.. Taulbee had spoken of Assist
ant Secretary Smith as that man Smith,"
Mr. Beach resented this ON behalf of the as
sistant secretary as rude and disrespectful,
and Mr.. Reed suggested to MIR. Taulbee that
he withdraw the word Smith.
Then Mr.. Reed turned his attention to the
burly Mr. Reagan, whose stumbling manner
in debate always suggests the old slmlle of
blind horse among mill. logs, and after pleas
antly prodding him till he had the Texas
member floundering about, he drew from him
the hot declaration that he had not mention
ed sthe Constitution during the day, when
Mr.. Reed exclaimed that that fact made the
day the most memorable in the history of
the House, amid such rOars of laughter as
drowned out the angry CALCULATIONS of Mr..
Reagan, and changed the speech to panto-
mime.
When these little amenities of eloquence
and felicities of speech are in progress, Mr..
Reeds face fairly shines with pleasure, and
the more sickly becomes the character of the
laughter upon the other side the more ex-
ceedingly polite and benevolent and atten-
tive he becomes.