The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1889-12-02
Mr.. Reed and the spe akershIp.


The nomination Of Mr.. Reed to the Speak
crship was never doubtful, provided the Sc
lection was made on the ground of fitness.
For several years be had been acknowledge
ed the leader of his party in the House of
Representatives, and twice his right to lead,
by reason of his intellectual power and his
parliamentary skill, had been formally rec
ognized with hardly a dissenting voice, by
his nomination to the Speakership by his
party when In the minority. 1t was
inevitable. therefore, that when his party
obtained control of the. House he should
again be selected as their candidate for
Speaker. provided fitness was made the only
test But everybody knows that other con-
siderations are liable to.have much weight in
deciding such contests. Geographical posi-
ton is one Of them. and 1t almost always is
very strong one. 1t ought, really, to have
but little influence, but as matter of fact it
does have great deal. Geographical posi-
ton was against Mr.. Reed. He was from
the extreme East. and from State, too,
which already had the most important of the
cabinet positions. Then, too, there are GER
tain questions before the country on which
eastern and western sentiments are not iden-
teal, and Of course these tended to operate
somewhat against Mr.. Reed. inasmuch as
the West and South are more than match
for New England and the Middle States. 1t
Is safe to say these two sets Of considera-
tions would have been sufficient to overwhem
an eastern candidate of average ability.
The reason that they did not overwhelm Mr..
Reed was because of his commanding abili-
ties, because he was head. and shoulders
above the other candidates in all the quail
ties needed In Speaker in a Congress that
Is to be fruitful in exciting contests and
earnest and, very likely, bitter struggles.
In word, it was his fitness which bore
down and swept awaysall the considerations,
ordinarily strong, that operated against him.
Mr.. Reed has been elevated to the second
place of power and influence in the govern
ment, not by reason of political finesse,
for he has little of it; not by reason of geo.
graphical position, for that was against him (;
not because the controlling sections thought
his nomination would be of especial aivan-
tage to them; but simply because his intel
iestual power, his great parliamentary skill,
his long experience, his spotless character,
I'd his sterling Republicanism attracted to
him the confidence, respect and admiration
OF all sections. Such being the case, his Sc
lection is magnificent tribute to the man,
t. which he may point with paldonable
pride. But honor has not been conferred ND.
on him alone. The State of Maine, the
First Congressional District, and especially
the City If Portland which is his home, are
all shonored by his selection. SO is the Re-
publican majority in Congress which select.
cd him, for croice on the ground of fitness
always honors the choosers as we'll as the
chosen. The work of Saturdays caucus is
one which, it Is safe to say, the Republicans
who took part in it will always look back up
on with feelings of pride and satisfaction.