The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1890-07-11

In the North American Rerfe1c for July
there is remarkable article entitled Speaker
REEDS Error" and signed TX. NJ. c." The
anonymous writer crtiCiscs, dissects and
ridiculcs the Speakers method Of counting a
quorum, md the scheme of rules and rulings
by which he has sought to count Cract the
disadvantages Of narrow Republican ma
jority in tho House. IIc brings to bear on
Tom REED a murdant Wit, close and acute
logic, and an astonishing familiarity not
only with practice and precedent In the
American Congress, but also with the history
and philosophy OF parliamentary law
This sharp attack on tho Speaker derives
additional interest from the fact that it ts
now quite generally identified rs the
essay of Brother BLAINE. Our own corre-
spondent at Washington reports that public
opinion there attributes to Mr.. BLAINE the
caustic review OF Mr.. REEns course since
he has been Speaker, and finds in the article
ITSELF apuuuonl In 70 nal evidence, both as to
matter and style, that the Secretary OF State
Is the author.
II that is true, 1t follows that Mr.. BLAINE
is so much worried by the growing impor-
lance OF the younger statesman from Maine
that he thinks it necessary to give him
whack. The North American article Is full
OF hostility and contempt. not ut all con-
ceaed by the ironcal pOliteness OF Its
phrases. II Mr.. BLAINE wrote it, he is not
only very jealous Of the Speaker person.
ally, but he is also so dissatisfied with
the general management Of tho party
In the House Of Representatives that he has
gone out of his way to do a somewhat I'M
dlgnihcd thing. Whatever view the Secre-
tary of State may privately take Of Ton
REED and TOMS performances at the legis-
lative end of the concern, an open or anony-
nous attack Of this sort on Republican
policy in Congress by the principal person
age In the Administration would be sur
prising and significant event.
But Mr.. BLAINE did not write the article.
Those who think they detect his methods OF
argument and literary peculiarities in the
essay of TX. NJ. g." are curiously mistaken.
They pay a very poor compliment to Mr..
BLA1NE's powers OF self-restraint and
political magnanimity when they attribute
the paper to him. They also display sim
gular lack of literary perception when they
discover in its periods the distin-
gushing traits OF Mr.. BLAINE's style.
The style is not his; the wit Is not
his; the characteristic turns of expression
and habits of phraseology are not his. The
wonderful familiarity with the business Of
Congress and the history Of the rules might
be his but it isn't his. Mr.. BLAINE is not
tx. NJ. c." and we do not think that any
competent judge of style who reads the
article carefully and without preconceived
notion as to its authorship, will find any
good reason for attributing 1t to him.
Who is the anonymous critic Of Speaker
REEDS rules and rulings2 From internal
evidence only, We should say that the
Speakers reply should be addressed not to
the State Department, but to distinguish
ed Republican philosopher and journalist
who halls from city about three thousand
miles from Augusta, Maine, who has never
sat in the Speakers CHAIR whose parliament
tary knowledge was gained by dozen years
experience att the other end Of the Capitol. and
who has always been about as friendly to
Brother BLAINE as BLAINE is supposed to
be to the Hon. THOMAS BRACKET REED.