The Portland daily press., 1890-02-04
SPEAKER REEDS STORM.
The Position of the Republicans
Clearly Stated and Justified.
[Roston rranscrintl

Boston transcript
Hon. Thomas b. Reed, Speaker of the
House of Representatives, and representa-
tive from the First district of Maine,
is going through process of having great
ness thrust upon him with unparalleled ra-
pidity in the House of Representatives. He
exhibits that cheerful courage and undaunt-
ed nerve bespeaking the man who has not
the slightest doubt as to the tenability of the
position he occupies, Amid the storm that
has ragged about his head for two days, Mr.
Reed has never lost command of his temper,
however bitter the personal vituperation
aimed at him, but has calmly maintained his
ground, and in that respect, at lie lst, extorted
the admiration of those whom political con-
siderations have thrown into the opposition.
Mr.. Blaine has been quoted against Mr..
Reed, and Mr.. Reed. even, against himself.
in the matter at issue. When the speaker
was not invested with the responsibility of
presiding over the body to which he belongs,
the Maine representative stated that sit is
not tie visible presence of members, but
their Judgments and their votes that the con-
stltutlon calls for" But in tie Speakers
chair Mr.. Reed becomes the "mouthpiece of
the House." charged with the duty of ascer-
tanning its will and executing it to the ex-
tent of his constitutional authority. 1t is
his right to represent the dignity and power
OF the body that elected him. These primal
propositions afford some explanation why
Congressman may act differently under
sense of official responsibility from what
they did before being charged with such OBJ
legations Mr.. Reeds statements prior to
his assuming the STANDARDIZATION the
Democrats of course combatted at the time
are unlmpOrtant. The vital point is. how
shall Congress proceed to transact the pub
lie business for which it convened? Under
the constitution each house is made the
Judge OIL the elections returns and Quallti-
cations of its own members" me majority
OF the House proposes to exercise this con-
stltutienal function in its own way to which
the minority obj oct, and enforce their objec-
lions by nibustering. 1t should always be
borne in mind that the turbulent proceed
lngs OF the past two days originated in pre-
concerted plan to defeat such a settlement
OF contested election cases as the majority
deems proper. 1t was for that reason Demo-
ratio members agreed to break Quorum by
sitting in their seats and yet RETAINING, as
tney supposed, from participating in the
business OF the House. Speaker Reed de-
clded, and no opposition seems to make him
bulge an inch, that the presence of Demo-
cratic memberslsuffices to furnish the neces-
sary quorum, His decision is all in the in
terest of facilitating public business, and to
prevent the majority from being overridden.
Mr.; Breckenridge yesterday, in frenzied
speech. spoke OF the gag law imposed by the
nelp OF the Speaker as "usurpatory, revolu-
tionary and corrupt" He would, if called
severely to account for his language, say it
was only intended in Pickwickian sense,
and had no personal application to the Con-
gressmep engaged in such nefarous trans
action. The gag law to which Mr. Breckin-
ridge alluded Is Renaissance of those
times In which the Democratic party rule
SnnrpmQ
have excited uncomfortable reflections on
the part of Democratic Congressman famil-
lar with the history of their party. 1t is
bad enough to muzzle the minority, but
when minority violates all rules of deco
rum and order to prevent the majority from
exercising its undoubted functions, then the
"mouthpiece of the House" should assert its
collective dignity and authority in the direc-
tlUn OF suppressing all movements the ulti-
mate end OF which must be anarchy. Re-
preventative Butterworth of Ohio defended
the. Speakers position with great clearness
and cogency yesterday. He pointed out
what rights the minority had, and he went
on TO say
But in addition to all that, this minority
here Insists that it has a constitutional right
to stand in the way of legislation that it dis
approves. Such is neither the letter nor the
spirit OF the constitution. Such was not the
idea of the fathers touching legislation in
this country. They provided, not agains,
Cpx-o mpm
bers. The right Of the minority. which the
fathers provided FOR, was the right to amend
or to do whatever they wished to perfect leg
islation But the sovereign will of the PEG
pie is represented in the majority, and, unit
that right shall be overthrow by revolu
tion or otherwise, the decision of the Speaker
must be upheld as vindicating the rights OF
all the people of this coutry.
Reed and ButterW Orth tower up far above
the average Of Republican Representatives
Americans are great lovers of pluck and gri
in their public men. This was sharply illus
trated in General Jackson's case. They like
their leaders to exhibit spice of audacity IL
their proceedings as though asking no odd
of their opponents. Politicians of such
stamp are sure to have great popular follow
ing. If Thomas b. Reed carries through
his programme successfully, he will writ,
his name high up among the great p0ltica
leaders on this side of the Atlantic. He will
have hewn out for himself reputation tina
will cause him to rank among the most dis
tinguished citizens that Maine has contrbu
ted to the country.