Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-08-10
THE TWO MEN FROM MAINE.

The sum total of the advices from the
winter and summer capitals, at Washing
ton and Cape May, is that the next few
months is to decide whether the plume OF
victory in Republican leadership is to
adorn the plumed knight from Maine OF
olden times, or whether it is to be trans
ferred to the newer edition of the Maine
man who now rules the House from the
Speakers chair. In other words the con-
test is to be one OF supremacy between the
two Maine leaders.
Whatever differences there may be be-
tween the various accounts of the results of
the recent conferences between the Presi-
dent and his Secretary of State, it is clear
that there is practical agreement between
Mr.. Blaine and Mr.. Harrison on the points
of policy which constitute the formers
claim upon the public admiration and ap-
proval. The administration is committed,
and rightly committed, to the reciprocity
amendment of Senator Pierce, which,
as The DISPATCH has pointed out, fully
satisfies the requirements of Mr.. Blaine's
policy. The disposition to kick over the
traces by independent and secret orders to
the revenue cutters in Behring's Sea has
been quelled, and the Secretary of State
will have the credit of bringing that nego-
tiation to a successful and pacific issue. 1t
may be presumed that the family organs of
the administration will be called off from
their barking at the great Secretary of State,
and will devote their attention to lampoon-
ing R epublican Senators who express their
individual opinions on the Federal election
law. In short, the Secretary of State is
now the towering figure of the administra-
ton.
But he has still to reckon with man
from Maine in the House, and the junior
man from Maine must be taken as decided
quantity in all political figuring. 1t is true
that Mr.. Blaine holds out an olive branch to
the Speaker in the shape of an indisputable
recommendation from him as sable and
audacious" But the ability and audacity
of the Junior Maine leader hes never devel-
oped the quality Of backing down. He has
Individually committed himself to the decla-
ration that the Secretary's policy of reci-
procity shall not be engrafted on the McKin-
ley bill. 1t is true that the commital of the
administration to the Blaine policy has
changed matters somewhat since Mr.. Reed
made this declaration; but all indications
are to the effect that the Hon. Thomas B.
Reed is not in frame of mind to eat his
own words to suit President Harrison's dis
positions. When the tariff bill gets back to
the House, therefore, the conflict between
the policy of the elder man from Maine and
that of the younger islikely to resemble that
which takes place when an irresistible force
strikes an immovable body.
The question, which of the two Maine men
is the most powerful leader is likely to be
an interesting one that can only be settled
bv the outcome. There is no doubt that
the Secretary Of State is the man of broader
views and ripper policy; but there is a very
grave doubt whether he has the most stub
born fighting qualities or is as securely in
trenched in the administration as the
Speaker is in the House. Whether the Maine
Speaker will prove mightier than the Maine
Secretary of State or will be forced to join
himself to the latter's triumphal chariot
wheels, is an issue pending the settlement of
which less pugnacious politicians may well
hold their breath, while it is being fought
ont