Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-12-28
REED AS A CANDIDATE.
Tie Platform He Promulgst ted i'm 1857
Joke.

as "a Joke.
From the New York Sun.
Ex-Speaker Reed seems to be more Sc
riously a candidate for the presidency
than ever before. In 1888 he regarded
such a possibility joke. That year Q
New England paper declared that the most
available men for the republican nominal
ton were Congressman Reed of Maine,
Hiscock Of New York and Long of Massa-
chusetts.
LAS soon as We scw this" said Mr. Reed
at that time, Long and assembled our
selves together, held a caucus and agreed
that the announcement, so far az we were
concerned, was both timely and judicious,
Hiscock was not available, for reasons
that must suggest themselves to every
thoughtful and patriotic man. This &C.
ton having narrowed the contest down to
Long and myself, i suggested, with tho
kindest and most disinterested motives,
that for the sake OF harmony he ought to
withdraw. He demurred to the PROPOSE
ton, and did not appear to take much in
terest in 1t until l offered to make 1t an
object to him. 1 volunteered to pay him
IS in lawful none, Ii he would agree to re.
tire and make a speech nominating me In
the presidential convention. He replied
that he was not a five-dollar man, where
upon / raised him to eight. II there 10
anything / despise 1t Is avarice. He re-
piled that he would not withdraw from the
canvass and make the speech for less than
SIS. and was willing to let me write 1t, or
would submit 1t for my approval. This
was pretty steep, Long hadn't the
slightest chance Of getting the nomination
and isn't much of a speaker. But agreed
to pay him s. down and the balance IL
got the nomination. But Long said he
never did take contingent fee and never
would; so there the matter hangs. II ho
won't agree to share the risk he sha'n't
hoU Of, .af. hn hos
I'm running for the presidency" con.
tinued Mr.. Reed at that time (this was In
the winter of 1878, upon a broad and
comprehensive platform, and il / don't
get the nomination IT won't be because
I'm not willing to give satisfaction to peo-
pie of all colors, races, religions and politi-
cal Views / believe in giving every man
equal rights and a fair show. / believe
that 1t Is the duty of Congress to pass q
judicious silver bill, and am in favor Of
such a revision Of the tariff as shall give
the capital and labor employed In the man.
ufacturing industries of the country every
protection they ask, and at the same time
place the luxurie- well as the necessa-
ries of life within the reach of all. be-
neve that every man, woman and child
should receive pension who is entitled to
it; that every just claim upon the govern
ment should be promptly and duly paid,
with interest to date; that sectional strife
should be smothered in fraternal love. and
that the dead issues of the war should be
decently buried at government expense.
1 am in favor of applying the principles Of
civil service reform to all the offices of the
government, so as to give entire satisfac-
ton to those who are in as we'll as those
who are out, and that.all legislation in
tended to promote theV prosperity of the
country should be promptly enacted by
Congress. On the labor question 1 am as
sound as an oak saw log, and urge upon
Congress the passage of a bill that will
settle forever and set at rest all controver-
sizes between the employer and the en-
ployed. / believe that the surplus in the
treasury should remain unimpaired so far
as is consistent with the financial welfare
of the country, and that Congress should
take such action in reference to the
finances as will bring the greatest good to
the greatest number / hold IT to be the
duty Of the President to protect the pre-
rogAives CT his office, and to hand them
down unstained to his successor done up
in tissue paper or in a silk handkerchief,
and i will further say that II have omit
ted to declare my position regarding any
interest representing a considerable num-
Der of votes, II shall be my earnest en-
deavor to- amend and enlarge my platform
accordingly. The motto on my escutcheon
is I strive to please and my aim is to
merit the appreciation and secure the sup
port of all republicans. democrats and
mugwumps. / desire to be considered q
non-partisan ca 1didate, and would prefer
that my nomination should be unanimous"