The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-09-27
REED AND THE PRESIDENCY.

ward Reed for the presidential nomin alton.
1t sees him coming into the Republican
convention not a. the man from Maine.
but as the man from New England, with
q body Of delegates back of him exceeding
what New York's favorise can bring. But
the Chicago Inter Ocean ridicuies the idea
OF taking New Englander. and says that
Mckinley is the man. Very likely the
prediction of the Inter Ocean will be justi-
fed BY the event. because in politics APP
peals to stupid. clannish prejudices of
section generally prevail over sound sense
and sober reason
Measured by the very great services he
has been able TO render his party; meas
ured by solid strength as well as versa
tility and briiiiancy Of intellect, Tom
Reed. of Maine. is the ablest man today
in American public life: be not only says
things admirably. but he does things sue
cessfulIy. The work of the congress which
enacted the Mckinley tariff of 1890 is a
noble monument to the political force and
genius of Tom Reed. The framing Of the
Mckinley tariff was the work of many
brains; one of its most important provis-
ions, that of reciprocity. was drafted by
Mr.. Blaine and added to the work of
Mckinley and h:s fellow architects of the
tariff, but the man that made the McKin-
ley bill a law: that with only . small
working Republican majority behind him
forced the Mckinley tariff and other
measures of the highest public Importance
through the house. was Tom Reed.
The man is a wonder: he is q strong.
sound. logical thinker; he is a most as
tute and brilliant debater. and he is also .
man of indomitable, resolute will and ex-
ecutive force His seli-command In per-
feet; his moral courage never quails; lac is
a conscience" Republican,; he believes
thoroughly in the Republican policy of
protection and sound finance, and he hates
the ideas and policy OF the Democratic party
As heartily as a humane and enlightened
man does the brutal and ignorant barbar-
ian burlesque OF good government that we
find In Morocco, Persia, Soudan or Abys-
sinia. Reed is q genial man; he Is not .
man given TO personal hates because of
race, section or religion, but he is the pitt
less enemy of the Democratic party be-
cause it rests upon the obsolete Bourbon
ideas of the old barbarian South.
IL Tom Reed lived anywhere but In New
England he would have walk-over for
the Republican nomination in 1896.
but he has to contend with that
stupid sectional prejudice against
New England which has prevailed
since 1879 when John Quincy Adams, one
Of the best of our presidents, left the
White House TO make room for Andrew
Jackson. As long ago as 1880 Senator Ed
munds said that unless the West changed
its mood we would not see a candidate
taken for the presidency from any state
east of the Hudson river. Mr.. Edmunds
explained that Blaine was not New Eng
land man by birth or breeding: but man
whose life had been spent in western
Pennsylvania, in Ohio and Kentucky
until be was nearly twenty-five years of
age, so that Blaine was in touch with
Western men naturally when he came to
Congress. But Tom Reed, while he is q
genial man and as much social favorite,
| II not more. than Mr.. Blaine, for he is a
man OF more democratic manners, is a
| New Highlander born and bred: he has
the nasal tone Of voice Of the pure blood
Down Easter: he has the dry wit and
| grotesque humor Of the typical bright
| Yankee; he is an admirable specimen of
the highest type of broad gauge New Eng
land pablo men. Men like George F.
| Hoar, and even Edmunds and Lodge are
/ inferior TO Tom Reed. Hosr is pedantic.
and utterly lacks Reeds spontanelty;
Lodge Ii not in touch with the people, and
Edmunds with all hts intellectual astute-
ness lacks Reeds generous breadth of view
and drawing power.
| Tom Reed is easily the first statesman
in the Republican party. measured by his
power To think straight: 10 talk with
| strength and to execute with skill and in
viueiele courage. Ii Is q matter for deep
regret that so powerful. so versatile, so
| pure and patriotic statesman should be
regarded by leading Chicago Republican
newspaper as eountei out OF the list Of
candidates because he is New Eag-
| lander. The criticism is utterly childish /:
as speaker OF the house he organized and
| led the Republican forces in congress 10
victory: his Judgment and moral courage
| were absolutely trusted ey every Repuhii-
can East and West. and IL Is absurd TO
object to such a man that he is from New
England This objection is to take q very
petty view OF the presidency. and Is q
very contemplate estimate of Tom Reed.
Lincoln might with eqaal uropriety have
asked himself when seeking . soldier TO
lead the armies Of the Union, not whether
he was tried and proved patriotic war
rior, bat whether he was al Eastern or
q Wessern man
So far as Gov. Mckinley is concerned be
Is worthy Of AZ respect for his high per-
sonal character; his public services and
his superior talents. but his best friends
will no; pretend ths, be compares With
Tom Reed in strength. power and yer
sa,lllty Of intellect; in resolnse will rowe-
and executive fores and courage Very
likely the appeal 20 pe.ty sectional pre-
iadiess will prevail, but IL Is subject for
deep regret that the best equipped man in
IN. Republisaa party for the presidency /:
the man nearest the PEOPLE; the nan more
Western Ia hts democratic manners and
sympathies and character than sny West
ssn born and bred statesman. sAoald hs
ecrtiy dismissed IS . candidate on the
ssars6 pea tia. "he 10 from New Ea-
Kisaa"
The tool. 20 those he can handle them