The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1894-12-27


Washington Star, in the bearing OF
atom" Reed in consequence of his proml-
nence as presidential possibility and
the recent triumph Of his party. lie
may be little less in evidence on the
floor of the House; he may hold himself
a little in reserve, but this seems to come
from his having other occupation than
that of sitting in judgment over the ma
jority and making their declining hours
miserable There is one thing that the
Democrats have been greatly surprised
at. They came back to clean up the last
session of this Congress shamefaced and
in dread of the taunts they would have to
endure from the Republicans, especially
from Reed. They braced themselves for
the trying ordeal and assumed an awk-
ward air of defiance to help them in fac
ing it out To their utter establishment
Reed has scarcely given them any notice
and from the general bearing OF the
Republicans it would be difficult to find
any Indication of the triumph they feel.
There have been very few references by
Democrats have not had their sensitive
feelings seriously disturbed. This mag
nanimity was unlocked for. They do not
know how to account for it. They have
been waiting every day for the "jollying"
to begin, but there has been none of it,
and they are beginning to feel that they
are going to be permitted to pass away
in comparative comfort.
REEDS MAGNANIMITY.
In this is disclosed a trait of Mr.. Reeds
character which is not generally recog-
nized. Every one is SO in the habit of
looking upon Reed as fighter and a
bitter satirist that the idea of his being
magnanimous is not suggested. He has
a playful way of tormenting men OF
light weight who try to pose as statesmen,
and in a contest with an equal he is ag-
gressive and incorporating, but he
always stops fighting when his adversary
is down. He is not given to the habit
of Growing over fallen foe. and be Is
not ant to remind the Democrats of their
bad plight unless an occasion arises
where such a reminder is necessary. He
is not given to small actions. His con-
duct toward the Democratic speaker WHO
succeeded him in the chair has been re-
markedly considerable for the most part,
seldom trying to throw unnecessary diff
culties in his way. His exultation over
his victory in compelling the Democrats
to count quorum was carried only to
the extent necessary to impress the fact
upon the record and to make it clear to
the public that his own course while
Speaker had been indicated to that ex-
d., md no1uol1 tho fmp a
publican leaders next in rank to him, are
equally averse to petty exultatIon, SO
that the defeated Democrats have got off
quite easy with their sore feelings.
DOESN'T APPEAR TO HAVE "a
BEE"
A man with tine bee" in his bonnet
can usually be identified in crowd. 1t
is traditional that nothing else puts a
man so much on his guard, brings out
SO much the amiability and suavity of
his character or makes such coward
of him. A bland, conciliatory smile
becomes a set expression of his face, and
to show difference to the views of others
and to hide his own opinions becomes a
habit, None of these characteristic
symptoms of the candidate have appeared
in Reed. He is no more than ordinarily
amiable, shows no signs of trying to
cultivate popularity and is as pronounced
in his opinions and seemingly as free to
takea position on any question as he
ever was. In his short speech on the
railroad pooling bill he showed clearly
enough that he was not disposed to play
the demagogue. and if he has not yet
appeared much in the proceedings of the
House there is no evidence that he is
trying to avoid taking position on any
question. The most noticeable change
in his bearing lies in his appearing to he
always busy. During the two Congress
es, up to this time. that he has been GU t
of power he las been conspicuous Jon the
floor for his attitude of Incidence and
the satirical expression of WEAKNESS
which rested on his face while the Demo-
Gratis were fioundering about IN their
efforts TO do something. He would loli
back in his chair like a lazy giant, either
watching over affairs with only an oc-
casionaI evidence of interest, or surrounded
by group of admirers, who listened to
his indolent ironys receiving his remarks
with loud bursts of laughter.
AN AIR OF BUSINESS ABOUT HIM,
Now he has an air of busi ness about
him. His expression Of countenance is
more serious, and his frequent confer
ences with his friends are.conducted with