The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1895-12-07
( WELL EARNED TRIBUTE.


II win be remembered under what cir.
cumstances the new speaker of the house
conducted his work during the session ol
the Fifty-frst congress. The minority
leaders at that time placed their d. pend
ence upon the line Of parliamentary tao
tics to defeat any tariff legislation. and.
in fact prevent the passage of sny meas
ure OF a partisan character by that con-
gress At the beginning Of the session
they were confident of success. BY that
1t viii be understood that they set out
with deliberation and determination to
prevent the transaction of business by a
legally elected majority of congress.
That they did not succeed in their revo-
lutionary attempt was chiefly due to the
fact that man sat in the speakers chair
who was absolutely clear in his own mind
that the men to whom the people had
relegated the duty and responsibility of
legislation could not sit in their seats and
evade the duty OF shirk the responsible
ity. He was not only sure of this, but
sure as well that the power resided in
the house to include for the purpose OF
legislation all the members OF that body
who were both visible and audible, and
count them as present, even though upon
palpably false pretenses they undertook
the silly paradox OF rising in their places
and denying that they were there. His
was the straightforward common-sense to
treat naked falsehood with the simple
contempt II deserved. W thout much waste
Of time or words upon technicalities or
subterfuges which made no pretense of
concealment and never rose to the dignity
Of disguise. Under his rulings there
were angry debates and stormy episodes.
The minority protested and raved, ana
the Democratic press of the country
could hardly find terms sufficiently de-
nunciatory and abusive with which to
characterize HIS discharge Of the duties
OF presiding officer Of the house. With
absolute imperturbability and perfect
good nature he pursued the course he had
marked out for himself and for congress.
That was congress elected to do busI-
ness, and It did It. Did 1t because It
was guided by man who had, with the
courage OF his convictions. steadfastness
and patience, and a conscientious pur-
pose to execute the popular win.
Then for four years succeeded that
strange period OF political madness and
imbecility which gave us the waites,
Lewellingt. Pennoyers and Altgelds as
governors, the long-bearded and long
winded Populists in congress, the unique
second Cleveland administration, tho
paralysis OF business by Debs, the march
Of the coxey army on congress to be ar
rested for not keeping off the grass, the
two Crisp congresses, with the wonderful
Wilson tariff and the abortlve income
tax; the financial panic. commercial dis
lress and business depression. and finally
The general breaking up OF the Demo-
cratic party. The period ended with the
election OF the congress which assembled
asst Monday. And then. at beginning
y new era OF genuine statesmanship.
md saving common-sense, the country
ono Of the revenges brought in
by the whirlIeig OF time. when the repre-
ientatives Of the largest Republican ma
ority in congress for many years met
Ind by unanimous vote, fltly volcing
he win Of unanimous party chose for
Is presiding officer the man who four
years ago was the best-abused Ropub-
lean OF his time for doing with courage,
and patience his simple
luty- And when on Monday Thomas B.
Reed took the gavel in his hand II sig
nined, over and above all personal or
party considerations, that the American
people honor courage and common-sense.