The Portland daily press., 1895-06-18
THE STATESMAN OF THE HOUR.
Strong Words from New Hampshire Re-
publican in favor of Mr.. Reed.

The Republican party will elect the
next president. This is universally con-
ceded, and the conviction grows with
every fresh expression from the people
that the victory is to be the most over
whelming that ever swept the country.
This has been the verdict of every spring
election. Chicago confirmed it with a
majority of 44,000. Rhode Island with
IL, 600, Philadelphia with 65 600, and New
Jersey with more decisive vote in the
municipal elections than last fall, when it
turned the Democratic majority of IL, 900
in 1892, to one of over As, 900 for the Re
publican ticket The Democratic party is
without consistency, unity, or hope. No
matter from what states the Republican
national ticket is taken, it is destined to
win. 1t is no longer necessary to go to
either great or a doubtful state, rule
that has been in operation ever since the
retirement of President Grant, who be-
longed toIno state, but to the whole coun-
try, and who ran on his merits as the
querer of the rebellion. But in the 10
presidential canvasses of the Republican
party since it's organization it has never
taken but single candidate or the head
of the ticket from the East, while the
Democrats have invariably sought their
candidates east of the Alleghanies since
1860 This course of the Republicans has
not been because the West was ungener-
Gus or insisted upon furnishing the man.
but because events pointed to some west
ern man as the man for the hour This
was the situation when Lincoln. Grant
Garfield, Hayes and Harrison were nomi-
mated. In the coming canvass the man
for the hour is found In Maine. MI. Reed
has impressed himself upon the country
by the greatness of his character and SER
vices as no other American statesman
outside of the presidency has done since
the.days of Seward, Sumner, Stanton and
Chase.
When we come to measure Reed by the
services he has rendered to the country he
ing. Governor Mckinley did indeed head
the committee that framed the great tariff
bill which bears his name. and his service
was arduous, faithful, and worthy of all
praise. But it was Mr. Reed, who, as
speaker, made the Mckinley law posi-
bility, for he appointed that brave and
capable committee, and by his firm rul-
that was determined to never permit the,
bill to be brought to a vote in the house.
1t was he who taught the American
house OF representatives how to count a
quorum. and it brought upon him the
epithet of sczar" from his enemies. But
epithet and insult did not swerve him
from his purpose to vindicate the rights
of the majority. In the conflict to estab-
lish the principle that the members pres
ent are to be counted in making up a
quorum whether they vote or not he dis
played the most commanding traits of
character He was invariably the master
of the house because he never became con-
fused or lost his temper. The rule that
he made he enforced, and it became the
law of the house during his speakership
The first congress following that in which
he presided scorned to adopt his method
1t struggled through two sessions with
ont accomplishing anything of party
nature and went home disgusted with
itself. The last congress maintained the
same position for few weeks, and find
ing itself unable to pass tariff bill in
complete surrender, and adopted Mr..
Reeds method with some differences
merely technical. And now his decision
has gone out to the world and become a
part of the parliamentary law of almost
every civilized deliberative body. The
establishment of this principle as fun
damental part of parliamentary law was
a service invaluable beyond all calcutta
tion, for it was the assertion in the only
body in which it was still denied of the
great foundation principle of every Re
publican government, that the majority
shall rule.
New England has uot Jared we'll in the
distribution of presidential honors since
the organization of the Republican party
hos hoo Ton,
party, which was unsuccessful, while Hi
nois has filled the position for four ternis.l
Ohio for two, and Indiana for one with
another nomination which was unsuccess-
full. For SO years these three states with
about so per cent larger presentation in
congress than New England, have con-
tributed the party candidates. while New
England has never swerved from its Re
publicanism save that in two elections
out of ten Connecticut cast its six cleo
toral votes for the Democratic candidates
Hence New England is not likely to be
charged with audacity or impudence if it
should now step forward with it's candi-
date and claim the presidency. 1t has
one man and one alone whom it will
present. On him all the states of this
section must cordially unite. If New
England goes to the national convention
with solid front for Reed, his nomina
tion cannot be prevented by any opposi-
tion from other states. The whole East
will follow the lead of New York down
the Atlantic to Florida.
But the time has come for work. The
canvass has actively begun. Other aspir-
ants and their supporters are diligent and
are to be heard of in various parts of the
country laying their wires. The battle
for the next presidency is all to be fought
out in the Republican national conven-
tion. When that convention closes VIC
shall know who is to be the next presi-
dent as certainly as after the counting of
the votes in November. Let no New Eng
lander be Indifferent or wasting his
thoughts on other men. 1t is time to
show the country that New England can
choose a president and to demonstrate the
wisdom and patriotism of New England
principles in national administration.
The six small states that sent 37O, 600 SOL
diers into the war for the Union, or one
in every eight of it's population and two