Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1895-06-17

but In all the qualities that go to make
good and great President. Reed stands
head and shoulders above them oil.
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 never swept tho country.
This has been the verdict of every spring
| election. Chicago confirmed 1t with a
majority of 1900, Rhode Island with 12,
600, Philadelphia with 5000 and New
Jersey with more decisive vote in the
municipal elections than last fall, when
1t turned the Democratic majority of IL,
900 in 1892, to one of over As, 900 for
the Republican ticket. The Democratic
party is without consistency, unity or
hope No matter from what states the
Republican national ticket is taken, 1t is
destined to win. 1t is no longer necessary
to go to either a great or doubtful
state, rule that has been In operation
ever since the retirement of President
Grant. who belonged to no state, but to
the whole country, and who ran on his
merits as the great captain Of the war
and the conqueror of the rebellion. But
in the 10 presidential canvasses Of the Re
publican party since its organization 1t
has never taken but single candidate for
the head of the ticket from the East,
while the Democrats have invariably
sought their candidates east of the ALLIE
ghanles since 1860. This course Of the
Republicans has not been because the
West was ungenerous or insisted upon
furnishing the man, but because events
pointed to some western man as the man
for the hour. This was the situation
when Lincoln Grant. Garfield, Hayes and
Harrison were nominated. In the COM
ing canvass the man for the hour Is found
In Maine. Mr.. Reed has impressed him
self upon the country by the greatness OF
his character and services as 70 other
American statesman outside of the presi-
dency 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
outranks any other Republican now liv-
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
do opcdhCl, llo0C uuS IuChlhlCy AfhW u pos.
sibility for he appointed that brave ard
capable committee. and by his firm rul-
ings put down the f1libustering OPPOSE
tion that was determined to never permit
the bill to be brought to q vote in the
House. 1t was he who taught the Ameri
can House of Representatives how to count
a quorum. and 1t brought upon him the
epithet of 'czsr" 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 es
tablish the principle that the members
present are to be counted In making up
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
confused or ruffled in temper. The rule
that he made he enforced, and it became
the law of the House during his speaker
ship. The first Congress following that
In which he presided scorned to adopt his
method. It struggled through two ses-
sions without accomplishing anything of
a party nature, and went home disguised
with itself. The last Congress maintained
the same position for few weeks, and
finding itself unable to pass tariff bill in
spite of its big majority, was driven to q
complete surrender, and adopted Mr.. Reed S
method with some differences merely tech
nical. And now his decision has gone
out to the world and become part of
the parliamentary law Of almost every
civilized deliberative body. The estab-
lishment of this principle as fundamen-
tai part of parliamentary law was ser
vice invaluable beyond all calculation, for
it was the assertion in the only body in
which 1t was still denied of the great
foundation principle of every Republican
government, that the majority shall rule.
= New England has not Jared we'll in the
distribution of presidential honors since
the organization of the Republican party.
1t has been given one nomination by the
party, which was unsuccessful, while ILL
nois has filled the position for four terms,
Ohio for two, and Indiana for one, with
another nomination which was unsuccess-
full. For 32 years these three states with
about so per cent larger representation in
Congress than New England, have contri-
buted 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 electoral
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 its 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 nomination cannot be pre-
vented by any opposition 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 conyen-
ton. When that convention closes we
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
President and to demonstrate the wis
dom and patriotism of New England
principles in national administration.