The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-11-11

that II he did not do it within that time
the correspondent would attack Reed in
his newspaper and tell all he knew. Reed
replied TO this note very quickly and
CURLY:
Don't wait two days: do 1t now.'
Can He Called u Genius.
Mr. Reed IS certainly one of the most
brilliant among the party leaders. He is
the only man who can be properly termed
a genius. One would hardly think of ap-
plying that term to Senator Allison. or
Gov. Mckinley or Gov. Morton. ExPresi-
dent Harrison. who mas shown himself to
be one of the abiest of our public men.
would be termed genius only by his most
devoted admirers, while everybody else
would say that he was a man of great tai
ent and great versatility and great force
of character. Reed is different just as
Blaine was different, with the difference
which we try to indicate by calling a man
a genius.
Mr.. Reed was never appreciated by the
country at large until within the last six
or eight years, because of an intellectual
Indifference which kept him from putting
forth his strength. IL he had been OF
Blaine's nervous. excitable and snowy
ten permanent, he would have had through
out his twenty years of congress the same
prominence that Blaine had throughout
his congressional career. But in Wash
ington City Reed has always been recog-
nized by those who had the chance Of
hearing his remarkable conversat ton, IL
not by those who heard his speeches. and
read what he wrote. as an unusual and or
iginal man from whom almost anything
might be expected in the way OF intellec-
tual achievement.
"A lazy giant" was the way he was
summed up a dozen years ago. and the
only question was whether the giant
would ever think it worth while 10 arise
and show what he could do. Six years
later he did arise and he soon made MS
name a household word ali over this coun-
try, and his doings familiar TO sill who
read newspapers and magazines in other
countries Since then he has grown stead
ily In the public estimation. and has just
as steadily developed his intellectual re-
sources. until now lie is recognized At
something Ike his real value.
His strong Speeches.
For the first ten years of his congress
sionai career Reed made few set speeches.
He was watchfui and alert however and
there was little legislation during that
period which he did not foliew closely and
of which he did not have a comprehensive
grasp. He was gradually forging ahead
to the position OF mentor OF his party in
the house. and on all the great questions
OF the hour he expressed himself clearly
and intelligentiy. His candidacy for the
speakership Ia the Forty-ninth congress
naturally marked him as the Republican
leader. and as q party spCkesrnan IL then
became necessary for him 20 attack or de-
fend al greater length than had previously
been his wont. His speeches from this
time on In relation 10 great public cues
lions such as the tariff. the currency. for
eign affairs and other measures of the day
We're strong. brilliant and convincing In
later years his public addresses both in
and out of congress have stamped him as
a man OF tremendous Intellectual for~a
With comprehensive grasp of our po,i-
'ical ana economical problems such as Is
possessed by but few other men in the
country He won a very eariv success
owing, not only 10 his great natural ahf,-
iiy. bat 10 a power OF debate which as II
has been developed has surpassed that Of
any public man O. the present generation.
To capacity for lucid and CONDENSED
statement which reminds one OF wsh<.er
Mt Reed unites a ready wit an original
NY OF expression and a power OF sarcasm,
rarely found in such equal combination.
Aho watch together constitute the mos,
formidable weapons OF great dehster n,
quick debate.
Mr.. Reed IS not given 10 r,alsg,x so-~
speeches for Ire sake of filing ne vssx>arxi'
or distributing pamphlets TO hsS r,rsttt,,
EMS But when the occasion has ss-,ana
60 long speech. as. for examine WAN
re mas been called upon 70 present ne
views and the arguments Of hs= ns-.v on
ssEao great question Ike the tariff Nj
Reed has fully met the demand In .sIz-
casing some great ecc1oGnsc or political
gaes tios al leFs-sa Ar. Reed bxzaSs 10 the
ASK tse or.slzxssty az Thought ara
breadth e. sno&1szge sxhk-a are alyxl.s
enATacterAsse % everything ne sses or
SAYS he 1ss ssat q rasezsrscAaa. nor does he
ever sndtkxN y orasoxseAl asxa.s -vhyeh
Sok fas. but mean 3ttle Esss treasrnent
* srs-a1 sRasect ~ philosophical rather
taAa rhetorical and although wit ard
.ssasssty &c striking and ingenious meta