The San Francisco call., 1896-10-31
THOMAS BRAO6ETT. REED.

our hospitality to bestow. Every CallIor-
man who has realizing sense of the pro-
prieties of civilized life and of the courte-
sizes which are due to men of eminence
and of more than National reputation
will 'endeavor to make Mr.. Reeds visit
among US a season OF unalloyed satlsfae-
ton to him. The State of California is
honored by his presence, and is expected
to honor herself in the welcome which at
tends his coming and will surround his
stay.
The great parade of this afternoon and
the vast throng which will assemble at
the place appointed for his speech to-
night will amply prove to Mr.. Reed that
he occupies a definite and permanent
place in the affections of the people OF
California. With loving remembrance of
the Maine statesman who is dead we turn
with open hearts to the Maine statesman
who is living and in whose ability to lead
and to guide the Republican party we
believe as firmly as We had faith in the
genius of Blaine.
The position which Thomas Brackett
Reed holds among American statesmen of
to-day he has fairly and fully won.
Through thirty years of public service he
mounted steadily to his present eminence.
and, in the language OF Blaine. His pro-
motion was not more rapid than his
ability justified" During the past twenty
years, through victory and defeat. he
has been the leader in Congress of
the Republican party. The surprising
quality of that. leadership has been
measurable, not more by the loyalty
of his friends than by the acrimony OF
his enemies: Throughout the storms and
sunshine of that eventful period he has
steadiastly maintained the highest repu-
tation for integrity. for political sagacity,
for commanding ability and for unfalter-
ing courage in dealing with the problems
of the time
1t was the possession of these quail
ties which procured his selection as
Speaker of the Fifty-first Congress. The
position of the Republican party with
reference to the issues Of the day required
for Speaker of the House man like Mr..
Reed, in order that the business of the
Nation might be done by the majority in
Congress without the delays and obstruc-
tions which foolish precedents had long
permitted to prevail. He found the
House of Represer tatives so enmeshed
in network of senseless rules that
its minority had more power to prevent
legislation than its majority to enact it.
With an amount Of courage and an appli
cation of common-sense which excited
worldwide reputation ne brushed aside
precedent swept away the meshes of mis-:
rule, relegated the obstructing minority
to its proper place, declared a quorum to
be present when in fact it was so, and set
the majority in Congress to work making
needed laws. a..
For so doing he was assailed by his baf-
fed political opponents with the most ven
omous abuse which has been heaped upon
public man during the past twenty years.
With perfect confidence IN the rectf-
tude of his action and with the abso-
lutte courage of his convictions he faced
uis angry enemies, and compelled them to
obedience of his rules. The verdict of
history has com pletely vindicated the
wisdom of his action and the rightfulness
of his course. Mr.. Reed presided with
entire success over the Fifty-frst Con-
gress, and when the fortunes of politics
placed his political opponents in control
of the succeeding one he enjoyed the
triumph of seeing his enemies obliged to
admit his wisdom by adopting and en-
forcing his rules.
Thomas Bracket Reed is New Eng
lander by birth, by inherited qualities and
by the possession of that massive rugged
ness of mind and bodyaso characteristic of
that section of our country, which for the
past three centuries has been engaged in
growing crooks and men," He thinks so
deeply and. so clearly upon the issues of
the day and has such Saxon simplicity
of expression that he is able to make the
most profound problem in economics and
politics appear as clear and plain as an ex-
mple in addition. 1t is this rare capabil-
ity which makes Mr.. Reed so attractive
and persuasive speaker and which renders
him superior to that class of orators who
lay claim to a greater refinement and
subtlety in rhetorical art.
He will speak to the people of San Fran
cisco tonight upon the issues OF the cam
paign. He should be seen and heard by
every one who can possibly come within
sight of his person or sound of his voice.
Whatever the result OF the election may
be in California, or in the country at large,
there is no, doubt that every Californian
who is privileged to see and hear Mr.. Reed
will be proud to cherish the fortunate fact
in remem brance for the remainder of his
life.
Tt is the contraction of the confidence
of the country and not the contraction
of the currency of a country that causes
hard times. There is plenty of cur
rency in the country and that which is