The Portland daily press., 1896-05-30
CURRENT COMMENT.
"a MAN OF GENIUS. y
Boston Herald.)

The New York Tribune,a Jealous organ
of MoKinleyism, il there he one is EVIL
IDENTITY not as sure of the success of the
Ohio statesman as it pretends to be. 1t is
very DESTROYS OF getting Speaker Reed
out OF the way, SO as to leave clearer
track for Major Mckinley. In this view
1t kindly suggests that Mr.. Reed should
accept the second place on the Republi-
can ticket. because as Vice President he
would be the presiding officer of the
Senate, and that position would afford
him glorious opportunity to gather
fresh parliamentary laurels in field
h icnerto barren.
The Tribune frankly admits that the
rules and traditions of the Senate would
be an unsurmountable barrier TO weak
er man, but it credits the Speaker with
the capacity to break down the obstruo-
lions. Here is what it says on this point :
sit Is true that the Vice President MS
presiding officer of the Senate cannot
speak, cannot vote unless there happens
to be tie, cannot appoint committees,
cannot call whom he may please to the
chair as his substitute. But if the place
were filled at this time by u man of
genius? Who can guess what might come
to pasS if Thomas B. Reel were to pre-
side over the Senate for q month? =
There is no other man in the country
SO qualified as Speaker Reed by pluck,
sound sense, and the enthusiastic back
ing OF the people, to put an end to legis-
lative paralysis in the upper house, and
If he should consent to be a candidate for
Vice President the millions would in
stantly appreciate the exceptional fitness
of the selection"
Here is a very pretty compliment for
Speaker Reed, coming as it does from
the chief McKinleyite organ in the East.
But if Mr.. Reed by an opponents ad-
mission is "a man of genins'-a term
which has never yet, SO far as we have
heard. been applied TO Maj. Mckinley
why wonld it not be better to give the
United States the benefit Of this undeni-
able genius i'll far more seryioeable field?
What the country will especially need
in the Presidential chair during tho next
four years is a man conspicuous for the
''pluck and sound sense" which the Tri.
bune attributes to our New England
candidate. In Mckinley these qualities
are conspicuously lacking. He cannot
summon up courage enough to give a
plain, straightforward answer to the
questions which have poured in upon
him regarding his attitude On the cur
renoy. He has not sense enough to know
that the maintenance of the gold stan
dard is essential for the security Of Anne
rican business. AS Mr.. Reed is immeas-
urably superior to the Ohio candidate in
those essential qualities, We trust and
believe that he will remain in the con-
test for the Presidency, and give the
st. Louis convention chance to pass
upon his eminent qualifications for the
high office to which he aspires.
THE SONG OF THE SIREN.
New York Sum-
The appeals now directed to the Hon.
Thomas Braokett Reed By the numerous
M ~ ho
Mckinley form instructive and sometimes
am using reading.
We get new view of the dignity and
significance of the office of Vice President
of the United States.
1t ls not mausoleum. tt is not a
pigeon hole. 1t is not q shelf. 1t is not
a cellar stairway. 1t is not long fare
we'll to greatness and the hope Of greater
ness.
On the contrary, the Office of Vice Presi-
dent, rightly understood, and occupied
by the right person, is one of tho most
desirable stations for high craftsmanship
energetic patriotism, and profound &C.
quaintance with the rules of parliament
airy law, to be found anywhere on earth.
1t is ladder reaching upward, a breyet
of further promotion, an engagement
ring, q certificate of Indebtedness payable
in 1900 or in 1904.
II the Hon. Thomas Braokets Reed
needs instruction as to the true functions
and inherent possibilities of the Vice
Presidential office, he is getting it in
liberal quantities just at present.
''Let US unite" say the Mckinley men.
"to make the Vice Presidency the digni,
fed, influential and Important post
which the fathers of the republic in
tended it to be; post hardly secondary
to, and almost co-equal with, that of the
Chief Magistrate binSslf"
Wall that is an interesting idea. There
is no law against giving the Vice. presi-
dent the other end OF the table at Cabinet
meetings and place and hardly
secondary part in all Executive councils.