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

ways serious and the leading quality is
that Of close argument combined with
clear statement
His speech IN isss on the tariff question.
when the Mills bin was before congress.
vas enc of the most original and master
ful sxposiaons Of the subject IN rne entire
debate Other men knew as much or the
details. but Mr. Reed gvaSped and Lium-
mated ne ruling principles He hao deep
ly studied and reflected On the fescafng
free trade faGacies of Bassiat. ana pierced
them with a cleaning and mercliess logo.
His speech or the Wilson bsd pursued an
entirely different nHe presenting rae SUD
Jet from a wholly dIsssnct standpoans. and
il was no less original and crlf.iaht onan
his cartier discussion Of the poiicy OF pro-
lection. He is not rhetorical. but pniio-
soph.cal in his method TBS truth Is
sagnasiy illustrated in hts rennarkanie cam
pa!gn speech az New York IN 1879. AFRO
gether unlike the ordinary campaign ora
terry. Il was a rlasterfu. EXPOSITION on me
growth and underlying character ana = au-
encies of parties. and II was uissih-
glsisied throughout by philosoph1c 8nsasas
and the historic perspective.
But after all ii is true that. great as
Mr.. Reed is in power of speech, ne IS Sun
greater in power of action by ms con-
summate ruiersh.p in the Efty-nfst CON
gress he made a new epoch n iesisiat's
history. That achievement ranks among
the best tr.umphs OF governmental genius
and marked spirit and personality oofn
10 rule. Senator Lodge said recently tnal
AZ our pofit.cal system we're ike the En-
g,ish. Mr.. Reed would twice nave been
prime minister and head or the govern
ment. and that ne ranks with Henry Cray
and James G. Blaine as one OF the three
great speakers Of American history. mere
is no other in the hist. accomplished ana
capable as some OF them were, that APP
breaches these three. The Phaladelph.a
Press not long ago observed: His intel
lec;ual force and vitality. his towering
genius his courage and independence. MS
mastery of men Mt him for the sceptre. He
is a candidate for president by the divine
right of conspicuous qualification. and il
he should be nominated we should all have
the satisfaction and PRIDE of feeling that
he is indeed of heroic proportions"
Mr. Reed has all the strong New Eng
land traits and some of the fine ones. His
feet are always on the ground and his eyes
are always on a level with those of other
men There Is nothing of the transcen-
den.alist about him, and he is philoSo-
pher rather than a poet. but ne has ideals
as we'll as ideas. and he admires and prac-
tees the sterner virtues. HIS private Efe
is irreproachable. and his home life is
beautiful. His wife and his daughter and
he are three most devoted and intimate
friends.
1t was reported at one time that Mr..
Reed contemplated retiring from politics,
TO enter upon the practice of law in New
Yor city. The people of his congress
sional district. however. persuaded him
that he was needed in the national legss-
lature. Mr. Reed was renominated for
congress and elected by the largest ma
jorlty ever given him. After the state
campaign in Maine he started on stump
ing tour. making speeches in several
states and closing the campaign in Cali
fornia.