Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1896-04-13
REED, MCKINLEY, WHO?

The opening of the pre- convention
canvass and the selection of delegates
to attend the Republican National
convention to be held in st. Louis
Mo-, early in June brings several men
to the front, either one of whom
would be a capital nominee and make
a great president. There are at least
i've persons who are now prominent
prospective nominees, Reed, Nc
Kinley, Harrison, Allison and Nor
ton.
Thomas B. Reed is the natural
choice of New England. He is gen
uine New England Yankee. A big
fellow physically, and man of giant
intellectually. He possesses that
sort of mind and temperament
which must succeed under any cir
cumstances. Without superior ad-
vantages in early life he came in his
early years to be known for his pow
er to gain knowledge, his wit, his
drollery, his sound judgment, his
power in debate and his courage. He
found himself in the legislature as
young man; thence in congress from
a state which has long been noted for
the greatness of her public men; IN
congress his peculiar character made
itself felt at once. No man for years
has excelled him in his brightness,
his satire, his wit and power at rep
artee. He attacked the brightest and
biggest men of the democratic party
with skill and power that soon
made him the dread of the whole
party. When, later, he was chosen
speaker, with very important meas
ures to grapple and strong, vigilant
and almost defiant minority to meet,
he was able by the might of his cour-
age and the correctness Of his rulings
to control a turbulent house and es-
tablish for all time, in the science of
parliamentary proceedings, the fact
that majority should rule. He show
ed that a refractory minority could
not trig the wheels of legislation.
Hated, ridiculed, abused, he kept
right on giving enemy and friend his
rights, but did not permit the enemy
of country and of Intelligent pro-
occupied the Speakers chair. So
right was his position that the first
House under democratic rule was
only too glad to adopt his methods
under a slightly modified form. Up
to this time Reed had been the sa-
tirist, the pugilist, the keen and
alert parliamentarian who scored the
enemy, engaged in the battle of
words and held the disconnected |
party up to ridicule, when it's speak
er failed to follow the strictest rule of |
the code. 1t was during the last |
congress preceding this that it be-
came to be acknowledged that the
'sMan from Maine' had a grasp of
intellect, which took hold of all ques-
tions with a might of great states
His breadth, his fairness,
mis- foresight, his comprehe nsion, were
alike by friend and
enemy. Few men have grown faster /
in the general esteem of the two great /
parties than Thomas B. Reed in the /
last five years. There are no outs in
his character; nobody accuses him of
tricks or dishonesty. His favor is
that which tcomes from the admira
ton that men have for those who sue
coed, for courage, for intellectual
greatness, for honesty and for all
round excellence. He is not a poll
nffapciua conco. while |
other candidates are making their in
huence felt in certain ways, which
the editor at least understands, SO far
there is nothing to show that Speaker
Reed has bureau, has a set of Wash
ngton correspondents to s'laud and
him, or that he is working
mis- own canvass. 1t is true, doubt
ess, that his friends are working in
his interests. His popularity is not
false; it comes from pure intrinsic
merits. If he comes into the presi-
Dental chair it will have to be might
ly enlarged, Notwithstanding that
President Cleveland is said to grit
51L inches around the hips.
1T probably cannot be denied that in
one sense Mckinley is the most pop
nlar candidate in the field, and his
will possibly pull him
through. He represents to the aver
age man the idea of returning bust
ness prosperity. The thousands and
thousands who are unemployed,
half employed, or hungry remember
he fact that only a few years ago,
Kinley tariff, there was condition
Of general prosperity; manufacturers