Daily Kennebec journal., 1897-06-04

directed against Speaker Reed FOR Inc
purpose of securing to a few dema-
gogues a little political capital had
pretty thoroughly disgusted the coun-
| try before the possibility Of serious
aspect to this sort of abuse had become
apparent. While the threatening let
| ters. which have been addressed to the
speaker, are found to have been writ
ten by crank, who is probably a
harmless one, the possibility that some
crank who is not harmless. who has In
him the capabilities. under excitement
such as these attacks might produce. of
performing such a devilish deed as did
Guiteau, cannot be overlooked. We d.
not presume that Mr.. Reed is alarmed.
We do not think he would be We're the
menace much greater. We all know
that he is not the man to be swerved
from his purpose by all the antagonism
known to political and crank warfare.
Nevertheless the unreasonable and
absurd statements made concern
ing him should be condemned by all
right thinking people.
1t may be we'll in this connection TO
refer to the unreasonableness of all
these filings and falsehoods directed
against the man, who as the instru-
ment of the majority in Congress and
of the majority of the people in accord
November. is doing what is undeniably
best to hasten legislation on the tariff.
The desirability of expeditiously solv-
ing this vexing problem, removing this
dead weight on returning confidence,
must be admitted by all. Congress
was called into extra session to dis
pose of this very matter. The House
did it's part and has since attended to
the appropriation bills left over from
the previous Congress, also to the
measures to provide relief for the Mis-
sssippi flood sufferers and the Ameri-
cans starving in Cuba, matters which
demanded immediate attention, and
which did not open up endless discus
sion along partisan lines and for polit-
ical effect. The result is that the eyes
of the whole country are upon the
Senate. Some of the senators are
restless under that gaze. The Demo-
Gratis see that filibustering, when ii is
evident that it is for delay, will be very
Senator Morgan is just
now writhing because his hobby horse
because he fears public condemnation
will hesitate before going to the ex-
treme lengths he otherwise might
1t is also worthy of notice, that up to
this time most of the Free Silver Re-
publicans whose constituents are for
protection as well as for free silver,
have in the main supported the tariff
bill. Supposing the House were now
discussing the currency, which many
of the Clevelandites have urged, those
Free Silver Republicans would be in
position to log-roll and dicker. Now
they dare not for their constituents be-
leve a protective tariff is needed and
that business is simply awaiting it.
Were the currency under discussion in
the House these constituents would be
diverted and their representatives re-
lieved of the pressure of public senti-
ment would act more nearly as suited
their personal whims.
One thing at a time, when that one
thing is of such paramount importance
as a suitable tariff bill. is best all
ming of this extra session and Speaker
Reed is simply adhering to that prin-
ciple. supported by his party and the
administration. The situation was
carefully considered and Morgan's OBJ
lection of unconstitutionality is be-
lieved by practically all to have no
ground to rest upon. Under such cir
cumstances how petty, and not only
unreasonable but inexcusable the as
saults upon the speaker are. The car
toons representing Mr. Reed as the
country's tyrant appeal only to the
ignorant and the cranks both mild and
vicious. This reckless abuse has in it
the making of Guiteaus and those who
persist in it will do so with reckless,
constituencies disregard of their incen-
diarism.