The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-12-06
Third in a Trio OF
Gredt Speakers
From the nlustratcd Ameriean.

GPHIRD in the succession of the great
speakers of the national house is
Thomas Brackett Reed, who is
again about to take his place
at the head of the representa-
tives. Henry Clay. James G.. Blaine
and Mr.. Rccd--these three stand out like
mountain peaks in the long line of the
speakers of the house. Other speakers
have been distinguished and deeply in
tcresting to the public i'm their day; but
for permanently towering personality in
American history these three are with
out rivals
While Clay and Blaine had several
points of resemblance Reed is of his own
sort. Clay and Blaine were each men of
famous personal magnetism. Tales of
the peculiar power they cXcrted on men
who came within their aura are SO multi
tudinous that they seem almost legend
airy. Certainly a very large part of their
supremacy among men was due to this
strange force. Both Clay and Blaine were
dreamcTs, \ certain Oriental Imagination
was q dominant note in each. Blaine'S
practical efforts at pan-AmericaniSm
were only Il carrying out of Clay's
rhetorical visions of a united Western
Hemisphere. Both also were moved by
stirring ideas of a strong foreign policy.
Reed, on the other hand, while to many
"A very attractive personality, does not
rule men by any Subtlety of personal
magnetism. He is rugged as "A cliff.
While he is withal a man of big kindness
of heart, he often IL relentless as a SER
pcnt i'm his singing sarcasm. lie reigns
by the sheer largeness of his uncom-
promising and unanswerable manhood.
O.
While Clay and Blaine were almost
Asiatic, like D'Israeli and Napoleon, in
the influence of Imagination upon their
policy, Reed is bluntly American in the
practical, horse sense of his course. He
invariably takes holi of the nearest
handle; while he is not insensible TO the
| fascination Of starry things, they, like
| empire, can wait" When he first be-
came speaker he saw a grossly un-Amer-
| lean thing under his hammer--a majority
| in congress practically helpless before a
| minority. 1t was the result of long-con-
| tinucd but scnseless parliamentary ira
| ditOns. Because this was wrong he
| strlightway smashed it and dared the
| consequences. His method was as i'm
| perious as Bismarcks. But history JUS
! titles such hammcrcrs.
All three of these speakers have been
! too pronounced to be president. To Clay
| and Blaine the presidency was the most
| darling ambition. But both at critical
| moments lost it; Clay because of his
| high principle in writing the unpopular
| ltNdS ltllFI ABOUT Wlllcn ne Sdlu i ndu
| rather be right than be president; and
| Blaine because of sudden concert OF
! Tifing atoms against him which all to-
| gcther made an obstacle he could not
| clear, To Reed, however, the presidency
! Is no such magnet lie long ago gave up
| the hope for II If he ever seriously cher
| lshed il. He is too impatient of the feel
| ing Of being fcttercd. 1t Is one of his
| little boasts that he never appointed a
| congressman TO a committee because of
! political obligations. II Is easy To see
| how a man who loves his own indie
pendent judgment in making appoint
| ments to such an extent as that can
never expect the presidency with each
| year seems to grow more mortgagcd with
prior pledges for appointments great and
| small.
| But though the question of the presi-
| denCy seems TO interest him but little
| perhaps for that reason he is, in some
| roaring convention, the more likely to
be singled out for 1t, Americans are a
] race who love a Man, and at times this