The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-08-03
THE FIRST DISTRICT CONVENTION

THE FIRST DISTRICT CONVENTION
The convention which nominated Mr.
Reed yesterday was an interesting and
ing. The nominating speeches were made
by two college classmates, respectively
representing the two counties of the Dis
trict, each lifelong friend, and each
prominent and influential in the district.
Among the delegates were large num-
Der who had participated many times in
renominating Mr.. Reed, and some who
were members of that first convention of
1876, SO happily referred to by Judge Sy-
monds in his scholarly and eloquent ad-
dress. No less enthusiastic and loyal
were the younger mem bers of the party,
who have come into knowledge of and
participation in the affairs of the District
since Mr. Reeds fame has been estab-
lished
Mr.. Reed did not attempt to make a
political speech: but simply came to
friends and neighbors to thank them for
their long and loyal confidence, good will
and support His tribute to the valor
and success of our soldiers and sailors
was the only reference to general topics
which he made, which is equivalent to
acquiescence in the generally understood
truth that the war is now the central
theme in American politics, and that in
the common desire to bring the nation
safely and honorably through its task,
the American people have put the old po-
litical issues aside for the time.
Those present seemed to feel that the
occasion was one to be remembered. The
delegates were renominasing Mr.. Reed
for term which will complete for him
twenty -four years of service in the House
of Representatives, and, in all probab ILL
ty, eight years of service as Speaker. MIR.
Reed will next winter complete his sixth
year as Speaker, a term of service equal
to the longest in the later years, and
which is surpassed only by going back to
the days of Henry Clay. 1t is not usual
for American statesmen of such high
ability to serve SO long in the House OF
Representatives. Fame comes easier in
the more limited circle of the Senate,
where one does not have to meet the stern
competition of great assembly. Then
also the tenure of office In the Senate is
much longer, and the liability of being
defeated through sudden changes in pop
ular favor is less than in the House,
where the member must return and &C.
count to his people every two years.
Hence it has happened that the most in
huential men in the House have general
| lyl looked for promotion, not to the House
itself, but to other walks of political life.
Mr.. Reed has not done this. He has
trodden the laborious and difficult path
way of promotion in the great representa-
tive body of the American people-the
tody which is, after all, the greatest leg
islative body of this nation, and even of
| the world. American statesmen whose
careers are associated so exclusively and
SO long with The House of Representatives
have been rare. There have been men
who have served even as long as thirty
years in the House, but they have usually
| taken minor parts. OF men of the past
whom history will long remember, per-
haps the two most conspicuous who
made the House their arena were John
Quincy Adams and ~Thaddeus Stevens.
Mr.. Adams was seventeen years in the
House, and his name is large in the rec
ords and traditions of that body. There
Was his political homs and there was his
deathbed. He had been a United States
Senator and President before he entered
the House; but to that fact he probably
owed neither his standing nor influence
in the House. Thaddeus Stevens served
twenty years in the House, and his fam o
is associated solely with that body. He
was leader upon the floor, of great po-
tentiality; but he never occupied the
Speakers chair. Such long and conspic-
uous service in the House has been at.
tanned only by men of great ability and
force of character, who have been favored
with districts of high Intelligence and
great political stability. In nominating
Mr.. Reed for his twelfth term yesterday
the First District of Maine not only paid
a handsome tribute to Mr.. Reed, but also
to itself.