Daily Kennebec journal., 1898-06-29
VOICES OF THE PRESS.
Mr.. Reed and His Constituents.
washington Post.)

"The Republican County Convention
/ in Maine are omitting the usual
tributes of admiration to the fearless
and rugged personality of Speaker
EReed. HIS home county held con-
vention the other day, and Toms name
was losts in the shuttle "-Memphis
Commercial-Appeal
Paragraphs similar to that are ap-
spearing in many newspapers and in
Some instances long editorials are de-
svoted to discussion of that county con-
eNentiOn and its relations to Mr.. Reed.
1t is sufficient to say of that gathering
Of Cumberland County Republicans
that it assembled to nominate candi-
date for sheriff, and that the most ac-
tive participants in its proceedings de-
clare that there is no significance
whatev in it's failure to mention Mr..
Reed.
Because Maine is in favor Of the an
nexation of Hawaii and Speaker Reed
is not, some of his political enemies
hope, and a few of his political friends
seem to fear. that there will be trouble
between him and his constituents. But
The Post is assured by d number Of the
best Informed Maine Repubicans-men
who do not agree with Mr.. Reed on the
annexation question, and regret that
he felt constrained to adopt the course
he pursued on that .natter-that he
win be renominated by atclamation AMI
will have his usual hearty support.
They feel confident. that he Will be re-
elected and that if their party con-
trtla the next House he VIII, for the
fourth time, be honored with the
speakerShip. -.
Tt is not the habit of Q Maine con-
stituency to hold a congressman 10 it's
own way of thinking, or. discard him
for. a manifestation Of Independence
So long as they believe in the Integrity
Of "a representative. know him to be a
credit to his district and Srate. and
ind him faithful to their LOCAL inter-
ests. they stand by him till death. pro-
motion. or declination cornpels. them to
take up n new man. Although every
other member of the Maine delegation
in Congress, and every consressm
from other states Who was. born in
Maine, as we'll as about.Qll Of. the Re-
publican voters of that state. are III
favor of annexing Hawaii, Mr. Reeds
constituents are not making any fuss,
crisis as a fine exhibition Of moral
courage
All things considered, the course Of
Speaker Reed in relation to annexation
is one of the most remarkable chapters
in our political history. Maine, far
more than any other state,is responsible
for the Hawaiian question. Maine men
have borne a leading part in the civil
ization of the Sandwich Islanders and
the development of their country.
Luther Severance. John l.. Stevens.
and other sons of Maine have repre-
sented the United States in the capital
Of the little island country. son of
Maine is now a minister to that re-
public, and President Dol is the son of
q Skowhegan sehoolnl laster Luther
severance, before he wal appointed to
the Hawaiian missioR Eas congress-
man from the kenneHY district, now
represented by NJ. XII ftleigh, and he
was one of the seve'mpfhis members
who voted againsA appropriations for
carrying on the Wks~ against Mexico.
But that unpatriotic course did not
shake the confidence of his constituents
in his integrity. Mr. Reed has applied
no such test as that to his constituents.