The Portland daily press., 1898-02-14
right its legislation and progression.

Mighty of intellect, steadfast in courage
broad as the world in his wisdom, and as
the nation in his patriotism, lofty yet
practical in his ideals and achievements,
thoroughly American in every thought
and aspiration Thomas B. Reed of Port
land has become Speaker Reed of the
United States. l do not know as it would
honor him, but very large section of
his countrymen feel it would greatly
honor and protect them. if they could ex-
tend his constituency, and promote the
great leader of the American Congress to
be leader and ruler of the whole American
people.
What victory has been his.
10 have transformed the unWleidly,
unruly, unprogressiye and unbusiness
like House of representatives, In to the
most steady and progressive, most bust
uess-like and representative legislative
body on earth. And to have even the
Democratic party, which SO violently de-
nounced his reformation of it's bad man
ners and inoompetency,, finally competed
to make the stone which they rejected
from the builder become the head of the
corner. 1t is source of strength as well
as of pride and satisfaction that theAmer.
lean House of Representatives lead by
OUR GREAT SPEAKER
| can so speedily and well attend to the
business of the American people.
| No longer it rivals the unseemly
wrangles of a country debating society,
except as some Republican statesman
| feels inpelled to explain to his constitu-
ents, it is on account of the civil service
| law that he cannot deliver the fruits OF
victory so volubly promised during the
preceding campaign. But he is working
| miracles, among his fellow members for
Its reformation, that he may lead his
friends to the promised land overlooking
| with milk and honey.
| Or it may be that some Democratic
statesman, even more voluble and patriot
| ic insists on explaining to his constituents
that the Dingley bill has not, and can
never bring prosperity to those in this
country who toll not and who will not
| spin.
| Or the Populiist segment, most voluble
and ELUSIVE of all, explains to it's con-
| stituency that prosperity can never come
| to any people unless they shall compel the
payment of debts to the bloated pluto
Gratis of the effete east. with the kind Of
money which nobody wants or expects to
use, and which was only created to ray
such obligations. A6E
| There may be sincere critics and earpera
of the policies and powers of our great
Speaker; but we know that he stands to-
day as the bulwark of the Republican
administration preventing raids on the
treasury in the hour of it's regeneration,
i and all sorts of unwise and improvident
legislation. But the same spirit of fair
ness, which before has singularly vindi'
Gated his action, now accords to him the
gratitude of the whole people for his
Watchfulness and patriotism.
| Mr.. Chairman, however much it might
delight is to eulogize ourselves, our
| friends, and our times, yet that is not
what we are here for.
We meet to celebrate the anniversary of
the birth of Abraham Lincoln, the first
President of the Republican party, the
savior of his imperiled country and the
heroic martyr of freedom to an enslaved
race. The principles which he stood for
and believed in and sought to effect into
government, are those which we stand for
and believe in and seek to effect into gov
ernment today. So, all over our land,
wherever Republicans are organized, are
the watch fires lighted tonight to pledge
anew to the party, the principles and
faith of Lincoln.
Tbe. 80 -called Democratic party had its
innings last month and worshipped at
| the shrine of jackson, and incidentally
the memory of Jefferson. Out Of habit
at what Democrats have been doing for
more than half a century. There certainly
does not seem to be any other reason Tor
their performance
They did not meet as we do to honor
the principles of government advocated
hv those great and dead leaders and states
3en Indeed cold Hickory" would in
d Iiel1 arise from his tomb and with
e,Tord in band, scatter them if compelled
9o listen TO the doctrines they enunciate
es incense to his memory. Jefferson and
jackson entertained some such old fash
;oned notions, that in a Democratic form
Of GOVERNMENT, each man in an earthly
~ 1r. q must work out his own salvation.
RRr ut these latter-day saints of Democracy
10 NOT believe in any work, except per-
hans o sO of their own jaw. So they have
f i1pd all of their goods. chattels and
affocts with the. disciples of Populisn,.
Who would by fiat of law make a rose
1NIno,n where none had bloomed before
1--we oio dollars grow in the pockets of those
rniitical philosophers who prefer that
tbair wives should take in washing thar
= 80 ,ot they should wash themselves; who
la'v eli things darkly and scent germs
il the tb milk whole Of 1 pupoas k End
wv %no Of government is TO give rest to the
wen Of # we'll doing, succor to those who