Omaha daily bee., 1899-08-27
RETIREMENT OF SPEAKER REED.

Chicago Times-Herald: In Washington
Mr.. Reed was a national figure. In New
York he will be a New York lawyer with
a national career to look back On.
Minneapolis Journal: The car has taken
off his crown, wrapped It up and put 1t
away. That was all simple enough and
easy enough, but a congress without Tom
Reed in it will lack much of the interest
which has attached to that body since 1879.
Tom Reed has been a member Of congress
for twenty years without a break, and a
conspicuous figure there almost from the
start.
Philadelphia Inquirer: Maine has been
notable for its great men. Blaine. the
matchless leader, 'the plumed knight" Is
no more. Dingley, whose name and fame
live after him, is dead. And now Tom
Reed, in the prime Of life, voluntarily gives
up office. But who can blame him? He is
not rich, and the years are moving on. A
fortune awaits him in the practice of law.
When he is good and ready he may be heard
from yet in national affairs.
Minneapolis Tribune: A good many people
would like to see Mr.. Reed president of the
United States. They have confidence not
only in his great executive ability, but In
his clear judgment, his honesty, his 1rmness
and his courage. However, 1t is possible
that this great prize has slipped out of his
grasp. He sought the nomination in 1896,
but another was preferred to him, and since
then some say that he has given up presi-
Dental ambition. However, he is not an old
man yet, and nobody can tell what will
happen.
Philadelphia Ledger: Mr.. Reed has been
a partisan. but his craftsmanship always
yielded to the superior claims Of patriotism.
He leaves the scene OF his great triumphs as
debater, counselor and leader followed by
the respect, affection and admiration OF
political friends and foes. 1t Is unfortunate
that he has taken this step on the eve OF
the settlement of some OF the most I'M
portant public questions OF this generation.
His services and guidance in his party
councils in congress at this %juncture would
be priceless.
Philadelphia Record: This shrewd and
masterful man, who has dominated federal
legislation by sheer will power ever since
he attained the speakers chair, is soon to
engage, II common report be true, in the
sharper and more grinding contests ap-
pointed for the leaders of the New York bar.
He should be as successful in his chosen
field of new enterprise as he has been In
controlling the house OF representatives,
nor will his great public services be for
gotten by the American people during the
period OF his self-imposed retirement from
public life.
New York Tribune: This is not the time
to attempt an elaborate measure Of Speaker
Reeds political career. In keenness Of in
tellect he encountered few equals and no
o,,parinro in dha 6ald ~ national nolifinc
In breadth of judgment, li~veliness OF sym
pathies and that quick appreciation Of the
drift and current of popular feeling which
mark the successful political leader. his his
tory will judge him perhaps less fortunate.
A certain lack of federation qualified and
the respect Imposed by the
of his political vision and the au-
dacity OF his party generalship. But what
ever the counter defects imposed by his
more salient positive qualities. he remains
a figure of the first Importance in American
on whose brilliant public activities
is certainly yet to be written.
Indianapolis Journal: On many occa-
sions Mr.. Reed rendered his country the
service, but no one act OF his great
stands out more prominently
than his defeat Of the scheme to acknowl-
edge the republic of Cuba. For weeks a
haJoIlly III the hOuse idForeu eucn a dec-
~laration, which all intelligent men must now
would have been a grave error. Quite
a number of republican members were in
the conspiracy to override the speaker.
They had heard from the inconsiderate and
noisy elements in parties. which places ex-
over all else. That element tele-
members that the country was
wild for the declaration OF the independence
d Cuba, forgetting that back OF the muir
mur OF the shadows there was a silent deep
the mass OF thoughtful people. It was
The high courage and the masterful intellect
of Mr.. Reed which saved the house and The
administration Of President Mckinley.