Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-04-22
The Retirement Of Sppa ker Reed.

Not only Maine has heard with deep
est regret the announcement that
Speaker Reed will retire from politics
and become the head of a large law
firm in New York. The whole country
has realized that his retirement means
a great loss at this time, and that there
is no one to fill the high and reSpon-
sible position as he has filed it. From
all sides have come expressions OF re-
gret, coupled with warm tributes to
the ability and power of the famous
son of Maine.
The rumors of Mr.. Reeds retirement
from politics and of his taking up law
work i'm New York are not of late ori-
gin For several years they have been
persistently circulated, and each time
shown 70 be false. But this time the
rumor seems only too true. On good
authority it has been announced that
after a summer abroad he will become
the head of the present law firm of
In his removal from Maine the State
loses its most distinguished living citi-
zen, and in his retirement from public
service the country loses the services
of one of the greatest statesmen it has
ever known.
For - years Thomas b. Reed has
represented Names first congressional
district in the House of Representa-
tives. He has held the high Office Of
speaker more times than any other
man. and if he does not resign the
Republican majority of the next Con-
gress will gladly place again the
gavel in his hands without dissent
ing vote. The same action would have
been taken two years hence. His work
as speaker is an important part of
American history He has lowered
head and shoulders over the many able
men associated with him, and by the
wonderful force of his intellect and his
superb qualities of leadership he has
given the speakership a new dignity
and Importance which it will never
lose. His equal as presiding officer
never occupied a chair on this CONT
national misfortune that he retires
from the political arena. No man can
fill his place.
1t is not strange that the great finan-
cial inducements offered him have
caused Mr.. Reed to leave politics for
the law. He is too honest man to
have ever become rich in politics, and |
it can easily be seen that for a man |
as he is, the glamor of |
public life has few charms. He has |
served his State and his country faith |
fully: he has won fame that will not |
die; and he has the proud conscious |
ness which few public men can feel, |
namely that he retires from politics of
his own free will and that his country
men would gladly give him continued
honors. 1t was the cherished hope of |
us in New England who know him and |
love him best, that he might be given |
the one honor in the country's gift that |
is higher than the spcakership, but
fate ruled otherwise. What the future
has in store We cannot know. 1t may
be that after a period of law practice
in New York, Mr.. Reed will again ap-
pear in the political arena, the leader
of leaders.
Whatever his future, he knows that
the heart and hopes of Maine are al
ways with him, and Maine knows that
he will always be loyal to the State of
his birth which has given him the high
est honors in its gift. Portland will
miss him as well as Washington, but
their loss is New York's gain, and the
loss to the public service is the gain of
the great legal profession.
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