The Irish standard., 1899-03-11
COMPLIMENT TO THOMAS B. RErn.

COMPLIMENT TO THOMAS B. REED.
During the entire session OF the fifty
fifth Congress Speaker Reed Invested
himself OF the autocratic airs that rem
dered him so unpopular with the Demo-
cratic members Of the House in previous
years and won back their esteem by his
urbanity and affability as presiding off,
Ger. He did not act czar-like in his rul-
ings as in the past, but manifested dis
position to be fair and impartial to the
minority. In fact, he granted the Demo-
Gratis more latitude than he gave the
members OF his own party, and never
failed to recognize promptly when they
addressed the chair. He made an excep-
ton, however, on the last day OF the ses-
sion with Gen. Wheeler, who arose on the
Democratic side and loudly asked for
recognition. 81 ask for unanimous con-
sent to speak for five minutes" vocifer-
ously shouted Wheeler, but the Speaker
totally disregarded him, presumably be-
cause he considered him henchman of
the President.
Before adjournment, Mr.. Bailey, OF
Texas, the leader OF the Democratic con-
tingent in the House, arose in his seat
and began to address the temporary
speaker, who blandly listened to him in
rapt attention. Having finished his re-
marks Mr.. Bailey sent the following reso-
luton to the clerks desk to be read:
Resolved, That the thanks of the House
are rendered to Hon. Thomas B. Reed
for the able, impartial and dignifed man
ner in which he has presided over its de-
liberations and performed the arduous
and important duties of the chairman"
The reading OF the resolution being
greeted with tumultous applause, Mr..
Bailey continued: "Mr. Speaker, we have
not always agreed with the distinguished
occupant of the chair, and we have taken
more than one occasion to emphasize our
dissent; but, remembering the moment
GUS questions which have confronted us
in this congress, and remembering, too,
the intense excitement which they aroused
throughout the country, as we'll as in this
hall, the wonder is that those occasions
were so few, and, in this hour of impair
tial retrospect l do not hesitate to say
that he has been as fair to us and to our
side as any one OF us, were our positions
reversed, would have been to him and to
l1ic eide ~ IT o,,1 Aoo1,,eo\
Slowly and with great deliberation Mr..
Reed returned his thanks for the COM
pliment the House had conferred upon
him, and said:
'In laying down for the third time the
insignia OF an Office which has but one
superior and no peer, l might, perhaps,
fairly congratulate myself upon having
had great opportunity to administer a
great office in the fashion indicated by
the noble words known to our law,
Without fear, favor or hope of reward
Where I have succeeded I am sure to
have your final approval; where I have
failed l am sure you have given me credit
for honorable intention. Notwithstand-
ing differences of opinion or OF party,
you have given ME your confidence in all
which pertained to my duties here in a
manner so full and ample that my men,
DRY OF it will never pass away. When
compare the opportunity you have given
me with what, it has been possible to do,
l see how much I need your kind in
dorsement of today, for which l return
you thanks and gratitude. With pleasant
memories for our past, which I shall al
ways cherish, and best wishes for your
future, which shall always entertain, l
now declare this House adjourned with
out day."
1t is said that Mr.. Reed, who is not in
sympathy with the policy Of Hanna, Nc
Kinley & Co., on imperialism and ''mani-
fest destiny" may retire from the lower
house and enter the senate as member
from Maine. Congressman Bailey an
nounced his retirement from the leader
ship of his party, because of the recalci-
trancy of some OF the members who voted
with the dominant party against his earn
est protest. He certainly deserves the
gratitude of the rank and file OF the
Democracy for his splendid services and
is destined to make an enviable record for
himself in the future as one of the un-
flinching advocates of reform principles
as embodied in the Chicago platform of
1896.