The Portland daily press., 1900-02-26
CURRENT COMMENT.
NAMES CONGRESsMEN.
(Bostou Sunday u srald.)

The success attained by Congressman
Llttlsflsld, the successor Of MIR. Dingiey
In the national House OF Rspresenta-
tiyes, has been 50 signal rs TO call for con-
gratuistions to the state that has sent
him to that body. Here 10 q man who
has come unheralded into Congress, and
has mnde at once reputation there
such as tas not teen psralleled In years
By any new member. The sresch which
Mr.. Litlefieid delivered few weeks
since greatly Impressed the House by Its
force and ability. IL was compiimented
with something like enthusiasm. and ~
much by thess who did not aares wish
its argument as BY those who did. There
was still some doubt, however. rs 70
whether Mr.. Litslsfleid might not prove
things had been known. He has now
q his second speech, made on the Porto
Ricsn tariff bill, removed any possible
misgIvings OF this character. Th's spesoh
fully sustained the reputation he had
won by its predecessor. For two hours
held the attention OF the House complete
ly. lie showed the qualities OF student
and q reasoner in It. tie proved HIN self
to be thoroughly msster OF bis subject,
and In the readiness with which he met
and answered Interruptions he distin-
guished himself, as well as In the clear
mesa and oompactress OF his argument.
1t seems now to be established that an
important new figure has appeared In
national legislation, and Maine has the
honor Of furnishing him. refreshing
feature IN Mr.. Littleiieid 10 that he>is a
man who thinks for him sslf. He does
rot come into public life as q Representa-
tive Of routine partisanship; he enters 1t
ON higher plane. The nation needs
moie OF this in les public life. There
la, OF course, q rlss attending IL to the
future Of the man VINO INDUCES In inde-
lendeuoe. The tendency OF the tiine is
to yield conviction to sense OF expeden-
cy, expediency being found In accepting
the control of party, and dsferring TO
party requirements. Ii looks, however.
as If Mr.. Littlensld could difregard this
with In purity His success has been so
signal and SO brilliant that II Is not prob
able that paltisans will undertake 90
punish him for that Independence OF
spirit which has contributed much TO
| bring 1t about Here is a man that Maine
| cannot afford to take out OF Congress.
and IL IL probable that her psople W III
appI eciste it She is likely to keep him
there, and to keep him rs be Is. he Is a
man who must speak his convictions; 60
yield them to conformity would be 70
par, with his identity, and to rsnder him
less n subject of pride to his constituents
and Of usefulness to the nation.
The Herald, In congratulatinR Its
NUMEROUS readers In the sister state OF
Maine on the new distinction that has
| come to them, IL dispCs ,d to claim par
oil the honor for Now Engiand in this
| achievement, IL pays tribute to Maine
for what she has done for our common
| section of country, and, while doing so,
| il rainem bers that this is not the hrst
obligation that New England has owed
to Maine. This small state ip the sxtTeme
nor theastsrn corner of the land has had
| remarkable rsoord 10 the men that it
has contributed to the national coun oils.
In the extra session of Congress In l541,
when Henry Clay, as the WhiR lender In
the senate, met the most form liable
opposition that was ever gathered thsrs,
he said thers was no man on whom he
so much relied for support AS George
Evaps a senstor from Maine. In that
same yenr Maine sent for { o first time to
Congrsss1 William Pitt Fessenasn, des-
tined to become in time the peer OF any
man In public life. Very soon altar
Nathan Clifford came fion here into
Congress-, from whih he passed to the
oabinet to become latsr eminent as
justice of the United States Supreme
court. Next there was Hanniai Hamlin,
who was chosen Vics President on the
ticket with Abraham Lincoln. Israel
1ashburn followed later ss leading
Republican mem beI OF the House. More
nearly In the present generation was
James q. Blaine, brilliant IN orstorlcai
talent. attaining the position OF the fore
most man In popularity and In influence
In the Republican party, and fairly COM
pelling 1t to be forgotten that he had no
great state to back him In his ambition
for the presidency. No other state OF the
size of Maine has furnished patty can
didats for she presidency within the
memory Of man. And Daine's power In
this direction did not end here. She had
still another Citizen whose distinction In
public affairs was 0onoeded to entitie him
to the nomination TO that Office In
Ihon as B. Reed. and who was prsvente
from receiving IL only by the skiiful
at tlvity In politics Of the supporters OF a
rival. With all this. Maine furnished.
In addition, the leader Of ths national
House OF Representatives In the inme-
diate predecessor OF MIR. Littleiisld In that
body, Nelson Diu2ley.
Massachusetts. in the earlier days OF
| this period we have PASSED In review.
Furnished one greater man in Daniel Web
ster, and several others of striking emt-
nenoe; but Massachusetts, is n much older
| and larger state than Maine. anu has
been the spot Of q distinguished literary
and scholarly and commercial centre.
Maine has Deen without the later-named
advantages; but, de spite such detcisn-
| oies, size has had no occasion to shrink
from comparison OF late years with our
state or any ether in the talent she has
| 10 To