The Kalispell bee. [volume] (Kalispell, Mont.) 1901-1901, 1901-05-31
FRIDAY MAY 81, 1901.
WE'RE SOON FORGOTTEN.

and downs in life, and particularly if
he has ever been in the public eye
and been unable to remain there will
appreciate what the Globe-Democrat
says about the fleeting character of
political fame:
The case of Thomas B. Reed-"for-
getting the world" perhaps, but GER
tainly "by the world forgot"-fur-
nishes a striking illustration of the
feeting character of political fame in
this stirring age. Not many persons
who knew that James Tallmadge
whose absorbing occupation in the
EOS of the recent century was to get
the Car Alexander to admit Ameri-
can cotton manufacturing machinery
into Russia, identified him with the
James Tallmadge whose slavery pro.
hibition amendment to the Missouri
admission bill precipitated contest
on the slavery issue that remained
until slavery was wiped out by the
emancipation proclamation and the
four or five years interviewed between
the Tallmadge of these two activities.
There will be similar sense of
separations and dissertation in the
personality of the great speaker
should he ever win reputation enough
in his new sphere to bring him again
into public notice.
There is something remote and elu-
sive already in the name Thomas B.
Reed, although only two years have
passed since he was one Of the big
gest figures on the continent. One Of
Clay's earlier biographers said that
Clay made the speakership as potent
as the presidency. Thomas B. Reed
invested the office of speaker with
powers undreamed of in the days of
Clay or of any of Clay's successors
for a generation. He was spoken of
oftener and with greater awe than
was any other man in the country in
his time except the president himself,
He made a new departure in the sys-
tenn of procedure of popular legisla-
tive assemblies. Under his plan
power was made to go hand in hand
with responsibility. He gave gov
eminent the ability to govern. His
name was Oftener in the newspapers
and on the tongues of men than that
of any other parsonage in the United
States, not excluding the president.
Sometimes retirement from public
life for time aids a man of presi-
dental stature. Clay resigned from
the senate in 1912, as a means, so
his enemies charged, of insuring for
himself the presidency two years
later He gained the nomination,
but was defeated in the election. Iso-
lation as minister to England helped
the old presidency-seeker Buchanan
in 1856 to gain the nomination and
the election. But retirement is hard
ly expected, by himself or anybody
else, to aid the ex-speaker in this di-
rection. He will be &C years of age,
which is very close 70 the dead line
in the age of presidential aspirants,
when the next president is inaugur.
ated. No president was as old as
that on assuming Office except Blu.
chanan and the first Harrison, and
the latter died when he was only a
month in Office. Mr. Reed, it is safe
to say, is not looking for the presi
dency, though remuneration of ambi
ton of that sort for man who was q
presidential possibility for man,
years must cost a pang. Clay anf
Webster found it thus, and so die
Douglas, Seward and Blaine. Thi,
swift effacement of Thomas B. Reed
this sudden severance of the connec
ton between him and the current O
events while still he is in the heigh
Of his powers. is one of the tragedie
of politics.