The Lexington intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1901-1949, 1902-12-13

piCOldpitu W coJ VI q muu uudO uS
was great, or greater, or greatest,
and the temptation is strong to speak
Of the late Thomas B. Reed in the
superlative. But the superlatiye is
Justly appropriate to Reed only when
coupled with innumerable limiting
clauses. Though a leader in his party,
he was never the leader of his party;
though an interesting speaker, It
would take some charity to class him
among orators Of the second class;
though popular 10 congress he had no
personal following like Blaine; though
a debater to be dreaded, he was not
40 Intellectual gladiator like Web
ster. he was more widely known be-
fore 1895 than Mckinley and was In
ipitely his superior in intellect and
in sturdiness Of character, but I'M
fortunately he lacked the kind Of
popularity which goes to make good
presidential timber, and he realized
that he had nothing higher to hope
for IN the way Of political prefer
ment.
He was aligned with the repub-
liean party rather as a matter Of
c san as . Naster Of intellectual
conviction. He bad no deep, care
fully t. ought out theories of govern
ment or economics. He was in no
sense Of the philosophic cast Of mind.
But in ability to do things or to get
things done, in activity, el-headed-
ness, capacity for INJECTING and en-
during punishment 10 debate, 10 the
talent for driving men as distinguish
ed from the talent for leading men,
In tirelessnesS, in ability to keep
abreast the shifting currents of de-
bate, Rssl 49, ndo1btedly the first
man Of his day. In ruggedness Of
character he was the peer of Edmon1s
and Thurman, though the inferior Of.
either in quality Of mind.
1t is natural to compare Reed and
Blaine, coming, as they did from the
same state and being affected, as they
were, with the same impossible ambl-
tlon. There is hardly a basis Of COM
parison which dues not result to the
disadvantage Of the latter. Blaine
was hard to down in the debate, but
he "a a rubber ball, while Reed was
a granite CLIFF. Blaine was bullied
and dominated in his younger days by
Thaddeus Stevens while nothing In
mortal shape could have dominated
Tom Reed. Blaine became a million
aire out Of politics while Reed left
congress as poor as he came. Blaine
was too busy selling his soul to COR
p%orations for gain to accomplish any
thing beyond the coming of a few
phrases to perpetuate his memory,
while Reeds name is indIssolubly
linked with a parliamentary reform
which has been a new birth to his
party.
From the time Of Grants second
term for nearly twenty years the
democratic party. had a majority 10
the house Of representatives. The
rules Of the house, as OF all legislative
bodies, were designed to protect the
minority. The democratic organiza-
tion was feeble. AS long as Randall
lived, the democrats could have the
speakershlp only by the enforced
choice of this Pennsylvania protec-
Zionist, who was more a republican
than a democrat. The rules, already
liberal to the minority party, we're
further extended in that direction
until there came TO pass what they
were designed to compass, a complete
cessation Of legislative function, ex-
cept by general consent. This state
Of affairs accrued to the benefit OF the
republican party aud Of the principle
Of protection. In 1888, when for the
first time 10 nearly twenty years the
republicans had a majority 10 both
branches Of congress, Reed was elect
ed speaker. The rules were revised
radically, and there was a man in the
chair who could and did enforce them
with the vigor Of a Roman proconsul
No mau ever sustained for SO long'a
time such abuse with such equanimity
and even enjoyment. His party
would have deserted any other man.
but be bullied them and drove them
like slaves Carlisle, whose most casual
u~tteraDces have the solid and I'M
wedgeable quality Of the decisions Of
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