The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1902-12-08
The speaker Who Resigned.

Mr.. REEDS political career ended by
his own act. He saw the inevitable and
would not yield lit. He protested to the
last against the acquisition of the Philip
pines. He had it in his power TO remain
leader and force in politics. He
chose to leave them and he deserves the
honor due to courage and sincerity.
As Speaker Of the Fifty-frst Congress
he had forced violent minority to sub
nit to the majority. On other terms
republican government is impossi-
BILE. The Democrats were quick enough
to borrow his method when their time
came, and meckly followed the man
whom they had assaled with so much
ferocity Of epthet. In few years he
who had so signaly defended the right
OF tho ma orty to rule, became a member
OF little minority of his party. So the
Republican party lost the services of one
of its most capable statesmen.
Self-assertive, conscious of his powers.
impatient of slower minds and intolerant
Of supple and circuitous ways Of action,
in the last resort he preferred his own
opinion To that Of the public. II this
characteristic worked sometimes to his
own disadvantage. il worked often to
the advantage Of the country. He never
shirkei responsibility As Speaker he
sometimes saved the Republican Execu-
tive from the unpopularty of veto.
He blocked legislation fearlessly. In
the estimation Of some, the post of
Speaker of the House is come to be the
most powerful in the American system
OF government. That depends some
what upon who occupies it. Mr. REED
had masterful qualities, which have been
recalled regretfully by some Of the very
men who were irritated by his imperi-
| BUSINESS
He shone especially as the leader of the
Republican minority in the House. He
had perfect knowledge of parliamentary
rules; he spoke only when he had some
thing to say; and he had nm unerring
instinct for the iugular," as RUFUS
! CHoATE said of JOHN QUINCY ADAMS.
He had small charm of voice or elocu-
ton, yet somehow his manner seemed
! appropriate TO his matter Who that
ever saw him can forget the great lum-
herring frame the massive head and brow.
! the face which seemed to be bland and
infantine for the express purpose of
! giving mora contrasting incisiveness to
his retorts? The Quickncss Of his turns.
the unexpectedncss of his thr,lsts were
all the more effective. He had the bulk
! which commands attention. Something
! of laziness and elaboration in his speech
seemed no affectaton, but the inertia of
| n big mind in n big body. He was clear,
sharp, logical You felt the Yankee
'ross-examincr in him. He was a SUBJ
/ limated country lawyer, dry dexterois
/ and subtle under homely form and
with fatal eve to the weak points of an
adversary. Eloquence is beautiful rhet-
oric which you read, If you can. Tom
: REED was not foolish enough to be
eloquent. He talked to juries and not
TO galleries. He preferred point to
parade. He had read much; he was
full Of quaint humor as we'll as wit.
He left the nourshes to men of less
solid requirements and mental aclteness.
Sagacious, shrewd, with a sort of crystal
line intellect, there have been few pithier
debaters. He will be remembered among
the master hands at the complicated
science or art of parliamentary tactics;