Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1902-12-11
Thomas Bracket Reed.

Thomas Bracket Reed.
Though ex-Speaker Reed had
been in retirement and devoted
wholly in his profession for four
years, yet he had made such q deep
impression on the public mind and
was still so vivid personality in
the public memory and imagination
that his death will be felt as a great
national loss.
Mr.. Reed was physical and in
tellectual giant. He lowered along
his fellows in form and in mind.
Outside of his heroic and Hercu-
lean achievement in leading and
compelling theHouse to legislate he
left no creative work, but his intel
lectual statute was so great that he
seemed to rear his head to the very
clouds. lie might be taken as a
type of pure intellect. He thought
and spoke and wrote and dreamed
in manner all his own, different
from that of other men. His com
mon speech was the scintillation of
a diamond.
He was the prince of parliament
tarians. He had just the qualities
to shine supremely in the legislative
arena. lie was ever ready in the
contests of the forum, and his ur-
rivaled wit was equally the JOY of
his friends and the terror of his
foes. The fiery barb Of his merci-
mediately the House was in an up
roar, but through all that turbu-
lence the courageous Speaker stood
calm, unquailing and serene. He
was stigmatized as a Gar, but he
established that the will of the ma
jority shall rull, and his vindication
came in the full and enduring ac-
ceptance, by his opponents as by
his friends, of the Reed rules.
Mr.. Reed was so distinguished
for his brilliant and sparkling short
speeches that he is less remem-
bered forhis more elaborate efforts.
He made very few extended ad-
dresses in the House. But he had
a power in that direction which it
is a pity he did not more frequent
ly exercise. His comprehensive
and remarkable speech against the
Mills bill in 1888 was a revelation.
less carcasm stung and consumed
many an antagonist. No man
equalled him in repartee. His
flashes of genius were as spontan-
eous as they were brilliant. In the
tumultuous conflicts of the floor
and in the meteoric bursts of the
five "ni""tn speech he was unequal
ed.
In the chair he was facile prin-
ceps. The great triumph by which
he will remembered was his con-
summate demonstration OF the
power of the majority to rule.
That will remain historic. 1t was
during the first session as Speaker
in 1SS9-9O. He had meager ma
jority and a narrow and uncertain
margin. The minority was strong,
cOntentiousand insolent. Through |
long weeks, without rules, the de-
faint obstruction went on. The |
Speaker planted himself on general |
parliamentary law, and ruled that |
those present even though not re-
spending to the roll, could be |
counted to make a quorum. I'm
1t was so philosophical in its spirit,
so broad in its range, so apt in its
illustration, so acute and mastery
in its reasoning that it still remains
one the most powerful arguments
for the protective principle. Mr..
Reed was a clear and profound |
thinker, and it is matter of regret
that there are not more enduring
monuments of his splendid intel
lectual powers.
But Achilles was vulnerable in
his heel, and Mr.. Reed, with all his
greatness, was not without his
weakness. Save in his own trial in
the House he did not accept new
duties with new occasions. lie fir
ed his mordant sarcasm at reciproc-
ity. He would not go with his
party on the questions which grew
out of the Spanish war. And be-
cause he found himself out of har-
mony he withdrew from his great
career. But he was one of the
commanding figures of his time,
and he had intellectual power
enough to be figure for all time.
-Phila. Press