The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1915-04-01
Thomas b. Reed.

Thomas B. Reed" by Samuel w, Nc
Call. and it will be read with deep in
terest by the many who honored in life
man who conferred SO much honor on
his native State. In most biographies
the first chapter, at least, is devoted to
a presentation of the family tree. with
all its roots and branches; but although
Mr.. Reed came from good Pilgrim and
Puritan stock che does not appear to
have given himself any special concern
about the character of his remote an
cestors, and his biographer says further:
"His utterances on the subject were
usually in light vein and are consistent
with mild indifference toward ancestor
worship as an established form OF re-
ligion." A sentence that might have
been written by Mr.. Reed himself.
Mr.. Reed was born in Portland and be-
gan his education in the public schools
of that city. While in the Boys High
school he conducted a small school paper
and wrote many essays which display
ed fondness and aptitude for serious
discussion" He took keen interest IN
politics then and was one of seventeen
BOYS who recorded themselves for Ere
mont. while five declared for Buchanan.
In due time he fitted for college and en-
tered Rowdoin, then small college, but
with an excellent faculty. 1t is said of
him that he was not hard student DUR
ing the first three years of his course,
but vet maintained place among the
leaders of his class. "He aroused him.
self during his Senior year with the re-
suit that his rank was not only the high
est in the class that year, but fell short
of being perfect only by very small
fraction" He taught school in vacations
during part of his college course, but IN
his Senior year, within few months OF
graduation, his means became complete
ly exhausted, and he would have been
unable to graduate with his class but for
timely loan made by Hon. William Pitt
Fessenden. Mr.. Fessenden's son Samuel
and Reed were close friends and although
in different classes roomed together dur
ing Reeds Senior year, and his room
mate having brought the matter to the
attention of his father a loan of two
hundred dollars was made. The greater
part of it was paid in the year after
graduation, and the final payment, with
interest, when Reed was an assistant
pavmaster in the Navy on the U. S.
steamer Sybll at Memphis, Oct. 9, 1864.
Mr.. Reed Qever forgot this kind act.
Samuel Fessenden, lieutenant OF artll-
lery in the Union army, was mortally
wounded in battle and died in Center
vile, Va, in 1862, and in his address at
the Portland Centennial in 1866 Reed
paid touching tributes to the memory OF
both father and son.
After graduating Reed taught school
in Portland and in California, where he
began the study of law, continuing in
Portland until 1864, when he enlisted in
the Navy and was assigned to the Missls'
sippi squadron as assistant paymaster.
and remained in the service until Nov.
4. 1866, when he was hnnorably dis
charged. Returning to Portland he was
admitted to the Cumberland County bar
and at once began practice. He twas
not long in establishing himself and his
rise was rapid" Three years later he
was elected to the legislature and was
given place on the Judiciary committee.
While a member of the House he de-
livered short memorial address on Will
liam Pitt Fessenden, in which he said of
him: "He occupied many high positions
and he occupied none which he did not
fill" He was later elected to the Maine
Senate, and the longest speech he made
in either house was against capital pun
ishment. In the Senate he opposed
bill that had already passed the House
authorizing the city of Portland to loan
it's credit to railroad. In 1870 he was
the Republican candidate for Attorney
General of the State and was elected,
and at that time was only thirty years
old. His three years service in this
office greatly enriched his professional
experience and established him in the
front rank OF the Maine bar" In 1876 he
was the Republican candidate for Con-
gress from the first district and was
elected. He was constant in his attend
ance, but had been assigned to unimport-
ant committees and at first took little
part in debate. When he did address
the House he commanded attention and
soon attained prominence and before he
had completed his first term he was
recognized as a leader. He was re-
elected, the Democrats having a small
majority in the House of the 10Th Con-
gress. Reed was given place on the
judiciary committee, and in addition to
the subjects dealt with by this commit
tee he ''displayed deep interest in all
matters of parliamentary procedure.
The Greenback issue was paramount at
that time, and Reed then and thereafter
stood squareiy for an honest dollar. He
was renominated in 1880 and was opposed
by Democrats and Greenbackers in hot
.n5 docidedlv nersonal campaign that