The Dalziel's telegram from Maine announcing Mr. Reed's re-election is
of importance. Mr. Reed is the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the " Czar Reed" whose deter- mined action has, for the time at all events, brought obstruction to a close. It was loudly declared by his opponents that the country was opposed to him, and that he would be punished for his " tyranny ; " and even his friends believed that he would be re-elected by a greatly diminished majority. He was, however, elected by a majority increased by 2,500, the truth being that the people, besides admiring any decided action, are sick to death of the long delays by which the obstructives arrest the progress of affairs. They bore " filibustering " for a series of years, but the moment a Bill was arrested which affected their pockets, they accepted any Rules of Procedure, however novel or however arbitrary—and the device of counting Members who had declared their intention of not voting as " present and capable of voting," was arbitrary— rather than see Congress any longer paralysed. We hope yet to see that reaction in England, and a good many obstructives sent into obscurity.
Previous page
