Rensselaer Democrat, Volume 1, Number 7, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 27 May 1898 — THREE GREAT SPEAKERS. [ARTICLE]

THREE GREAT SPEAKERS.

Clay, Blaine and Reed—The Famous (Statesmen Contrasted. Third in the succession of the great speakers of the National House is Thomas Brackett Heed, who Is again at the head of the Representatives. Henry Clay, James G. Blaine and Mr. Recd—these three stand out like mountain peaks In the long line of the speakers of the House. Clay and Blaine were each men of famous personal magnetism. Tales of the peculiar power they exerted on men who came within their aurora are so multitudinous that they seem almost legendary. Certainly a very large part of their supremacy among- men was due to this Btrangct force. Both Clay and Blaine were dreamers. A certain Oriental imagina: tlon was a dominant note In each. Reed, on the other hand, while to many a very attractive personality, does not rule men by any subtlety of personal magnetism. He is notably careless of effect In manner. He Is rugged as a cliff. While be is witlml a man of big kindness of heart, be often Is relentless as a serpent In his stinging sarcasm. He reigns by the sheer largeness of his uncompromising and unanswerable manhood. All three of these speakers have been too pronounced to be President To day and Blaine the Presidecy was the most daring ambition. But both at critical moments lost it; Clay because of his high principle In writing the unpopular Texas' letter about which be said, “I bad rather be right than be President;” and Blaine because of a sudden concert of trifling atoms against him which all together made an obstacle he could not,clear. To Reed, however, the Presidency is no such magnet. But, though the question of the Presidency seems to Interest him but little, perhaps, for that reason, he Is In some roaring convention the more likely bo be singled out for It. Americans are a race who love a man, and at times this admiration for sheer manhood becomes an Idolatry with them.—lllustrated American. - The largest telegraph office in the world is in the general postoffice building, London, over three thousand oper abort being employed. _ .