New-York tribune., 1874-11-19
THE SPEAKERSHIP.

REPRESENTATIVES. of the XLlVth Congress Is so
far in the future that any canvass of the pre-
tensions and claims of candidates g. this time
would seem to lack appropriateness. Should
there be 10 change in the law relating to the
meetings of Congress, more than year will
elapse before the XLIVth Congress will as
semble and the new Democratic and Liberal
House of Representatives elect its Speaker and
perfect its organization. Twelve months, we
may be permitted to say in the light OF recent
history, contain such largo possibilities OF
political 'epidemcs, suicides, homlcldes, dam
aging disclosures, and fatal explosions, that a
reasonable economy of breath as well
a. of the tissues would seem to dictate a
postponement of the discussion for several
months. or at least until the close Of
the approaching short session, when list Of
casualties will be attanable and there will be
O degree of delniteness as to the eligible
survivors. Even if the Republican majority
in the present Congress should accept the
advice given by the cunning strateSists who
urge them to reGnact the law calling the new
Congress together on the 4th of March, it
would bo too early now to canvass with
proper discrimination the claims of candidates
ever, does not seem probable. 1t would be
too obvious trap set for the Opposition. Not
only the political strategists themselves would
so understand it, but the whole people would
consider is petty trifling with great interests
to play fast and loose with tho function OF
law-makng for no purpose but to confound
an adversary. And it would be so unworthy
the Republican party that we cannot believe
its leaders, after their recent experience, would
be guilty of it.
Notwithstanding the remOteness of the event,
we observe quite disposition to propose can
didates and discuss probabilities. We have
remarked, also-and we wish we could hon
estly say with some surprise-that one of the
conspicuous candidates for the SDeakership
presented and urged by Democratic news
papers is the Hon. Fernando Wood of this
city. One Southern newspaper has the bad
taste to cite the record of Mr.. Wood before
the war, and to say in connection Herewith
that the Democratic party has now an oppor-
tunity to reward him for his sympathy with
the South in 1861. We do not propose to dis
cuss Mr.. Woods record in that or any other
particular save one. Indeed in that we are
not called upon to discuss it. 1t will be
enough to state it. In the voting in the
House upon the Back-Pay bill, known as the
SALARY Grab" in its various forms, MIR.
Wood is recorded as voting for it
three times and never once against it, and as
having drawn the money. A year ago, when
the Democratic party was in a minority that
seemed hopeless, and its leaders in Congress,
if there were any entitled to be called such,
thought they had nothing to risk aud nothing
to lose, he was given the honor Of the nOmi-
nation for Speaker. Some of the Democrats
in the House had sufficient self-respect to pro-
test against it as violation of the faith of
the party and to refuse to support it. 1t is
not so long ago that any Democratic editor
need have forgotten how the public voice
hssed it, and every Administration newspaper
pointed aU the nomination of Salary Grab
Der, and comparing it with the platform de-
nunciations of the Grab in all their Conven
tions, said with sneer, "Thats how honest
they are"
The question presented to the Democratic
party in this proposition to make MIR. Wood
Speaker of the House is not at all complicated
with considerations of fitness or qualifications
or personal record. 1t is as blunt and fiat a
criminal solicitation as ever staggered decency.
Nothing could bo more brazen-faced or
audacious. For of all things that this Demo-
cratic party has held up to scOrn and repro
baton. has denounced in platforms and thun-
dered against from the stump, the Salary Grab
of the XLIId Congress has been foremost and
chief. No platform of theirs has been without
it; no newspaper has failed to condemn it and
urge that the party under whose rule it was
passed should be hurled from power; Of all
their speeches, resolutions, editorials, ad-
dresses it has been the stock and staple.
Republicans have stood by meanwhile
and doubted their professions. Admin
istraton organs have warned them that
the party was insincerc. dishonest. and treach-
erOus; that it had no principle, and only
wanted power. But large number of Repub-
licans at last, with much doubt and hesitation
and many questiOnings stepped out timidly
from their own party, saying, Well, they can
"dO no great harm for once, and we will try
" them as a choice of evils y and the conse-
quence is Democratic majority in the next
House of Representatives. What shall be said
of party that turns round upon the heels of
these professions, and selects for its highest
Office an advocate and defender of the Salary
Grab, which the party has made 80 much
capital in denOuncing3
Could organized lying be more plainly and
cOnspicuOusly adopted as a party pOlicyf With
what sort of a grace could such party ever
again adopt platform or propose a ticket 7
Who would believe Its promises OF accept its
candidates With what chuckle of satisfac
ton the Administration organs would look
upon such a performance. And as for the
honest people who have been deceived, they
might at least be consoled by the fact that
they had finally found out this party and could