New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-12-13
THE COURTESY or THE SRNATK.

1t il now given ont from Washington that
Mr.. Ferry is TO remain the presiding officer OF
the Senate and the acting NicePresident OF
the United States. We are all glad on every
account that Cen Grant is hale and robust
man. But every one is mortal, and it cannot
be denied that no man ought tO he Nice-Presi-
dent for a moment who is not fit to be Presi-
dent If the Republican members of the
Senate have any sincerity IN their own
speeches and pledges they cannot regard Mr..
Ferry as Il fit person for high public trust.
lie is the worst in9atonst in the Senate, one
of tho worst in the country; probably the most
ignorant and prejudced man in pub
lie life In relation to important imam
cial principles; only to he ranked
with Allen and Kelley and Trevellick
in his utter contempt Of the lessons of science
and experience He IL also untoachablo While
every member of both parties who is capable
OF learning anything has modified his views in
the direction Of honest currency during the
past year, Mr.. Ferry has adhered to his own
chaotic faucies. He has made public state
ment of his attitude, in which, while he oh
iects to being called all infationist, he shows
that he does not know what imitation or con
traction means. He II so ignorant OF finance
and so content with his ignorance that he
thinks his position is defined by the use OF a
few loose phrases, such as that the National
banks ought TO be- abolished, aud that
there ought to I've money enough for the
wants of the people. This is the man
whom the Republican Senate has selected to
preside over them during this most important
session. They can free themselves Of this in
cubus, and correct the accidental error of last
session, by electing another presiding officer.
1t requires no impeachment and no conflict
five minutes would accomplish the whole mat
ter But we arc informed that they decline to
do anything on the plea that il would be an
infringement Of Senatorial courtesy"
II is impossible 10 conceive Of more ridden
lous frivolity than this. The Republican party
has Just come out OF . sharp contest which
threatened its very existence. 1t won the
great States of OHIO and Pennsylvania simply
by the lucky accident that the Democrats
adopted the ruinOus follies of which Mr. Ferry
is representative, and drove all sensible and
thinking people into the support Of their
opponents. The Republicans claimed md re-
ceived the votes and the influence of intelh-
gent people on the ground that they were
UNFOLDING tho National honor and credit in
those St4lts against the attacks OF furious
delnagogues, who If successful would disgrace
and ruin the country. The magnitude of this
advantage appeared to be appreciated by every
one. The President makes much of il in his
message. II Is the prime question now before
the public. The Republicans seem anxious to
retain their position, and the Democrsts-all
of them who are ssne--seem equally anxious
to dislodge them from II.
In this state Of things the two Houses Of
Congress come together. The Democrats, con-
trolling the House Of Representatives, choose
from among three candidates for the Speaker
ship--au Of whom sre avowedly hard money