New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-12-11
MR.. FORTS MISTAKE.

Mr.. Fort, of Illinois, commonly called Re
publican, was beaten on Monday III an effort
TO force through the House bill to compel
the National banks to swlndlc their creditors,
and to deprive them of their circulation II
they refuse. Mr.. Fort cannot be ign0-
rant that the banks are entirely willing to
take silver on deposit. But certain of them
do refuse TO take silver and pay back gold,
because, if they should permit any man to de-
post So cents and draw ont one dollar, they
would rob their stockholders and creditors.
This eXcitcs the ire of MIR. Fort. He proposes
to stop it by law, and to punish those
banks which cOntumacOusly refuse to rob
their creditors. He comes to the front
as the especial representative of that class OF
persons who desire to swindle somebody by
deposting silver dollars and drawing ont
gold dollars and he shall not he deprived OF
any nOtOrety to which his position entities
him. He was supported by every Democrat
who voted at all, excepting thirteen, and 10y
thrty-seyen members commonly called Re
publicans 1t is a satisfaction TO know that
considerable number of these members have
been chosen to stay at home in future. To
that extent the next Congress will be more
truly Republican, if not more honest. Mr.
Kelley, of Pennsylvania, was not in that list,
nor any other Republican from that State except
Messrs. White, Shallenbarger and Thompson.
We hope a still smaller proportion OF the Re
publican voters of that State are in favor of
compelling bankers to rob people. Mr.. Raiuoy,
of South Carolina, was the only Republican
from the South who voted with the Conicdc-
rate brigadieTs for a rcpudiatlng measure, and
it Is a pity that even one should have been
caught in such company. Not another mem
Der, called Republican, from either Of the
Eastern, Middle, Southern or Pacific States,
joined with the Tepudiators. But thirty-two
Western members, whose constituents supposed
them to he Republicans, gave such aid rs they
could to one of the worst of all Democratic
schemes for the defeat OF resumption
The bill was indecent, because there was
obviously no occasion Tor 1t unless it was in
tended to enable holders of silver To plumber
other people. 1t was absurd, because the
banks have an absolute right, which Congress
cannot take away if il tries TO refuse To re-
celvc or hold the deposits of any individual,
for any reason or without any. Congress has
no more power to compel banks to borrow
money from persons with whom it prefers not
TO deal than it has to compel butchers or gro
GERS to sell goods on trust to people who are bad
payers. Moreover, the bill is essentially one Of
rcpudiation, because it would wantonly break
the contract of the Government made with
the National banks. They have for twenty
years chartered right to do an honest and
safe business giving the preference to those
customers whose accounts are advantageous.
An attempt to deprive them Of their char
tered rights unless they will Join IN robbing
somebody, or suffer themselves to be robbed,
is not a bit less dishonOrable than naked re-
pudiation of any public obligation. The men
who cast votes for such a measure may be-
long in the Greenback or the Democratic
camp but they do not help the Republican
party by claiming a place in ITS ranks.