New-York tribune., 1879-12-12

the continued circulation of egal-tendci notes,
and vet the Supreme Court declares it uncon-
stitutional What sort OF position is that
for hari-money and Constitution loving
party9 Ignorance cannot he pleaded: the
Republican President has officially stated
his belief that the issue OF such
notes is unconstitutional. Public necessity
cannot he pleaded; the Republican Secretary
of the Treasury has officially declared that
there is not the shadow of a public reason for
retaining the legal-teDder quality OF the cir-
culating notes.
Is it not plain that the Democrats will make
the most of such an opportunity Z Not Mr..
Bayard only. but Democrats from every part
of the country, will then make haste to de-
clare that they were always opposed to the
issue of legal tenders. They will assert that
the Republicans unnecessarily forced this cur
rency upon the country during tie war, and
will quote the utterances of most eminent Re-
publicans TO support them. They will charge
that, whether the use of such currency dur
ing the war was necessary and excusabe
or not, it has been wholly and pal
paby unnecessary for at least n
year; and yet, fourteen years after
the war. Republicans insist upon it in viola
tion of the Constitution as expounded by
Republican Court. For what reason, Demo
Gratis will demand, is this course persisted in
after Republican officials have formally de-
clared that there was no longer the shadow
of necessity for the issue of such notes
What reply can Republicans make, consist
emily with their professions as the party of
hard money and fidelity to pledges of the pub
lie faith7
Do not members of Congress see that this
exceedingly awkward position is precisely the
one toward which they are pressingf Sooner
or later, the Court will decide. Whenever it
decides at all, it must decide that issues OF
lega-tvnder notes in time of peace and with
out any excuse in overshadowng National
necessity are unconstitutional. Whenever
that decision comes, following declar-
alton by Republican President and Sec
retary of Treasury that no necessity ex-
lists for the employment of legal-ten-
der notes since January. 1879. it will
brand resisting party with contempt for the
Constitution and disregard of its solemn
pledges. There is no certainty that such
decision may not come this Winter. But there
is certainty, in the public estimation, that
become. meanwhile, of the claims of the Re-
publicans as the party of hard money and
fidelity to the Constitution
Members of Congress clamor TO he let alone.
In close districts, they plead, they may still
win some Greenback votes. Members who
would sacrifice the success Of the party
throughout the country for the sake of sue
cess in their districts ought to be left at home.
The pretcnce that the West demands viola
ton of the Constitution, or of pledges of pub
lie faith, is not true. Again and again the
question has been tired, and in every Western
State the Republican party has gained by
honesty and fidelity, and lost 10y evasion,
demagogism and the courting of repudiatOrs.
Now, as ever honesty is the best policy. If,
as Secretary Sherman declares the lceal-ten-
der quality OF United States notes is no lon
ger needed, it is both the duty and the true
policy of the Republican party to put an end
to an issue which is no longer constitutional.