The Sun

Fair Play is the Jewel.

This is the last day of the regular session of the Legislature. Among the necessary public duties which that body has not discharged, the most important is a provision for the enumeration of the inhabitants of the State as directed by the Constitution. The Republicans in the last Legislature wilfully refused to perform this duty, and the Republicans in the present Legislature still refuse to perform it. They care more for what they esteem a party advantage than for the mandate of the Constitution or their own reputation for decency and fair dealing. A Republican caucus has decided to oppose Senator Daly's bill for an enumeration. To-day is the last chance of the Republicans to do right and set themselves right on this matter. Nobody expects that they will take the chance. Gov. Hill, on his part, must continue to do all he can to induce them to carry out the plain constitutional direction. It may be necessary to summon the Legislature together for an extra session. After that, and indeed without that, the question will be plainly before the people: Do they approve of disobedience to the Constitution? Do they approve the impudent efforts of the Republicans to steal one of New York's seats in the United States Senate? In the end the Republicans may find that their conduct has been bad politics. Fair play is always judicious.