There are early signs that the Republican Party brass may be melting down in the face of demands from Trump Tower. Not long ago, deficit spending and market-meddling earned President Obama scorn from the GOP. But House Speaker Paul Ryan has praised President-elect Trump for picking winners and losers, and fiscal hawks in the Freedom Caucus are considering backing a trillion-dollar infrastructure bill.

If the Trump White House does try to strong-arm Congress — as recent experience suggests it emphasizes the “bully” in “bully pulpit” — Republicans must hang tough. This not simply for the good of the party, but also for the good of the nation, and ultimately for the good of the new president himself. To preserve limited government, free-market principles, honest government and open debate, GOP lawmakers will sometimes have to be a loyal opposition. They should never be yes men.