Morning journal and courier., 1886-01-09
A BANQUET TO GOVERNOR HILL.

Iand's successor KOUrs Anto 1neH Ears.
 NEW YORK, Jan. 8.-The business mems | banquet rendered to Governor Hill at Del ! monico's this evening was one of the most brilliant and elaborate affairs of the kin6 that has been given here for some time. The large banquet hall was tastefully decorated 1 with bunting of every description and with the addition of an abundant supply of fern and flowers that had been artistically placed upon the tables the whole scene had been made to represent a tropical flower garden. The menu was of a unique design, being made to look like book, the covers of silk plush bearing on the front portrait of the Governor with the date of the dinner, while on the back was portrait of Andrew Jack son with the date January 8, 1885, under meath. MT. Theodore W. Meyers, the chair man of the committee, escorted the Cover nor from his rooms in the Hoffman House tc the banquet hall shortly after o'clock, where he was accorded hearty reception by the members of the different committees and
 guests. Covers were laid for one hundred
 and fifty guests. Among the distinguished
 persons present were: Lieutenant Governor
 E. F. Jones, Hon. D. D. Whitney, Hon. R.
 P. Flower, Hon. Elnathan Sweet, Hon.
 Frederick Coudert, Hon. J. R. Brady. Hon.
 Alfred c. Chapin, Eugene Kelley, F. P. Ol-
 colt, Hon. A. B. Parker, John T. Agnew,
 Hon. D. c. Calvin, Henry Hilton, H. O.
 Beattie, Hon. Rollin M. Squire, Captain J.
 De Vaudeville, Hon. O. B. Potter, Samuel
 D. Babcock, Hon. Edward Cooper and Elliott
 A. Sanford.
 After coffee the chairman Theodore w.
 Meyers, called the assemblage to order and 1n
 proposing the first sentiment of the evening
 congratulated the gathering upon the events
 which made such toast possibility. W @
 are assembled D he said, ''in laudable pride
 pride not in success alone; pride that by our
 voices and votes we have assisted in raising
 to the seat of honor in our State one who
 honors us by its occupancy.
 The distance from Albany to Wash
 ington is measured not by miles,
 but by men, and when called upon
 the voice of the great empire State will be
 heard in the future, trust, in no uncertain
 sound" At @ close of MT. Meyers re-
 marks letters of regret were read from
 Samuel J. Tilden, Daneil Manning, A. H.
 Garland. William F. Villas, Thomas F. Ba-
 yard, William c. Endicott, William R.
 Grace, General w. s. Hancock, Governor
 Pattison, ex-Senator Francis Herman,
 Governor Abbott of New Jersey
 Senator German of Maryland,
 Charles S. Fairchild, W. E. Smith, w. F..
 Jonas, Charles A. Dana, Fitzhugh Lee,
 George Raines, A. McCue and Isaac Il. May
 nard The first toast of the evening was
 "The President of the United States" This
 was drunk standing. The second toast was:
 "Our welcome guest, called by the voice of
 his fellow-citizens to the highest office in the
 State; he will not disappoint their hopes"
 Governor Hill in his response said: Mir. chairman and citizens of New York-For this kind reception you will accept my grate- ful acknowledgment. You have expressed confidence in my administration. If adher- ence to the cardinal principles of Democracy will meet the expectations of my fellow c1t1- zens who have honored me with their sui frages I shall endeavor that they shall be fully satisfied. If there gre those who expect an abandonment on nay part of the principles on which l was elected they will certainly be disappointed. was Democrat before the election; am Democrat still, My duty is first to the State and second to my party. The party that is responsible for the administration of the State or nation should have the power of appointing officials in sympathy with it's sentiments It is not necessary that it should be applied to the performance of duties in mere subor- dinate places, involving only the possession of clerical or other expert qualifications that can properly be tested by examinations. Those who expect me to antagonize the na- tional administration will also be disappoint- ed. That administration needs no de fense at my hands. It is administer ing the government wisely, safely, successfully and to the satisfaction of the people. Of President Cleveland's honesty, courage and true Democracy there can be no question. I had the honor of be- ing associated with him in the State govern ment for two years and our relations have ever since been of the most pleasant and cor. dial character. I respect his sincerity of purpose, his sterling integrity and party fealty Instead of the results predicted by our oppo- nents the country is enjoying season of and contentment which it has not experienced for some years, and l hazard nothing in asserting that the national admin istration has the confidence of the business party. It is true that it has made some startling innovations: It has had the audacity to insist that government contractors shall faithfully and strictly perform their contracts, even though they may have been made with the Navy department There has been no pre- cedent for such a position for twenty-four years. The Postoffce department has not continued the Star route frauds, but is hon estly performing the public service to the satisfaction of the people. Not whisper was heard during the recent campaign of Demo cratic assessments upon federal offeeholders. Neither was there any interference by the federal administration to influence our cleo tion. While the administration was person. ally desirous of Democratic success in this State, there was no attempt to wield any off cial or undue influence in the contest. Democratic administration tolerates indepen- dence of political action and is capable of ap- preciating the difference between private po- litical opinion and the misuse of official power to control elections. I em- brace this, nay first opportunity, to thank the business men of New York for cordial support in the recent campaign. When such men as you engage in politics there is no sdanger of their yoke your kind support of my administra be- coming corrupt or disreputable I in tion. Let us labor together for the success of the true principles which are the corner stone of our political faith"
 The other toasts were: S'The business men of New York;" responded to by Hon. R. P. Flower. 'Jan- uary Sth, 1915: Democratic Ascendency on the Seas, :" responded to by Frederick R. Coudert. s'The Judiciary" responded to by Hon. A. B. Parker. ''Womsn," responded to by Hon. John R. Brady.
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