The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-01-28
MR.. DEPEW'S RESPONSE.
Chauncey Depew said:

Chauncey Depew said:
Il am very glad to he with and join in
your cordial congratulations to the
guest of the evening upon the signal
honor which with rare unanimity the
legislature has conferred upon him. |
have been in political accord or discord.
more accord than discord, with Mr..
Platt for quarter of a century, but
during the whole of that period there
has never been any break or disturb
ance of our personal friendship
The scene tonight recalls a mem
orable day sixteen years ago. Gar.
lields administration had come into
power, and Senator ConlIling. the leader
OF the organization in our state, was
( on unfriendly terms with the presi-
dent and had not spoken for years to
| his secretary of state James G. Blaine
1t was in the air that the administra-
! ton was to be antagonized by New
York. Vice President Arthur came to
Albany with a candidate for United
states senator, claiming also that he
represented the leader. and Mr. Platt
appeared on his own behalf and equal
lN divided the organizations force /
did not want to be United States sena-
tor. 1t meant ruin to Il professional
and business career which / meant to
make a success, and the selection
would have been personal calamity
But Mr.. Blaine came to New York
with message from the president in
sistng that | should take the field.
| My friends held the balance of power.
| was candidate only to represent the
/ Garfield administration. | said to Mr..
! Platt: You can have my strength if,
, as senator, you will support the presi-
dent His answer was 4 have done
| my best to elect a Republican Dresi-
! dent and as senator | will support him.
Mr.. Platt was nominated and elect
! ed, The disagreement between the
! administration and Senator Conkling
which had been anticipated came
/ about, and Mr.. Platt had to face the
difficult question of gong with his or
! ganization under the command of its
| autocratic and imperious leader. or of
/ keeping his pledge. The pledge was
| not a bond, nor letter, but the word of
a man who | believe never broke his
promise, and rather than break that
| promise he resigned from the senate
| and surrendered his commission. This
/ little incident reveals the secret of his
success in politics. In the general
! break UP which followed the senatorial
canvass, every representative in the
state had the same opportunities. the
same constituency, the same future for
effort and work as the guest of the
! evening, and the result demonstrates
that he has made his own career
"Our guest of tonight must surrender
| much to be senator from the state of
| New York, but the state and the coun-
try will find, in my judgment, that his
| ripe experience, his familiarity with
| public affairs, and his ability and good
! judgment will be of the greatest ser
vice in that august body, the senate
of the United States. We have elected
| our president, we have the house of
| representatives by an overwhelming
| majority, and the senate by a narrow
margin. Now that the bonfires have
l,,t,t sln.1 ina 1.lNF
died out, there rests upon the Repubi
! can party the responsibilities of the
| government. Now that we are in
! power, we cannot satisfy the country
with our past, glorious as it is. our
| past is only our inspiration. But the
| country was never in such good condt-
| tiOn for good times. There is plenty
of money, plenty of waiting enter
priseS, plenty of glorious opportuni-
ties for capital and the laborer, all
waiting upon confidence and upon an
assured policy of peace and rest.
Let us not postpone the issues or
the solving of them Let US not leave
the whole summer and the fall in
doubt as to what we will do. Extra
sessions may be bad, but there are
times when an extra session is a
blessing. Let us formulate a moderate,
sensible tariff, one which will yield
abundant revenues for the carrying
mills and the factories that We're leg
islated out of existence by the Wilson
bill; one which will give the farmer
hope and courage; one which will make
America again America for Ameri-
cans. Let us not fear the currency
question. but take the government out
of the banking business, and adopt a
system so elastic that in every COM
munity the national banks can be able
to issue currency as the needs of the
community require. Let us give the
world to understand that the Monroe
doctrine is an impregnable principle of
American diplomacy and international
law, and be, as we can be, the leader
for the peace of the world, and the ad-
vancement of civilization, by promot-
ing in every possible way the peaceful
arbitration of international disputes