The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1897-01-29
THE PLATT BANQUET
Many Prominent Republicans
Honor the Senator-elect.
4 GORGEOUS EVENT At ALBANY
Several Hundred Women Add to the
spIendor of the Scene---Men of Ma
tional Prominence Make Addresses.
Speech of the Guest of Honor.


gathered from all over the state. The
occasion was the banquet rendered to
the senator-elect by the New York
state league of republican clubs. Har-
manus Bleecl1er hall was the scene of
Hhe festivities The interior decora-
tions and arrangements were both gor-
geous and elaborate, consisting of flow
ers, ferns, palms, flags and banners.
This was probably the first occasion
where ladies were in attendance at
such large banquet and their presence
added much to the gorgeousness of the
scene, there being fully three hundred
present. 1t took some time for the
guests to be seated. They began ar.
irving at o'clock, but the banquet
did not commence until shortly after z
o'clock. The speakers and invited
guests took their seats at that time,
Mr.. Platt came in with President Col
vim and the rest followed in order. Mr.
Platt took the center seat, facing the
body of the house, and next to him was
State Treasurer Colvin. The other
pairs divided and arranged themselves
on each side of the guest of honor.
The speakers were United States sena-
tor-elect Thomas c. Platt, Gov. Frank
8. Black, former United States senator
Pitt Kellogg of Louisiana, president
D. d. Woodmansee of the national
league of republican clubs, Lieut.
Gov. Timothy L. Woodruff, Gen. R. A.
Alger of Michigan and Hon. Chauncey
n. Depew. Among those who sent
letters of regret were the following:
Vice-president-elect Garret A. Hobart,
J. d. Buck, executive secretary of Con-
necticut; Roger Wolcott, of executive
department of Massachusetts,; G. w.
Lippett, governor of Rhode Island;
Josiah Grant, governor of Vermont;
John w. Griggs, governor of New Jer-
sey; Daniel. H. Hastings, governor of
Pennsylvania; Governor Powers of
Maine, United States Senators o. Fl.
Platt, Hale and Frye; ex-United States
Senator Mitchell of Pennsylvania, ex-
president Benjamin Harrison, Senator
Edmonds of Pennsylvania, f. B. Farms
worth, president republican league Of
Connecticut; j. Heney Gould, president
republican league Of Massachusetts,;
Edward C. Reynolds, president repub-
lirmn league of Maine. kilograms
of regret were also received from
President-elect Mckinley and Mark A.
Hanna. chairman of the national re-
publican committee. When Senator
elect Platt was introduced he received
a royal welcome. His remarks were
interrupted time and again by vocifer-
GUS applause.
Senator-clect Platt's Speech.
Senator-elect Platt spoke in part as
follows: "It is not without hesitation
that have again accepted the respon-
abilities of public Office. Indeed, it
seemed as though the temptation to do
10 had been put by and that the re-
mainder of my life would have no other
relation to public affairs than such as
become every citizen. Nor could the
situation have arisen in which should
have sought even so high an honor as
the one just conferred. shall be ac-
quilted. / think, of any affectation
about office-seeking and office-holding,
but it is fact that have not been q
candidate for the senate. l have not
asked any member of the Legislature to
vote for me. | did not even intimate
until after the caucus that l should ac-
eept the Office if it were rendered.
That it mas como under these circum-
stances, and with such generous ex-
pressions of good will and confidence
from republicans throughout the state
makes 1t pleasing burden and rich
compensation for all that have done
and tried to do in my party's service.
Sufficient time has passed since the No
vember election to permit close ex-
amination of its results. 1t cannot be
said that they are wholly satisfactory.
The bewildering programme of legisla-
ton proposed by Mr.. Bryan obtained
10 great q popular support as to forbid
the idea that agitation in its favor will
be abandoned, and our democratic
friends who, without giving unquali-
fed adhesion to republican principles,
nevertheless. constrained by their
convictions on the money question to
support the republican candidates,
should give sober consideration to this
fact. 1t is yot yet certain that any
plan for the relief of the treasury can
pass the senate as it will be constitu-
ted after the 4th of March. The les
son which this possibility teaches to
the sound money democrats, and the
duty it enforces upon them, seem en-
tirely clear. They must come into the
republican party, exert their due
influence upon its politics and accept
tAeir share of the responsibility for its
work. And, without abandoning any
vital principle, which they could not
ask or expect, we must seek in all we
do to hold their confidence and sup
port There can be no pretence that
tbe American people do not desire to
return to the protective policy. The
people do not want the Wilson bill
patched up. They want it repealed
and in its place their plain demand, to
which the election of successive ma
joritiss in the house of representatives
sufficiently testifies, is for the enact
ment of an intelligent and consistent
protective tariff. II there is no other
respect In which the country is to be
Congratulated upon the result of Mr..
Qeveland's administration, it may be-
omitted that since the present secrc
nry Of state assumed the direction OF
NJ foreign affairs, the position Of our