New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-01-07
ALBANY'S CENTENNIAL.
FOR A HUNDRED YEARS 1T HAS BEEN
THE STATE CAPITAL.
THE CITY WAS FILLED WITH VISITORS AND HoLI-
DAY-MAKERs-A PARADE. A PUBLIC MEET
ING AND SPEECH BY MR. DEPEw
STATE BALL IN THE EVENING.

STATE BALL IN THE EVENING.
Albany Jan. 6.-The hundredth anniversary
OF the establishment Of the State Capital at
Albany was appropriately celebrated to-day.
The exercises were in charge OF a State Com
mission, appointed by the Governor. ana Com
mittee Of One Hundred. Of Albany's leading
citizens. The Commission consisted of Mayor
John Boyd Thacher. William Jay. w. b. Van
Rensselaer, Senator Myer Nussbaum and
Speaker O'Grady
The day parade md attendant exercises Of the
celebration began this afternoon at l o'clock
Governor Black. Mayor Thatcher and the Citi-
zens' Committee met in the Executive Chamber
and proceeded to the State st. entrance Of the
escort. Carriages had been provided for the
members Of the Legislature and other notable
guests and. led by the Governor the march to
Harmanus Blocker Hall was taken up.
The exercises in the hall impressive in
character. Speaker O'Grady acted as temporary
chairman. and the invocation was pronounced
| by the KIT. Rev. T. NJ A. Burke. Catholic Bishop
or Albany. Mr.. OGrady then presented Gov
ernor Black, resigning the gavel to his charge
Letters OF regret were read from Ex-Governor
Morton, who had been named to deliver the
opening address. and from President Cleveland
and President-elect Mckinley.
PRESIDENT CLEvELANDs LETTER.
President Cleveands letter follows:
Executive Mansion.
Washington. B. c.. January a.
Hon John Boyd Thacher. Albany, ~ Y,
Ny Dear Sir: sincerely regret that the many
official duties do not permit to Join my friends in
centennial celebration. The years spent in your
city while discharged all such official duties left
was made when Albany fixed upon the sea;
OF government for the great State Of New-York to
its prestige. During my stay among the good peo-
pie Of Albany gathered In many delightful remer1-
Frances You may be sure. therefore, that. though
absent. shall or the day of your celebration re-
member with acrimonious qualification my proposed
capital and plea suraby recall the discharge of i'm
portrait and laborious public duties made more
truly yours. GROVER CLEVELAND.
MESSAGE FROM MKINLEY
Mr.. Mckinley in his letter of regret said
While yield to nobody in affection and admira-
ton for my own State: yet l. with the people Of the
York as the great ''Einpire State Of tie Union 1t
is indeed. an empi.e II IT, University OF - wealth
eur OF It's achievements. the broad cosmopolitan
ism and yet intense patriotism OF It's citizens It's
those elements that go TO make up "A great, highly
civilized. happy. liberylovins and prosperous peo-
the entering the great Republic its Eastern
gate. should be confronted by such evidences Of
New York can we'll be proud of the historic posi-
ton she occupies in the constellation Of States To
be the capital of such State Is high and proud
distinction Albany has the right to rejoice in the
centenna! Of her establishment as the Executive
State of Ncw-York. | congratulate both city ara
a sister State which shares in your pride in the
past. in your exultaton in the present and in your
hopes for the future.
MIR. DEPEw'S ADDRESS.
Lieutenant Governor Thomas c. Avord
OF Syracuse. delivered the opening address TIL"
historical address of the day was made by
Chauncey NJ. Depew. His remarks were we'll re-
ceived by an appreciatiye audience OF over 1000
people. He said I'm part
There always exists in commercial communities
a shifting element of Independent voters who are
bound lightly by party ties This has caused New
York. more than any other State. to changf It's
allegiance frequently between the two great
National organizations 1t has given intensity to
partisanship and ferocity TO factions
within the parties unknown in other common
of his party In The Albany Regency with Ed
ganized the forces on the other side with William
H. Seward as the spokesman. With matchless
erned the State and sometimes controlled the
country. 1t fell because it would not and APP
ambitions Of it, party Thnrlow Weed on the
other hand. appealed to INGENIOUS. patriotic and
the of the State and attracted and captured
them a. tney src'eSsVS came INTO promlnemco,
officer of a congress Of politicians than the direct
p mi ripe c"%re brsMt eo
quence and comprehensive craftsmanship gave in
SEPARATION to the young warriors who were follow
ing Thurlow Weed in the field Of practical politics.
and won the suppor, OF pupits and colleges for his
became suspicious of youth and attached to the
assoca lions OF lifetime and the young revoIters
broke his power.
THE CONKLING MACHINE
Reuben f. Fenton. Governor by his political
sagacity and State patronage. gathered the frag-
ments OF the Weed organization and became master
OF the Republican party General Grant trans
ferred to Senator Conkllng the appointments TO
Office and Fenton made the mistake OF fighting
for the maintenance of his power outside the party
lines. Conkng. with an undisputed field and his
great ability. created a machine which. for CO.
hesive concentrated and autocratic authority never
had an equal anywhere in country. All the
aspirations and ambitions Of New-york submitted
for twelve years to arbitrary rule which. by
nod or caprice promoted or excommuni-
Gated, recognized or drove into obscuri;y, rising
statesmen and local leaders lieutenants as they
were obedicn. or distrustcd. When General Arthur,
who had been one of Senator Conkling's chief
aids became President he declared his independ-
ence and the sudden dissolution and collapse OF this
strongest and most aggressive combina ton of
power within party In our history Is one Of the
lessons and romances of American politics. Conk-
ling retired absolutely from public life and full
filled the bar the brilliant promise of the earlier
ANY permanent concentration OF power in one or
few hands within the -. Democratic party has
the organization in the city Of Ncwy York to domi-
nate the rest of the State Dean Richmond. by his
talent for leadership and bluf good fellowship. held
warning factions together for many years. But
he was frequently defeated, and always weakened
nv the magnetic personality, the lofty eoquencc
and uncquaed individual popularity of Horato
seymour | remember the appearance OF this high
bred aristocra Cooking and fautlessly dressed
man upon the platform at Albany. the wild wor
hin no Inspired In the fierce Democracy before
him and his stampeding OF Rchmond's carefully
selected convention Of the most thrilling OF
Of 10
The sudden accession to commanding position in
his life is an absorbing and interesting chapter OF
American history At threescore he discovered his
onnortnnitv in the Tweed frauds, and rallied to
his standard a remarkable body OF brilliant young
men most OF whom have won great distinction
ainnee in both public and business life He dis
rmnted Tammany ut the zenith of It's strength
sea altered ali existing combinations. captured the
Coyernorship and the State. and won so good a
claim upon the Presidency as to create a crisis