The Portland daily press., 1897-01-27
A GREAT LEADER HONORED.
Banquet to Senator Elect Platt at AL
bany Last Night.

bany Last Night.
An Interesting Address by the New York
Chieftain-The Garfield-Conkling Epi-
sode Referred to by Several Speakers.
! Albany, January 26.-Hon. Thomas G.
Platt was tonight honored by an as
semblage Of prominent Republicans,
gathered from all over the state. The
occasion was banquet to the senator
elect, by the New York State League Of
Repu blican clubs. Harmanus Bleecker
hall was the scene of the festivities. The
interior decorations and arrangements
were gorgeous and ella borate. The speak
ers were benator- elect Thomas G. Flatt,
Governor Frsnk S. Black. former United
| States Senator Pitt, Senator Pltt hel-
logg of Louisiana, President D. ID. Wood
mansee of the National league of Rspub-
| lican cln bs acknowledgements limo
thy l.. Woodruff, General r. A. Al9er
OF Michigan ant Hon. G. M. DepeW:
Among those who sent letters OF regre6
| which were printed in the menu cares
were Vice President-elect Hobart, COY
ernOr Powers of Maine, Senator w. 4.
Frye of Maine ex-President Harrison.
Edward G. Reynolds, president OF the
Republican leagues of Maine. Ielegrams
| were received from Mckinley and MARX
Hanna. Mr.. Platt received cordial re-
ception as he took his seat at the banquet
table. After prayer an hour and hairs
discussion of the menu followed.
| President Colvin opened the speecn
making by an address, in which he PAID
high tribute to Mr.. Platt. When the
president introduced MIR. Platt, he re-
ceived royal welcome. He was inter-
rupted time and time again by voolferous
applause.
He said:
shall be acquitted, I think, of any
affaotation about off &C. seeking and office
holding, but it is fact that have not
been a candidate for the Senate. / have
not asked any member of the legislature
to vote for me-. did not even int1-
mate until after the caucus tnat should
acnept the Office if 1t were rendered.
That 1t has come under these circum-
stances, and with such generous express
sions of good will and confidence from
Republicans throughout the state, makes
it pleasing burden and rich CON-
pensation for all that l have done and
tired to do in my paIty's service.
IL il especially gratifying to re-enter
the Senate coin cidentally with the in
auGuratioh of a Republican President.
Sufficient time has passed since the Mo-
vembor election to permit close exami-
nat.on of it's results, it cannot be said
that they are wholly satisfactory. The
beWildering programme of legislatlf u
proposed by MIR. Bryan obtained so great
a popular support as to forbid the idea
that agitation in its favor will be aban-
doned. and our Democratic frleLds who,
without giving unqualified adhesion
to Republican principles. nevertheless,
constrained by their convictions on the
money question to support the Republi-
can candidates should give sober con-
aideration to this fact
1t Ia not yet certain that any plan for
the relief of the treasury can pass the
Senate as 1T will be constituted after
the fourth of March. Capital will not
invest, production will not increase,
labor will not adequately be employedun-
til laws are passed to insure the treasury
against insolvency aud to guarantee to
the business interests Of the country
safe and reasonable permanent basis on
which to operate.
The lesson this possibility teaches to
duty it enforces upon them, seem entire
ly clear. They must come into the Re
publican party, exert their due inf1u-
enoe upon it's politics and accept their
share of the RESPONSE hility for its work.
A nd, without abandoning any vital prin-
ciples, which they would not ask or OK
pect, we must seek in all we do to hold
their confidence and support.
There can be no pretence that the
American peopls do not desire to re-
turn to the protective policy. They gave
much heavier majority in l5i against
the Wilson bill than in 1856 against all
the combined vagaries Of Organism.
If there Is no othsr respect in which
the country is to be congratulated up-
OH the result of Mr.. leveland's admin
| istration, it may be admitted that siuce
| the present SECRETARY of state assumed
| the direction of our foreign affairs, the
position of the country abroad has i'm
| proved.
Ii has been demondtrated again that
the consistent uphoiding OF America n
| interests in foreign lands does not nee
essarily involve disagreeable relations
with foreign governments, and that the
| JUS. influence of our country can be pre-
served without ofre9ee to our neigh
bors.
| have had no fair opportunity to ex-
anime the text of the arbitration treaty,
or to consider the possibilities that may
arise under It's various provisions, but
with the principle involved, 1t seems as
| though all civilized men must be sym
| pathetic.
| look to see the time when the people
of every American country will govern
themselves without theoretical or other
| interference from any european SOW
ereignty, and the attitude OF our people
is bound to be one of friendly interest
whenever the American subjects OF
| foreign power decide that the time
has come for them to esta bl1sh tree
and independents American state.
The attitude Of our government. hnw-
ever cannot always EXPRESS the sympa-
thies of the people 1t has its treaties to
observe, and it's code Of public law TO re-
spect Acts of Intervention. moreover. in
volve responsibilities, and these must be
assumed aish caution. We neither
wish to govern Cuba nor to fight Spain,
and no act of government should be
performed that will lead US in the direc.
tion of either of these enterprises.
Gov. Black followed Mr.. Platt. The
governor referred to the resignation many
years ago of Senators Platt and Conk-
ling, and said of Mr.. Platt: weighed
down by the disapproval OF those whose
high oommiss ion he had returned, be
stood at point which to most men
would have marked the end OF pubic
servio,. but which to him was the Begin
ming of career which for br1il1ancy,
skill, persistence and final mastery had
never been equalled in American poll
tics.''
L. l.