The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-01-27
VIEWS OF T. c. PLATT
NEW YORN's sENaTOR-ELECT DIS
CUssEs POLITICS AND LEGISLATION.
Chairman Hanna and Others i'm Con-
ference with Major Mckinley
B%aIIoting for senator.

leans of the State rendered a banquet TO
Thomas c. Plat. senator-elect from New
York. tonight, at which were present all
the Republican State officers. all the party
leaders in the State and many Republicans
OF national importance. Covers were laid
for nearly one thousand. while as many
more looked on from the galleries and lis
tened to the speech making. Mr.. Platt
made IL the occasion of his FORMAL accept
ance of the senatorship TO succeed David
L. Hill. He said. in part:
ut is not without hesitation that have
again accepted the responsibilities OF public
Office. Indeed. IL seemed as though the
temptation TO do so had been put by and
that the remainder OF my life would have
no other relation TO public affairs than such
as becomes every citizen. l shall be ac-
quilted. L think. Of any dIectation about
office-seeking and office-hOidinS, but 1t is
a fact that / have not been "A candidate
tor the Senate. 1 have not asked any MEM
Der of the Legislature to vote for me. L
did not even intimate until after the caucus
that j should accept the office if it were
rendered. That il has come under these
circumstances and with such generous ex-
pTessions OF good will and confidence from
Republicans throughout the State makes 1t
a pleasing burden and a rich compensation
for all that | have done and tried TO do
in my party's service. And so / shall go
TO Washington grateful to the Republican
party. devoted TO the State of New York,
and earnest in resolution 10 exert whatever
influence 1 may have or may acquire for
the welfare OF our mcO11pdrdDIe country.
1t is especially gratifying to re-enter
the Senate coincidentally with the inau-
guration Of a Republican President. The
support given BIZ the State of New York to
Major McKinley's candidacy abundantly
testified to the high hopes which our people
base on his patriotic wisdom. The success
OF the Republican party, and no contrfbu-
ton that can make 10 that great cause
will be wanting
Sufficient time has passed since the No
Vember election TO permit a close exam
iEation OF its results. 1t cannot be said
that they are wholly unsatisfactory. The
bewildering programme of legislation pro-
posed by Mr.. Bryan obtained so great a
ss1iration in its favor viii he absndoned'
and our Democratic friends who. without
giving unqualified adhesion to Republican
principles. were. nevertheless. constrained
by their convictions on the money question
to support the Republican candidates,
should give sober consideration to this fact.
III Is not yet certain that any plan Tor
the relief of the treasury can pass the Sen
ate as il will be constituted after the 4th of
March. Capital will not invest. production
will not increase. labor will not be ade-
quately employed until laws are passed to
insure the treasury against insolvency and
the country a safe and reasonably per-
manent basis on which to operate. IL the
changes in the composition of the Senate
row In progress fail to produce a majority
that can hold together for the enactment
OF such legislation, we shall have the same
fight out of which we have lust come TO
- AOhA yNtAo INV bilti'A
probably less favorable conditions. The
lesson which this possibility teaches to the
sound-money Democrats and the duty it en-
forces upon them seem entirely clear. They
can ind no home in the Democratic party.
Their presence there is not wanted. where
as with us II is held in Just esteem. They
must come into the Republican party. exert
their due influence upon its politics and ac-
cept their share OF the responsibility for its
work. And. without abandoning any vital
principle. which they would not ask or ex-
pect, we must SEX in ali we do 10 hold
their confidence AID support.
The people do not want the Wilson bill
patched up They wait II repealed and in
its place their plain demand. TO which the
election or two successive Republican nat
j~orities in the House OF REPRESENTATIVES,
sufficiently t~estiftes. Is for the enactment Of
an Intelligent and consistent tariff based in
every schedule upon the principle OF pre-
venting the foreign producer Of goods that
compete with American goods from whole
sailing his wares in the American market
and compelling the American maker of such
wares either 10 go out of business or to
reduce the wages he pays to his labor.
III there is no other respect in which the
country is 10 be congratulated upon the
Result of Mr.. Cleveland's administration. il
may he admitted that since the present. sec
Rotary OF state assumed the direct on of
cur foreign affairs the position of our cOun-
try abroad has improved. 1t has been DEM
onstrated again that fhe consistent uphold
ing or American interests in foreign lands
does not necessarily involve disagreed BILE
relations with foreign governments and
That the Just influence of our country can
be preserved without offense 10 our neigh
bors. l have had no fair opportunity to
examine the text of the arbitration treaty
or TO consider the possibilities that may
arise under its various provisions. but with
the principle involved IL seems as though all
civilized men must he sympathetic"
Briefly referring 70 the Cuban question.
Mr. Plat said: The attitude of our gov
rnment however. cannot always express
the sympathies of the people. 1t has it's
treaties 70 observe and its code of public
law to respect. Acts OF Intervention. more
over. involve responsibilities and these must
De assumed with Q9nffEn No na4fhan ,-s-t~
TO govern Cuba nor TO fight Spain. and no
act of government should be performed
that leads us in the direction of either of
the enterprises"
The other speakers We're as follows: Gov
e-nOr Black. General Russell A. Alger of
Michigan. Hon. j .Sloat Fassett. Hon.
Chauncey NJ. Depew. ID. ID. Woodmansee
OF Ohio. president of the National League
of Republican Clubs. William Pitt Kellogg.
of Louisiana. Lieutenant Governor Wood
ruff was the last speaker and the banquet
was over shortly after IL o'clock.