New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-01-28
THE NEJ DEP RJT RE

Concerning the famous dinner given 10 Sem
aiorclec, Thomas C. Plat. at Albany, the other
night there appears To be very general agree
nrnt as TO two features. First. that the Dime:
itself was uncommonly bad and the service
worse Second. that Mr.. Plat surprised hS
friends and disappointed his enemies by his mod
est and dignifed bearing and the good taste ana
sound sense which characterized his brlef ad-
dress in acknowledgment of the honor bestowed
upon him. When one considers the vlcissltudes
If Mr. Platts somewhat stormy political career
the purely personal phases OF which nave Deen
81 marked as 10 leave the stamp or MS ihdlvid-
ualiiy. for good or i'll. upon the politics OF the
period his absteniion from anything Ike boast
Ing or Standardization is quite noteworthy.
Even in the cOmplacency with which he alluded
10 the fact that he had not sought the once Oh
Senator or so much rs sgnfed his Willingness
to accept it until formally offered, though hostile
critics might sneer at his dsingenuousness, there
was no note of boasting or of triumph. Judged
simply by his uttcrances. 1t must be SAID that
he rose to the OccasiOn; conveying the impress
sion 10 heaters and readers OF Il new sense OF
responsibility and a much broader conception Of
duty than he has ever manifested hitherto.
His diagnosis of the existing political situa-
finn of III. causes to which present financial and
industrial conditions attributable. and the
remedial policy which a Republican Adnnistra-
lion may he expected to put in operation. is IN
pcrfect accord with Republican ideas and viii
meet with the approval Of the party Especially
reassurinc is his declaration that the success OF
the Mckinley Administration Will be the success
Of the Republican party, and that no contrlbu-
zion that he can make TO that great cause will
no wanting Notwithstanding the suggestive
ness of Mr. Depews "reminiscences later in the
evening when he recalled the circumstance that
Mr.. Plat gave the same assurance of support
N The Garfield Administration when elected Sen
ator sixteen years ago. The Tribune accepts his
present declaration as sincere and without
reservation 1t would be ungracious TO do other
wise In this acceptance we believe the great
majority of the party will unite They Will take
him AZ his word. Already the Republican press
az this city. which has been practically unanl-
mons heretofore in condemnation Of the system
~ Bossism of which he has been the chief repre-
sentative and exponent. has signifed its APP
proyal of his position and its hearty apprecia-
lion Of his manifest purpose 10 represent the
State of New York in the Senate, and not 10 be
merely the distributor of patronage TO faction
TO the system Of party management hereto
fo,e represented by Mr.. Plait 10 the uses TO
which he has applied the machinery Of the party
orrapization and to the methods and practices
of his followers The Tribune continues unaiter-
,h,v opposed On that accoun, its opposition
10 Mr. Plat has been strenuous and constant
and for that reason chiefly 1t opposed his cleo
ton as Senator. 1t does nor forget OF ignore
no fact that he has reached his present position