The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1897-02-03
Ssnator-Elect Platt's Sensible Talk.

When Roscoe Conkling and Thomas
G. Plat went out of the United States
Senate sixteen years ago because they
had differences over Federal patronage
with Garfield, they said, 1--WE go, but
we will return" The Legislature did
not return them, however, and Conk-
ling died without the fultiIlment Of his
promise. His colleague now sees it
fulfilled as to himself in his almost
unanimous election to represent the
greatest State in the Union, and one of
the eliminating features in this vindi-
cation was the great dinner rendered
him in the metropolis last night by the
New York State League of Republl-
can Clubs. One thousand prominent
men were there, but Mr.. Platt seemed
b be the chief centre Of attention Of
all.
He embraced the occasion to say
some sensible things in a speech, part
ly of personal nature and partly deal
ing with National affairs, among them
the following:
at is not without hesitation that 1
have again accepted the responsible
ties of public office. Indeed, it 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 ev-
cry citizen. l shall be acquitted, /
think, of any affectation about office
seeking and ofiice-holding, but it is
fact that have not been a candidate
/ for the Senate. l have not asked any
member of the Legislature to vote for
me. / did not even intimate until af-
ter the caucus that should accept the
Office if it were rendered. That it has
come under these circumstances, and
with such generous expressions of good
will and confidence from Republicans
throughout the State, makes it pleas
ing burden and a rich compensation
for all that have done aud tried to do
in my party's service. And so 1 shall
go to Washington, grateful to the Re-
publican party, devoted TO the State of
New York, and earnest in the resolu-
ton to exert whatever infuenfe may
have or may acquire for the welfare of
our Incompatible country.r
Turning to National affairs, he said /:
Sufficient time has passed since the
November election TO permit close ex-
animation of its results. IL can not be |
said that they are wholly satisfactory. |
Tne bewildering programme OF legisla- 4
ton proposed by Mr.. Bryan obtained
so great a popular support as to forbid
the idea that agitation in its favor will
be abandoned, and our Democratic
friends, who, without giving unquali-
fled adhesion to Republican principles,
were, nevertheless, constrained by
their convictions on the money ques-
ton to support the Republican candi-
dates, should give sober consideration
to this fact. IL is not yet certain that
any plan for the relief of the Treasury
can pass the Senate as it will be consti-
tuted 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 insolv-
ency, and to guarantee TO the business
interests of the country safe and rea-
sonably permanent basis on which to
operate. III the changes in the compO-
sition of the Senate now 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 Just come
to make again four years from now,
under probably less favorable condi-
tiOns.
'The lesson which the possibilities
teacIie to the Sound Money Demo-
Gratis and the duty it enforces upon them
seem entirely clear. They can find no
home in the Democratic party. Their
presence there is not wanted, whereas,
with us, it is held in just esteem. They
must come into the Republican party,
exert their due influence upon its poll
ties, and accept their share of the re-
sponsibiIity for its work. And, with
out abandoning any vital principle,
which they would not ask or expect,
we must seek in all we do to hold their
confidence and support.
''The people do not want the Wilson
bill patched up. They want it repeal
ed and in its place their plain demand,
to which the election of two successive
Republican majorities in the House of
Representatives sufficiently testifies, is
for the enactment of an intelligent and
Tariff, based in every sched-
ule upon the principle of preventing
tine foreign producer of goods that COM
pete with American goods from whole
sailing his wares in the American mark
ct at prices which compel the Ameri-
can maker Of such wares either to go
out of business or to reduce the wages
he pays his labor"