Evening star., 1897-03-31


~@
Mr.. Babcock.
thing like 200 persons sat down to the
elaborate menu prepared and then remain
ed until considerable time. after midnight
to listen to the speeches. The affair was
under the general direction of commit
tee of citizens OF which MIR. B. H. Warner
was the master spirit. the other members
being Gardiner G. Hubbard. J. Franklin
Fort, John G. Long. Myron NJ. Parker and
J. Frank Supplee. Mr.. J. Franklin Fort
Of Newark. N. j.. who gained national
reputation by hisi brilliant speech placing
in nomination Mr. t.GUrret A Hobart at
the st. Louis aenvetaion, presided over
the dinner in an admirable manner. The
guest of the evening, Mr.. Babcock, was
escorted to his seat Hy Mr.. B. II. War
ner and MI c. aeNoyss. and was received
with loud and enthusiastic applause. The
long table at the head of the hall was
prominent people.
his left. Senator, Mauk Hanna further
along We're SECRETARIES, Gary and Alger; on
the other side. Secretary Of Agriculture
Wilson; sitting side by side, Senators
Spooner, Thurston antF ex-senator Sawyer
and Gen. Henderson. Representative Gros-
venor and Minister to Mexico Clayton made
up one group CLOSE to the presiding officer.
With the coffee and cigars commenced the
long series of speeches broken here! and
there by many amusing hits and; const antly
interrupted by applause of the most enthu-
siastic character. Mr.. Babcock and Sena-
tor Hanna We're especially we'll received.
The underlying tone Throughout the dinner,
as voiced by the speakers, econ sis ted of
praise for these two gentlemen, an earnest
desire for stheapassage by the Senate of the
tdrlff bill and a strong admiration for the
beautiful city Of Washington
Judge Fort in opening the affair said that
the victory of 1896 was a triumph of great
principles under wise leadership The plat
form was no mistake. the candidates were
no mistake. the leadership was no mistake,
and the people, he said, would soon learn
that the return of the republican party to
power was no mistake. Sound principles
come only through strong leadership, and
SO long as Lincoln. Harrison and Mckinley
stand for republicanism, republicanism. he
insisted. would live. The republican party
had never been false to a single promise.
In all the years it had been an affirma tive
party. He spoke of the vista of good"
which opened up before the triumphal
party They were going to adjust the tar
iff, the currency, the immigration and nat
uralization laws. and establish a firmer.
stronger. foreign policy. The passport of
the United States. he said, must be a guar
antee of absolute protection. Il am an
American" must stay the hands of the ex-
ecutives did the inquiry of Paul rs it
lawful to scourge Roman uncondemned?'
All these questions, said Judge Fort, need
mighty leaders. and the republican party
has them. 1t Is not always the talkative
man, he said, who Is the greatest leader.
1t Is the methodical, thoughtful, polite,
firm man who moves multitUdes. 1t is no
small matter to head great department
in a political campaign. to direct its details,
to select literature, to pick out the weak
places and return triumphant result in
202 congressional districts.
"A man who does all this, concluded the
speaker, does service deserving of
recognition beyond the ordinary. In the
full measure of our ability We tender that
recognition with our unfeigned thanks to
the guest of the evening tonight. 1 give
you the toast-long life. health and con-
tinued prosperity to Representative ]. w.
Babcock of Wisconsin,"
MIR. Babcock's Speech.
Mr.. Babcock, on arising, was greeted with
loud and continuous bursts of applause. IN
replying to the enthusiastic demonstration
and the pleasant words said Of him he
spoke as follows; ,.;e-z
"Mr. President and Gentlemen: I am
deeply sensible of the honor you have con-
ferred upon me this evening. and 1 desire
to express to you and all my sincere
thanks. do not regard it so much
personal compliment as do recognition
of the services of the congressional COM
mittee during the, late campaign.
MY connection WITH the congressional
conn tie t9s orgnizaon
ninety in the House. oFhe history of the
tariff legislation .ef sthat Congress of It's
dencies s' and the fefaaeai to I support the the
President or hi3e administration, is fa-
miliar to you allntThsiresult of that leg
islation was widespread business disaster
and loss Of confidence in our institutions,
rot only by thaspeople of this country.
but of the whole tWQyld. We were con-
fronted by a threat that II kept in power
they would further enact such legislation
as would in the end reach a free trade
basis. At the Inception of the campaign,
which was commEpcefa by your committee
In the fall of 1888, the outlook. to say the
least. was discopragtAg But few would
admit that 1t wah possible to overcome an
opposition majority ofahinety in the House
Of Representative, and 1t appeared to your
But a campaign Of education was at once
commenced and vigorously prosecuted for
more than year, resulting, as you all
know. in reversing the democratic majority
of ninety to "a republican majority Of over
one hundred and forty. This was an ef-
fectual bar to any further free trade legis-
latiop, and, while the Fifty-fourth Com
gress was not able to pass a single flnan-
cial or tariff act, 1t stood as q solid wall
between popocratic ideas and American
Institutions and American credit.
IT had the honor to be reelected chair
man OF the congressional committee of the
Fifty-fourth Congress-, and the COMMITTEES
commenced an early educational campaign.
such as had never before been equaled In
the history of the republican party. We
and isms which were known to politics: a
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