New-York tribune., 1868-07-06

be overtaken by their friends. whose Kindness was
returned with slander. The Union League OF Phila-
delphia has to congratulate itself tnat lS Soi0ioi'
earned q better fame among these peoPIv: A. ,o
The work of the Military Committee OF lne Leaguo @
did not stop here Before the close Oh tle war nl9 nc
effective regiments two battallons anu tlooP . %
cavalry had been sent into the held, making aleo-
pether a force of about 10000 men, ana lnVONhg an
expenditure Of over 100000 Wouhdeu l soluIoi11i III
freedmen and the families OF yolin'eeLS meIo onv nli
assisted and cared for by the League, ana III many
other ways was the usefulness oil the assOciaIloh
manifested, and its influence felt ,-os 70
One of the first effects OF It's ORGANIZATION was ~
awaken a spirit of imitation. Its example was APP
proyed on all sides and followed to so great an eA
tent that the League found it necessary to prepare
printed letter of instructions 1Or sia a. -
socatons elsewhere. Immediately Leagues aIose III III
nearly every town and village IN the land. In theiI
first annual report the Directors sald III ths pal9nS
League had produced no more than TINS 3Ioou @ @t %
faithful offspring it would have accomplished great
work Everywhere loyalty was consolidated anu
made effective. Ii became something more thah M
mere sentiment; it became resoiute sput @ uil'
moved into combined action multitude OF ~ nllilG;n ;
tial men From these focal centers went tortli Opn
ions that enlightened their various nelghporhoOas
Men no longer feared to speak aloud III
sociation had inspired that courage. Instead OF
shrinking from the disastrous prohecles ana thIeas
of the traitors, predicted and cautlohea III
The very fact of our existence was standing IeDuke
TO disloya men, aud the sight of our ags led thelr
hearts with intOlerab memories OF theT own lase
hood" The political course OF the League was
-
dent Lincoln was tho candidate Oh the
Association for reelection, even before In9
meeting of the Baltimore Convention. anu
during the canvass the Union League OF Phllae
dephia was among the most active and eihclenI Oh
his supporters. The League now supports zen
Grant with as much warmth as it supported Pres-
dent Lincoln four years ago. Soon after the new
League House. one of the finest structures In tD9
city, was occupied, Gen. Grant became the invited
guest of the League. In testyng their reSpect lOr
him the report for 1865 says: No member OF the
League will soon forget the animated scene when
marked the reception of Lleut.-Gen. Grant within
this hail. nor the strong emotions which were mani
tested by many individuals in the array that passed
i'm peaceful review before him." >,
The example of the League, once so generally
copied is worthy of imitation still The state House
and the League House while they are the peculiar
honor of Philadelphia, are the property OF the whole
nation since the associations which cling about them
represent what is best and most patriotic IN the two
great crises of this country 1t is not too late TO be
inspired by the glOTies OF Independence Squarelt Is
lust the season To emulate the example OF the League
The supporters of Cen Grant, of Just policy OF re-
constructions and of liberty and lasting peace cOuld
revive with profit during the canvass the asSocla-
tions modelled after the Union League OF Philade-
phia which were suffered to die out IN the inactivity
that followed the surrender of Lee. The surrender
of the Democracy is as important now as IL was on
the 9th of April 1865, and Union Leagues through
out tho country could do much to secure It's defeat