New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-02-10
THE Union LEAGUE CLUB.

:, local nautical contests. Mr. Hoppin taking
tha chair was greeted with loud applause He saih:
aryT EMss: desire 10 employ tho first opportunity
have 20 speak from this place to thank you for the
horor Won have done me in eleetlng your President
Knowing all that this Clnb has accomplished and know
ino also that its members st foremost In carrying
ont not only s special 0bects but any other good work
In this community feel that the distinction You have
conferred is az great os IL IS unmeI'ieu All Io a''o
having been associated with the founders , OF
Charge my duties here to tho best Of my ability
II is unnecessary perhaps TO repeat what mas oeeh bu
connected with tho Club from the beginning may be
pardOned for saying word upon tho gttylhS changes
doubt and anxiety with which eight years ago u was
commenced. At the suggestion OF some OF INC leaning
M the house one OF them ond subscribed the letter under
which the organization was effected IL wos athg tq
the pressure Of loyal hand aud to hear the SOUND Oh
Our esriy meetings not too cheerful too nuerously
attended, held 1T tho rooms OF the Commlssonl or
in the small, dmylg9led chnPel Oh o M - aSy
other club OF respectable preensiohs IN tho worI, ana
treasury was so low that renenT a"W va' t ,''
generous friend. You can Wen Imagine that W Is siite
ful 10 tAose of IA VITO witnessed lhls nloosso ms
10 the present prosperous connltl0n OF the CO eh
its sp,cndid habtaOn, its ample means ana us long
roll Of worthy and distinguished memDers
OFFICE or THE CLUB.
your bv laws wisely intrust the general direction OF
your affairs to the Executive COnnattee but inasmuch
as the President 0eio member OF that Committee
hope It viii not be considered presuptuous for me 70
say what think should be rule OF action In regard
to the discussion Of public matters is unnecessary to
the Club TO interest Itself In such matters ceased
with the suppression OF Tho Rebellion: we
trary InGeed, sonlo Of the most Important
motives for establishing the Cgb existed long before tho
Rebel ion and am sorry 20 say exist now with greater
5orce than ever ThO circular etter Of he 18Th OF Janu
ary 1863 which is the basis Of oar Organization declares
accomplish namely, 10 elevate and uphold the popu
la faith III republican government to ugty po!tes asa
U;rsuit and study n rcav2kcu practical interest III
public affairs IN those who have BE- Come discouraged anu
10 enforce ssnse OF the sacred 4ssaoon i , "a
a. 3,s'te Jap@aT OK tho destruction OF the Union
me in' No. and the rt stimnlps 90 action sun
piled by an apparently Impending cS!1nV las
boon removed We nesH more snA o,s o's 20
strengthen in the discharge Of our patriotic duties
Ia fact there never was tii1e wea vac oS's He
nanded the attention Of thoughtful citizens so much As
now DO not know which the greater syiito have
tent bands The plactio withdrawal OF grea, numbers
OF the respectable and Intelligent citizens q the United
states from political lfe aud uIeir growing lndaereHce
~ public I1atters il One % the most cisrQuagihS
49, in orr history We act rs II 80 believed that good
govcrnment is IL come % us Ike the free ar OF Hetven
Hthout auy vi pace - cres,o "e ai-
pear think We have Ire option 10 engage IN politics or
rot as onr fsstes Temporary ntorests may eide We
forget 1t is not matter y choig" bit OF imperative
Of efcS 10 ssdsf9in tie cuaAcatons OF candidates.
ndr Is omit 20 vote and Away to vote wisely ana CON-
II yrnuli 10 nperent for me- in the presence Of 50
many Intelligent men, 10 sIge a. ieIftn m spporI ot
obligation inherent in citizcrsnp (t u an onlgation
nevertheless constantly dsrcgarded that tho great
majority OF as seem 10 forget Ao@ sacred It Is. We may
fully discharge duties In ON families AID IN orr
several trades proiessiona and yet completely ignore
our duty country. TIE very tenn has become
sOe =" Jghic T. ea sefn for orsfons and obituary
t,t{ aud vet La binding
Fen Commandments
DUTIES OF TRUE CITIZENS.
Tie fact is, when peCpe throw of the rule Of mon
arch or privileged esss and undertake to them
selves they assume task which involves great deal
OF labor and sefsacriAee and the part Of the
respectable AID educated minority than on that Of the
others The Science Of leg laon IS int as diou and
the function OF adnin9tr-ii,1 jit - -" HeneSne IN =
repubuc IsCuyrchY In each case TIE labor must
be borne by individuals. Ia iGolarclies II is eoncen
Ft upon snf his diiTbaton d5ss not diminish TIC
labor nor the responsibility and fru tho nature Oi Things
both TIE and the responsibility faL with greater
and the most intoliGs Tho theory of sclr-
5pSfcibaton Of he best cizeSs In public affairs TIE
idea that there would eoIDo urn9 whom cd1cated and
n them never seems to ho occurred 70 the founders OF
institutions. II Pas ticn f2r granted THAT every
body who was entitled to the fiahcl5c Wuu exercise
H. that the best men would Ie ca!al Io ounce ana
tlat the safety and welfare OF tho nation would be tha
supreme law And ms WIS the 'afe ~ lie euy ds OF
on history The public busi ess Was the agect which
encro sed N heart and niHl3 To .eadltg IollcAn3
from the educated ella ses Inc most rsnied anl
cultivated menthcse who were o'anent Tor family Tor
parts IN the discussion Of ahIr' AID assumed tbcic
proper places in tho councils OF tie s'te rALIar aided
tlan hndeIed by their social rank
Al tie South. even III loto ycers this hes been the
common practice. However erruDeous in their views
that section have set good example N the attention
tey have always paid TO political affairs the admin
their hands not account OF their wealth, but chiefly
because they have always made eudy Of politics aud
considered the honor' of Office 70 he the highest rewards
10 which they could aspire.
Al the North has besna growing dissemination
come at last to be boheycd undivided attention
profession OF to Fer5antle pursuits to The exclusion
al other tastes and eHpiGymppis IL positive virtue
~ rnbI;c i5taresta the Iepe{t OF their wisdom and ex
rtenec too often continue To devote their best thoughts
men in Inc werd with teif loney 10 servinr their
naI4v tho sort OF duty Of Which AIN speskig con-
not DC vicariouely performed. IL involves per-
sona Labor and ses1fre ana not TO
Our most promising Young mon have long ago ceased TO
Legislature. which is thought in England by gentle
who leaves he university "A the highest point of his
ambition u regarded hero with aversion aud contempt
/ do moi mean ~ tbOso only who absorbed In |
frivolous pleasures bucven by those excellent pcrons
OF whom, thank cod. these are maay who devote them
s0ives 10 charitable, religions and educational enter
prises but who. nevertheless seem ~ forget that their
country demands also the best that they have to |
give Of their tsr thHr talents, and their zeal In nno
many Of our most nteliigcn s.,.. cizens
have niue 40 90 with Shipping and dreetiHs ,rl
the interests Of the state tho city which o9ght to he
or ut le2ss greatly Influenced, by tho best
minds and the Trvst loyal heartano matter ~ which
,afty they ci0ng-f3n into the hands Of INSCRIPTIONS
who study tho technical machinery OF legis
nI for no other purpose but 10 nj their pockets and
ocoDe the heroes Of de'noralzed community Which
regards in crime as the equivalents or merit ana
exIts gigantic theft tn the dignity OF public virtue
The Union League ClHb gentlemen Is standing pro
test against this condition OF sfLls. IL was founded
upon The idea that the posseion OF wealth and the re-
OF education do not absolye man from his
duy the STATE Its ehiei function Is " 70 elevate ana
unfold the popular faith in republican government"
It's hest work ia 10 dignity politics as pursuit and
studv liz constant effort ought 20 be a. reawaken
ITaciical inteIest la public AFFAIRS In those who have
become scouraged aud to enforce sense OF the sacred
inherent in eizenship."
THB END AND MEANS.