The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-11-09

THE MERCANTILE LIBRARY ASS0cth1 l0N.
Annual Dinssr or the OMeers' Union Mt
b. acknowledgement ny MIR. Charles
yOsConor on Municipal Purtty-Rcv. h
w. Beecher ON the Mercantile Class-A
Pleas snt Evening. -
The annual meeting OF the Oficers' Union OF the
Mercantile Library Association was held last even
ing ct Delmonicos. There was q numerous
company OF present and past officers OF
the Association, and among the invited guests
were Peter Cooper, Rev. DR.. Ormiston, Rev. ]. Cot
ton Smith, Edmund Yates, Mr.. W. a. Hurlburt. Mr..
Isaac II. Bailey, Ethan Allen and Others The din.
ner was In Delm0nico's usually perfect style, and
having received due attention, MI. Daniel f. Apple
ton, who oflciated as Chairman, made q few brief
remarks. and at once introduced Mr.. Charles
O'Conor as the first speaker in response to the toast
Of the "City ofNew York."
faI Mr.. o. c0N0R's SPEECH. tt
Mr.. O'Conor was received with tremendous cheer
ing, and after making q comparison between New
York as it was when he knew it first, fifty years
ago. and It's present greatness, he went on to say
that in the perceptions Of mankind America was
the United States, and the United States was the
State OF New York. and the State Of New York was
the metropolis. This was the grand central point
upon which all eyes were turned, and in proper
ton as In physical, intellectual and moral great
ness we rose to the standard that became men
who represented the great Republic, just
in that proportion would America be honored
in the estimation. OF mankind. Our general
character in these respects had been good in the
past, and yet 1t did seem as consequence Of our
great prosperity, and the great multitude OF our
occupations, that the matter Of government had
been for long term OF years in large degree
neglected or overlooked by the mercantile classes.
hands of the
LEADING POLITICIANS
Decentralization crept in slowly at first, but In
steadily increasing progression until it reached
it's climax in the Ring in power in 1871. Then,
the world that the Legislature was not pure and
that its administration was marked by. pecu-
exist in estimation at least in the departments Of
the State and city governments, but in that also
which had been SO pure, SO highly estimated, so
honOred in the parent State for centuries, which
had come to US pure ana been by us purely sus-
tanned down to about that period-he meant our
glorious judiciary Even that was said to be stained
by the reception OF brides, as 1t was certainly
- DIsHONORED
BY the exhibition o. vulgar pratices All this was
Rssoclation- Their attention called to the
their might ana smote the serpent. He writhed in
his agony and struggled to sustain his power for
sunk prostrate as ne hoped, forever. indecorum
would not soon appear again on the bench; un.
fairness and s ra.s sy motives and bad
81 N ese
not regard them as a political assemblage, and he
was therefore, speaking only to the great question
e son
subject they were oil OF one opinion. They might
differ, perhaps IN some degree in reference to re-
single statement. He hailed in recent events a
disposition to strike down all applicants to public
to any just suspicion. He saw and he was re-
joiced 20 see, many happy circumstances connected
with the recent controversy: One Of them should
ture to present. 1t was certainly Gag ~ -
s.. .t NATTER OF DELIGHT .rt T
to all honest men that the great State OF New York
having to nominate a Chief Magistrate. each party
selected o man whose antecedents, whose life
that could even excite o suspicion Of moral
impurity, and that in point Of moral integrity
each held the highest rank. He therefore now
Herman i"end0wed alike with integrity, in morals
above reproach, they were ut rivals for high sta
ton; we trust they have inaugurated a new era in
This toast was drunk with enthusiasm, and,
coupled with that of 'sThe State of New York, :.
was responded TO by Mr.. William +. Dodge.
Mr.. WILLIAM H. SMITH responded to the toast of
england and America and alluded to the great
the last election, and other pleasant features Of
American life. His remarks were greeted with
ta but were by Ss
hailed with three hearty cheers and tiger, all the
company standing and evincing by the earnest
ness OF their cheers their utter sbelief of the
recent hideous scandal Mr.. Beecher looked worn,
but smiled Mr.. Isaac Fl. Bailey advanced to meet
him and led him up to the guests table.
Rev. DR.. ORMIsToN responded to California"
which he had recently visited n9
Mr. HENRY WARD BEEcHER then spoke, but
not to any particular toast. His remarks
specially alluded to the importance OF
the mercantile class, which, he claimed,
was the best in the community. We had
learning
abroad for intellectual cultivation and for manners
But We Americans were now undertaking to do
only done for the upper ten thousand. The time
was coming when, from the top to the
waited to the highest standard OF morality.
virtue and intellect And this would have TO be
chieny done by the merchants OF the future, from
whom he hoped the highest things. 1 8 s
Other toasts were drunk, and The company sena.
rated at q late hour, after having spent very
pleasant evening. III .e.ra 10 =.