The New York herald., 1875-11-24
LORD HOUGHTON.
HIS RECEPTION by THE UNION LEAGUE CLUB
LAST EyENING-THE ADDRESS OF WELCOME


was magnificent affair. The club we're
gayv decorated with bunting and natural flowers,
tho walls OF the art gallery hung
with choice paintings, and everything that could be
done TO give the club house internally, inviting
was done BY the Committee Of Arrangements.
The reception took place in the theatre
Of the club Among those present were Or. Adams,
G. Bradlaugh, Or. William Taylor ex Governor Morgan
Governor Minor, Mayor Hunter, Of Brooklyn, Surro-
gate elect Van Schaick, Thomas Carter, william
Laimbeer Chief Justice Daily, s. Il. Rug
giles, Salem II Wales John jay William
Cullen Bryant Charles Butler, Jackson s. Schultz
Henry w. Bellows Josiah NJ Fiske Theodore Roose-
volt, Noah Davis Henry Bergh John A. Weeks, David
Dows, Nathaniel P. Bailey, William NJ Evarts Peter
Cooper, Edwin d. Morgan, Alexander 7 stewart
William } Hoppn, Levi p Morton, lie Grand b. Can
non, James Emott Isaac sherman, Eastman Johnson,
James H. Van Allen, John H. Hail. ]. Pierpont Morgan.
At quarter to ten Lord Houghton, accompanied by
Mr. Choate, the President Of the club William Cullen
Bryant and Peter Cooper, appeared upon the stage
The little theatre was we'll nled and when His Lord
ship appeared he was greeted with hearty applause.
CHoATR's SPEECH OF WELCOME.
Mr. Choate, in welcoming Lord Houghton, said 80
In seeking this opportunity to pay respects to
the distinguished gentleman who now honors with
his presence we certainly could not hope bv our modest
reception to equal the bounteous hospitality which has
been showered upon HIM at the hands Of private ct-
every city that he has visited, to add TO the
steps throughout his wanderngs the United States
The familiar maxim of Apeles, by which, IN the earlier
years Of his manhood, guest IS believed to have
trained his muse, appears to have been practically APP
Piled In an altered sense to His Lordshp at every stage
of his American pilgrimage "NutLG dtes sine tinea
No day without a line To come To dinner, Whatever
pleasures and whatever pers belong TO that peculiar
Institution Of the AngoSaxon race, Emerson calls
IT, he must have already fully experienced We must
congratulate ourselves and him that he has happily
survived them all with health and strength still unn-
paired for having done So he stands before us to-
nj lUhf ~ hnrf f 1ytnnF
of the British constitution OF which he is worthy
representative. Neither offer him at meeting
OF the club the charms OF the feminine presence with
which, II he was not msrepresented on recent occa-
sion, he has been honored and delighted during his
stay among IL only yesterday that reed in
the newspapers OF high tribute paid by HIM to the
women of America. Had we known in that
HIS Lordship cherished that gentle enthusiasm, had
We supposed u possible that peer OF England would
be open to those tender influences might have put
practice the theory OF natural selection, the
sion would have justified, and have surrounded him
on this last night of his stay in America with such
glittering array OF loveneSs as would have set his
poets eve IN a fine frenzy rolling and perhaps some
future addition of palm Leaves or OF Poems OF Many
Lands'' would have contained some sanZas to the
men Of the West by Lord Houghton that in delicacy
and sweetness matched the lyric tributes which More
ton Mines was won't TO pay TO tho far famed graces Of
the Orient
| No gentlemen we have sought this occasion not SO
much for his pleasure for ours, having little to
! offer him but the honest expression OF that
! high consideration and regard which has long
been felt for His Lordship IN tho United States. ZAP
! pause) We desired an opportunity to look upon
whose name had been associated Tor whole genera
tion with the things that lent to elevate and improve
| the condition ofmankind Many of from child
hood had been accustomed to hear of him OF the
men of letters in England who by their devotion to
! good learning and polite literature had been mission
aries of knowledge and pleasure to all who speak and
| read the English tongue Some of us have read his
/ books.
Are substantial world both pure and good
Our pasme and happiness win grow.
We have heard by tradition and report Of his gcner
| ous sympathy for humanity in all its suffering FORMS
and that the cause of oppressed natonaes has found
in him constant advocate and friend-whether Poland
oeeolhg victim Vi ner apoiouS nesnooIs, vi l.aiy,
suffering tho accumulated miseries OF centuries, or
Greece the classic heir of ancient We have
been told also that the promptings of generous
and manly heart have led him to support
at home all measures for the reform
and amelioraton OF the criminal classes We have not
forgotten his stout assertions of the right Of freedom
in religion and remember his statement made when II
yet altogether popular that religious equality
ia the national pirthrrht of every Brtonn But after
all the chief and immediate title of Lord Houghton TO
especial regard and gratitude in the manly stand
he took with certain other liberal statesmen of Eng
land on the occasion OF late civil war, by which
they proved themselves the steadfast and effective
friends of their country and Of ours. To borrow
words OF his own great thoughts great feelings came
OF the Alexandra under discussion in April 1853,
which Of the darkest periods we ever passed
through, it was in that month you will remember that
President Lincoln, in accordance with resolution Of
Senate apart day of fasting and prayer for the
whole people to humble themselves before Almighty
God for the deadly scourgngs of the IL then
that after hearing some violent words spoken in Par
lament tending TO measures, which, If adopted, would
have forced into the desperate extremity OF
with England, he said
s-I that peace will continue for many but
above a m bs r 20 wH e all her. S Se
power talk Of against nation in the agones Of
50 spugnant every manly feeling 50 utterly ungenerous
opposite talk of acting in gallant spirit II to act in
gallant spirit for strong man to fight man with his arms
tied, with his eyes blinded
Happily for us such friendly words and counsels pre-
vailed and we escaped that untold calamity.
Mr., Choate after further quoting from Lord Hough-
toms speeches in the British Parliament, assured him
that the Americans appreciated the stand he had taken
in their behalf and then welcomed him on behalf o.
REPLY or LORD uouGHroS
Lord Hougnton shook Mr. f. Choate heartily by
the hand at the close of his speech having risen from
his during the latter portion OF the Presidents ad
dress Leaning his cane he stood for moment as
II in deep thought without uttering word Finally
turning toward Mr. Choate and to the audience, he
Mr. CHoArE ASp GESr1EaEv-Before you spoke l
had much difficulty in interpreting to myself the mean
ing of my reception here. So unmportant as / know
myself to have been both in political and social life,
have been surprised at the manner in which have
been received in the United States OF America You,
sir have given explanation to that problem which
! very thankful TO receive. The habit
OF Americans to welcome Englishmen, whatever
may be their position is in itself proof that you regard
something beyond individuals and that somehow
or other you connect us IN every way you can, by m
sgnation il other is present. with that great
try the Atlantic which your mother and
which ii has been the habit Of of your ancestors
60 call your home. Mr. Choate has alluded
20 certain events of my political life which
he says fully justify your kindness aud
markablo sympathy of to-day. Gentlemen,
upon that matter that f there has been any rola
tion between merit and reward upon that point can
say desire very little. do not say this with any
aectaton, because understand ully your feelings
that matter fully recognize, | completely under
stand man TO man. that In that day IN the days Of
! your great trouble, even small voice com
Ing the great Atlantic listened 10 with
extreme pleasure and exaggerated sympathy.
! But when | look to myself l bound TO
say that ind extremely little merit in the matter
| There ground OF sympathy between you and
l tho English people which you had the fullest right
/ believe would have been absolute aud overpowering
The English nation had put herself forward the great
! opponent Of slavery throughout the world. Sho
/ had stated AZ the Congress OF Vienna that
/ the one great point which England required as
/ the qua in all international arrangements
should DO the adjustment of the slave trade For that
purpose England not only asserted herself but 10 the
limits, aye even beyond the limits Of the laws of ma
/ .ninrlnrnL with au tlln