The Portland daily press., 1876-05-16

a young merchant who felt himself aggrieyed
by ruling Of the Secretary in a revenue mat
ter, and that there was no political significance
whatever 10 the hostile demonstration. How
ever the affair caused lively commotion, and
the moral deduced from IL was that the habit
of black balling had been carried so far that it
was exerting most demoralizing influence up
on the club and ought to be checked by suitable
notifications of the rules of admission. Sew
eral very excellent citizens have heretofore
been subjected to the same indignity which has
now been perpetrated in respect to Mr.. Bris
tow. Others having received premonitions of
rejection have been spared the affront by tie
timely withdrawal of their names Some time
ago the late Mr.. Stewart proposed the name of
Judge Hilton. Very much to his surprise and
annoyance intimations were given him that the
proposition would be successfully opposed.
Having satisfied himself that such result was
probable, Mr. Stewart quietly retired his nomi-
nee. If he had ever had any testamentary in
clnations towards the Club, 1 presume that
little episode had the effect of subduiug them
entirely.
Such things will always be as long as so
small a minority hold SO much control. But
thu trouble has been materially aggravated by
the impoltic course of the Club in meddling
with the work of selecting candidates for the
Presidency. Members can express their pref
erences in this matter much more effectually
and without Any offense at all outside of the
Club 1t is social organization, and it is
futile and foolish to intrude upon it questions
which must inevitably disturb its harmony
- ;nA1 Aa1 -
there is certain cheapness and inanity about
mere resolu tons which by reason of their great
frequency have become the simple pop guns
and playthings of political warfare. They
amount to very little where there is an organ
lied power and recognized authority behind
them; to absolutely nothing when they are the
mere dictum of one man sustained by the IN
rejecting acquiesence of several others who
have no conception of the motive which in
spired them, and an in inadequate comprehension
Of their gst and meaning.
A club is like household. Its pea ce is best
assured by judicious avoidance of mooted
themes 1t should hold itself in reserve for
great emergencies, and never act, except with
such unanimity as to make its influence poten'
tial and effective As long az the Union
League Club adhered to this line of conduct it
was clothed with a moral power which caused
1t to be felt and respected. Since the feat of
the March meeting there has been percepti-
BILE decline Of its influence and general dispo-
siton to treat its pronunciamentos as of no
great account In a numerical point of view
it amounts to nothing. 1t is a rare thing that
an hundred men vote for or against any propo-
sition. But it has strength arising from the
character and personal worth of its members
that is altogether too valuable to be frittered
away upon extraneous or unimportant topics.
So far as Mr. Bristow is concerned it is n OF
of the slightest consequence that he has been
rejected. The club itself is the only sufferer
1t will try to undo the mischief; but while it
is about it reparation may as well be made for
other errors that stand uncorrected. "Reform
within the party" is as good watchword for
societies of gentlemen as for organizations Of
politicians. and here is capital chance of max
ing the policy fact as well as a sentiment.
Monday the ideal statesmen of the period
convene at the Fifth Avenue Hotel to proclaim
a new gospel of government This ''confer-
ence' will be composed of gentlemen whose
creed may be summed up in paraphrase of
Hull w NuteCeT 10, 10 UfUUy. Lucy
will find no good thing in any public man or
policy. They will o1estly demand the in
slant and unconditional surrender of DO th po-
litical parties, the ruthless sacrifice of their
honored chiefs and trusted leaders and the re-
duction to the ranks of all who have held au
thority. And when they have delivered them
selves of the customary philippcs and exhorta-
tons, passed more resolutions and adjourned,
the Republicans and Democrats will proceed
as if nothing had happened, hold their con-
ventions, present their candidates, announce
their platforms and prepare themselves for a
hand to hand encounter. 1t is great misfor-
tune that parties cannot exist without ma
chinery, that every man cannot be a law
unto himself, acting with entire indepe n.
dence of every other man. But experience
has shown that it cannot be. There have
always been parties since governments were
created. There always will be. In country
in which suffrage is general-in which there
are eight million voters, the indispensableness
of concentrating the opposing forces into solid,
compact and disciplined corps is so plain as to
be about self evident.
Nor is it possible for any party holding long
continued power to keep itself free from para
sites and adventures. If it honestly endeav-
ors to rid itself of such membranes and
shows no forbearance or mercy for knaves when
detected. however high their rank-if it ad-
ministers affairs uprightly and frugaly, pre-
serves the peace, maintains order and protects
the rights of all its citizens irrespective of race
or color, it will deserve popular confidence and
support, and if it is wrecked by clamor from
without and discomfort from within, it will fall
with dignity only to rise again to new life and
honor. YARMOUTH.