New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-02-15
THE UNION LEAGUE CLUB.
ADDRESS OF HAMILTON FISH

on Thu sdas evening the Hon. Hamilton Fish DELIVERED
his opening address president OF the cuO 10 All un-
usually audience. He reviewed briefly the pros
porous financial condition OF the club AMI Its WORK IN
unfolding The Government during the OF the Rebel
lou The splendid results OF RESUMPTION we're dwef
upon and the manifold opportunities Of the club 10
make upon the thought and action OF tho
time outlined. In conclusion, the speaker urged
upon the members the importance Of rec0ncing sec
onal differences and in eevstDg the tone Of political
discussion
Alter thanking the members FOR the honor conferred
upon him. Mr. Fish alluded 10 the satisfactory report Of
which showed that the club had no debts
and that there WAS a surplus receipts OF >llio96S
which slO47J A went to the increase OF he Buidus
Fund Tie treasurer oftne Building Fund held on Janu'
airy o last. s244.OOO in Government securities and
Ssl 50 in cash. The Committee on Library aud Publb
cations durng the year had made extensive and well
chosen selection OF newspapers. magazines aud periods
cal publications, and considerable addition % books
and lave added TO the accommodation tor the book
and for enience OF the members. The Commit
tee on Art reported valuable acquisitions and sug
Eestd some important questions a. TO the future policy
and the cluO regard 10 the department
Entrusted 20 that committee. The Executive Com
mtee reported s6l resident and 37j nonresident mem
that dur last IS resident members and
iour nonresident members mad ded that there had been
falling If imitation fees and annual dues ~ S326j.
The committee urged the consideration OF site for
club house aud recommended the appointment Of CON-
mlttee with power 10 procure q building site.
The underlying principle Of club, continued the
speaker a, associations are generally accepted,
unquestonabiy IS rs social character ana features
Whatever tends 70 interrupt deiract from the social
character eu0ymeuts Of club leads towards disco
luton Tie social elements should Therefore be fostered
and promoted by proper means and % an reasonable
enrs Your library, reading and works ~ art ars
valuable e-theuc agents IN this direction. But the
Union League Club has another element IN
its organization. cougenital and distinctive. Il;
birth and ts history impose upon II duties
70 the couuJry-it was born amid the throes on
tie nation struggling 10 MAINTAIN IA existence; It was
conceived AMI 5eg0tJen Of spirit OF loyalty and pa
tr!otism which induced men heretofore holding the
most opposite opinions and positions on me political
question:. which lad divided the country 10 lay aside all
differences give their united efforts 90 uphold Gov
eminent Justly described by the gentlemen Who was
called the second position under the rehcious or
ganiz4ton as coming the objects o! al good
government than any other on the face ~ Che earth
Faithful, and efficiently did the club sustain this Gov
crumeut through the dark times Of It's sora ulaI 10
course Of political action profoundly patriotic and
em.n'nty beneficial
The past imposes upon us continued obligation,
nut Che geld Of action and OF patriotic duty
fortunately is somewhat Yrreut the ines have faL
len 10 ~ 10 morel pleasant places" The early duei
aud action ~ the association were IN the tunes of revo
lutionary efforts the Government AMI ne
cessary partook OF the excitement and perhaps some
L1E
the club the Government support ana encourages
ent IN eff 10 bring couptry back 10 sound con
dition OF commercial, financial and social relations Ou
predecessors did think that their dlty ended with The
or cessation violent resistance 10 the GOV
ernment but appreciated that the queter and perhaps
more difficult duty OF watchful guidance remained.
Patriotic men, Loyalty loving their country In what
ever section Of the country they may land there
oval and pa troti In every section u the country
and IN every OF land; patriotic and loyal
men, say still have the duty TO see that the Constitu'
ton "a enforced the laws observed. tie ushs 0f the
citizen the hnmbest We'll as the highest respected
aud the equality before the law o. every eth
| zen maintained. Asking for nothing that the Con.
.,utou and the law. enacted ia Pursuance thereof do
not sanction demanding all that IA granted or guar
anteed tits the duty OF good citizenship 10 insist that
the Constitution and every part aud provision thereon
unreservedy recognized enforced aud obeyed In let
ter and spirit carrying with II in every state ana
every part of the Union TO every citizen, native as well
as naturazed high and low. rich and poor without re-
gard 10 race color previous condition. full protection
and the free enjoyment Of right whether Of per
son or property Of suffrage, which the Constitution
ami the lava NAV grant
TIE charter and the articles OF association OF ts club
commit it 20 high political Duties, and those
duties the direction OF OF the highest AMI
MODEST OF studies Politics IN the comprehension Of
the potbouse, strife for place, for jobs, for all the
unclean drppings Of partisan patronage bG' Potcs
appreciation Of an association Ike THIS
club means the science OF government Avoiding local,
personal and purely temporary questions. u seeks tho
regulation ana government OF the state to It's best n-
terests development OF is and It's resource
the Of its and safety the protection
OF III citizens their rights, and the Advancement or
moral aud the Improvement OF thcir physical con-
don In this field strife FOR place for spoils ia
known the contest IL devoid Of personal object and
for the DEVELOPMENT " truth tending 10 the best In
terrsts OF the STATE and the greatest happiness 0f tho
people IN this field. gentlemen Of the Union Leagus
Cub, you exercise even more widely extended in
ruence for good the future than have dooe n the
past without detracng in the slightest nom the social
qualities and attractions OF YOur club
THE TRIUMPH OF RESUMPTION.
II falls 10 my the tst in To. line Of your presiding
officers TO be able 70 congratulate you most cordially
that the country relieved Of the OF the hucuat
ing and irredeemable currency which the eIeencies Of
the war brought III. The promise TO pay OF mo
Government, which during your eKsielce az club has
never until quite recently been worth what IL professed,
aod which az one time worth IN homes: money-tbe
money OF commerce and Of the nstions-ony sbout 80
per profsed value. ttaIes - the wiss
policy established and per,istenty maintained by me
lat Administration and thanks. too, O. the rigorous
ot that policy By those now ntriied with
the administration of Tie Government - convertible as
. essure 1O the coin recognized by The world money
The long PROSTATE industries Of the country are revy-
Tug; business promises 20 become remunerauye;
the field OF manufacturing enterprise assumes "a more
hopeful aspect; commerce IL more active, aud the
foreign trad, o: tho country Il rapidly payag N he
vast accumulation OF drb1 which the fIfI t.mes ~
wild speculation ani 4 currency OF uncertain and hue
tuaiing value bad involved ~.
IL view 81 ali this, sincerely congratulate you. as
your and have IN the been expressed
lp aid policy and Of Ia, measures 9ch have con-
duced h encouraging aspect 81 the cauGtrys eoudi
ton Lu ;-utcncn, here again your duties not Jet
~ au cLd A Lrg. he.d u usrfu-l--s ls 80, open,
and demand. your patriotic chorts our commerce
Is no, what should be; our manufactures
are not AZ -ctyc they might be; the agriculture OF