New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-02-07

The firing of that fateful gun,
,Ibat parted us, had made us One
For. though the war dragged on
Till four dark yeas were gone,
The fire 1t kindled here outran
The cautious policies or man
Like fire from Heaven IL went
That fire rom Heaven was sent!
Believe IL! o. believe God knew
The hour was come for Him to 40
With our weak hands His VIII,
That guards and guides us still!
Believed For were If otherwise
The smoke OF battle still weud rise,
And confront tile Zoe,
AS twenty years ago!
The foe What foe We know of none.
For parted then, we row are one
One in love- not hate
One People, and ole state!
LETTERS OF REGRET.
David Miiken it, then read the following let
tiers:
MR. EvARTsS LITTER TO Mr.. BRIGHT
NEw-YoRK, Dec. IL, 1882.
The RigLt Honorable JOHN BRIGHT, H. p.
MY DEAR SIR: The Union League Club Of the City Of
Eew-York will have completed twenty years OF its
existence Oh the 9th day of February next, aud Is
making appropriate ngements for the celebration OF
that anniversary.
unanimous vote at recent general meeting Of
the Club 1t resolved 10 invite to become the
guest of the Club for visit the United States which
should include that anniversary, and which should
them the honor and pleasure OF your parcpA
ton in It's cOngratulatOry celebration.
In communicating 10 you this invitation OF the Union
League Club cannot but feel that from IFS foundation
in the first year OF Cvil War, and during the whole
period of its pu bic abors uphold the Government To
keep warm and active the loYa spirit Of the country to
aid every public action aud public opinion the
the Nation for the suppression o the Rebel
lion you have understood the causes which called the
Club into existence aud which stimulated its activities
and have sympathized with efforts, and rejoiced III
their prosperous Issue Some OF its prominent members
have personally known to you, and others have
attracted your aud the public attention by the con-
spcuous services they have rendered to the country
The Union League Club has always counted
among the important political aids to the
suppOrt OF the authority Of our Govern
ment, under the stress through which it passed,
the firm. unnilching aud impregnable attitude which
you your and great rene Mr. Golden opposed 20
The great current Of commercial social aud political in
terest and opinion which both in England and on the
Continent set so Strong ely against the OF the
loyal power the IN dealing with 50 powerful
of our obligations TO YOU nor TO calculate the misfor-
had 1t missed the support OF so great
Tnese sentiments of the Union League Club shared
this counrr ana the hospitality which We prefer you
VIII be but form OF the general acclaim which your
presence IN the United st tes VIII call torh For craze
3u IL has been the service rendered us IN our tue
OF ri aud disas er we recogn2e TINS service as b1t
part OF that general and commemorative sateslnansh
which has mode you tue champion OF every goou caus
at home abroad. which ajOrod for the advancement
KIM.
the sea 10 make hi- desires visit through the whole OF
your travel In county and until yon yam reach
heart of al c0unymeI viii greet you with rs bless
lug, and tat. beyond ths our peope WIN enefoaG a.
suitable your health and enoynen curing your stay
Hoping for a favorable answer from You. am, my
dear SIR, in behalf Of the Union League CUP your
5ritnd and servant ~ NJ E'AhI>s lresueAt'
MR. DIuGHT's REPLY.
ROCHDaLE. Jan. 16. 1888.
Nm. ". w. 7 have rccciyrd YOur kind
letter OF the 18th OF December, along with
a letter signed by yourself President Of the
Union League Club OF New York. and on be
half of the members Of thCub inviting to visit the
United States to be present on the 9th Of February
next at the celebration Of anniversary Of the foun-
aaton Of The Cllfb in the year 1858.
Tic receipt OF these letters and this invitation has
caused me very mixed feeling. am pleased TO think,
and indeed 20 know, that have many friends IN your
country who remember with kind feelings towards me
the mart took In the scusons England at the great
crisis Of your history, the unity Of great Re
public and your Government seemed for time to
be in peril.
But if am glad to have so many friends amongst you.
lam grieved that the time has when could
visit country aud people IN whose greatness and wei
fare have always felt the interest And
when You send me the most friendly Invitation the OBJ
staces in my way not to be overcome. Your cee-
braion fixed the GtI o. February. Besides the or
binary duties Of member o. Parliament, have special
Icanno escape from postpone. 1t quite impossi
ble therefore, accept invitation for the
coming month and cannot hope to take part IN the in
teresting proceeding. to which you have invited me-
But l may say something more. never liked the sea,
and strong appetite for travel has subsidized and
cannot but feel the friendly welcome promised
me on your side of the Atlantic would force inc into a
publicity from which shrink.
What can say, then. IN reply to letters 50 eSmp
ceref TLa am deeply grateful 70 yOuAnd 10 your ana
INV friends whose behalf have written, and that
Iregret with feeling not less strong that am not a0e
10 accept kind invitation you have sent and tue
% "t eV With dicuity: bot va VII understand bow
hard II Is to make fitting, wnen an unfavorabie reply
tS S~s" ' You viii forgive me cannot
forget your great kndnes" ana the bono you nav
you're oe''' "P'" nv JonS BEIGmT.
uo,,. wN NJ. EvAETs, Union Lcagae CH1 Ne~ rorh, u
s. A."
LETTER FROM JOHN G. WHITTIER.
HOTEL wISTHEor BOsToS 1lth mo. %, 1882.
THOMAS c. AcIoN, Esq:
DEAR FRIEND; 1 have, with very great reluctance
come 10 conclusion thet must not undertake 10 write
the poem asked for in the letter which has reached Inc
through Professor Gibbs, Of Cambridge The state Of
health at my advanced age, cOmpes Inc 10 void II pos
siblo any very mental effort. Under other cir
cumstances nothing would have given pleasure
than prompt compliance with your request.
The history Union League Club familiar to me
Thaye watched its course with the veest interest.
know how nobly IT bore itself in the dark days of on
national trial whom the electric energy Of it's patriotism
was everywhere felt ghening the hands and hearts
Of all Who toed aud suffered for Union and Liberty The
nation no " free and united, TO It's members, living
,nd dead, n debt Of gratitude
Under the direction Of "the Power that makes fOl
Righteousness" tue League has yet work TO do in the
reform OF old abuses publication Of the Civil Service
OF the country the removal OF unnecessary burdens o
taxation the dscountenanoiDg OF sectional poes anI
dvisops and the promotion Of tine best interests OF thu
South well as the North, through wise ana noer
system If education which shall feaeh Az SECTIONS anu a.
standard Of political morality, aud akenng deepe