Worcester morning daily spy., 1898-03-13
CLAFLIN HONOREO.
Notable Reception Given by the
Massachusetts Club.
Letters Of Highest Praise and Affection
for the Venerable Ex-Governor Re-
ceiyed from Disting-
uished Men.

Boston, March 12.-William Clafin,
one of the four living ex-governors Of
this commonwealth, former member
president of the Massachusetts Club,
was signally honored by his associates
at a reception and dinner this after
noon, at Youngs Hotel
On Sunday last Mr. Clahin was 80
years old, and the club felt that his en-
trance into the ranks of the octogena-
rians should be fittingly observed. He
is the second of the two presidents who
have served the club since it's organiza-
ton in the early forties, it's first being
Dr. Samuel G. Howe, the famous phi
lanthropist
A. w. Beard, former collector of the
port of Boston, and first vice-president
of the club, presided. Gov. Wolcott was
present at the reception. Addresses,
after the dinner, were made by ex-Gov.
George s. Boutwell,, ex-Gov. ]. Q. A.
Brackett, John W. Gambler, who sue
ceeded ex-Gov Clafiin in congress;
Henry E. Cobb, mayor of Newton, Pres
ident Capen of Tufts College, Judge r.
j. Sherman of the superior court, H. B.
Blackwell, R. I. Davis of Fall River,
]. J. Myers of Cambridge, Albert Clarke
Of Wellesley, and by others. Letters
were read by Secretary S. S. Blanchard
from the secretary Of the navy, ex-Goy.
John d. Long, Senators George F. Hoar
and Henry Cabot Lodge and ex-senator
Henry L. Dawes.
Secretary Long, in his letter, said: Il
wish | had more time to write, but 1t
is almost impossible to get moment
for ANYTHING except the matters of Off
cial business which press me, but can
not fo1"bear to ask you to extend TO
Gov Clafin, when the Massachusetts
Club celebrates his 80th birthday, my
hearty greeting and my appreciation OF
his long, noble and spotless public and
private life"
Senator Hoar said: II wish 1 could be
at the meeting of the Massachusetts,
Club to Join in the universal expression
of honor and affection which our dear
old friend will receive, and which he so
we'll deserves He is left almost alone of
the. men of 1S4S who began the great
which abolished slavery in
this country, and, through the example
of this country, abolished it throughout
the continent. He has been steadfaSt
and loyal to every righteous cause from
that day to this. The open hand, the
heart, the beautiful hospitali-
ty the delightful friendship, the comfort
to men in trouble-what a lifel What
Give my love to him and to the
club"
Ex-senator Dawes writing from
paid an earnest tribute to his
lifelong friend saying: 81 am shut off
from the next meeting of the club.
have been under physicians orders in
close quarantine for more than week,
and there is little prospect of my being
permitted to go out of doors before Sat
urday.
"Please extend to him my warmest
and my regrets at not
being able to present them in person.
He has my warmest and most sincere
wishes for his future welfare. A friend
ship which he was kind enough to take
up fifty years ago, when we were of diff
ferent politics and were appointed
to count votes on opposite sides in the
legislature, has all the time till now
been growing stronger and ripper. 1t has
on many occasions put me under person.
al obligations of which / cannot speak
here, but which l cannot forget.
count that friendship priceless, and shall
cling to it till the end"
Among those present, besides those all
ready mentioned, were: Robert 0. Full
Ter and DR.. G. H. Spauldlng of Cam
bridge, DR.. S. w. Durcan of Brookline
G.. D. Gilman, A. G. Walwo-th and A. ID
Claflin of Newton, W. W. Doherty, E.
NJ Mcpherson, S. S. Blanchard, G..
M. Whitaker and Laban Pratt of Bos-
ton, Samuel r. Haywood John S. Bald
win and Sullivan Forehand of Worces-
ter, John s. Brayton of Fall River and
Francis w. Breed Of Lynn.
Gov Boutwell, in his address recalled
the days of the coalition in which
he himself had a prominent part and
gave an account of the connection of
William Clafin, Amasa Walker and
other young men in that movement
which had for it's object the secret bal
lot and a new state constitution. He told
also of Gen. Grants estimate of Gov
Claflin and of his intention to have APP
pointed him a member of his cabinet in
case the appointment of attorney gem
eral did not go to Massachusetts, He
had selected him for the post of secre-
tary of the interior.
Referring to the trouble with Spain,
Mr.. Boutwell, said: .Of course, | am
against war / think it is the heaviest
tribute in the way of penalty That hui
man beings are compelled to pay to the
inequities and incapacities of human
nature. But there are some things we
do know by observati on-one, that we
should not be guided in any opinion we
may form or any conduct we may adj
vocate by the declarations of men who
seem to think there is nothing better
for the human race than the extinction
of portion of it by brute force.
"They are generally men who contri-
butte nothing in time of war, either to
the forces in the field or to the revenue
by which war is to be carried on.
"There are perhaps, two or three things
more which might well be observed.
II we are to be involved In war, 1t is
not enough that we are not able to de-
fend il to the men who go in the field
and who offer their life blood If we
have net cause which win justify
that course to the men who take part
and stand in the smoke Of battle, If