The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1903-03-28
B0STON'S HISTORIC BIRD CUB
~ I
osgani.ation W. led Cla6ms to Have
Befn HE FSAnsbe& Of tie Re-
pubIicnn Thny.


How few there are in this city who
know and realize that within the four
wallis Of q little room in : School
street, opposite city han, the rcpub-
lican party of the United States was
founded; and how few there are who
know that to one of the oldest dim
ing clubs ing the country, the boston
club, which celebrated its forty
eighth anniversary on Saturday, De-
cember q, belongs this great dis
tinction. Such is the fact, reports
the. Boston Transcript. That after
noon, the one thousa and nine hundred
and ninef y-seventh regular meeting
and dinner of the club took place,
attended by large company of menu
bers and guests, welcomed and pre-
sided over by the president, the Hon.
Edgar r. Champlin, .rex-mayor Of
Cambridge, who, also, was unani-
mously reelected to the presidency
for another year. g.slgFsnH 41lgssA6E
Some time prior, to 1854 few of
the prominent men Of Boston were
accustomed to meet WEEKLY or semi
weekly, as the case might be, to talk
over and consider the grave ques-
lions that agitated the American
people a half century ago. In April
of 1854, Hon. Frank w. Bird, a prom
inent leader in the Free Soil' party,
organized this little scoterie into the
Bird club, and on. the last Saturday
Of December of that, year the first
annual meeting, was held. At these
meetings the father of the free soil
party gave expression to his views
and found ready. listeners, although
all present were not wholly in ac-
cord with the sentiments expressed.
While not in any sense political
club, yet the organization, in sclaim-
ing the honor of being the father OF
the great republicans party, refers
with special qualification to the fact
that men of other political affilia--
tions have been and are members, or
have been frequently entertained by
it. 1t also enjoys the distinction of
having had around its mahogany. the
most prominent men in national,
state and municipal affairs. rnder
the influence of its able president It
is again renewing its youth, and q
destined to retain itx prestige of be-
ing the "kingmaker', of the common
wealth. of Massachusetts, a distinc-
ton that it. has enjoyed for very
many years.
Since its, organization as the Bird
club it has been known as the Banks
club, and later took it's present name.
Among the prominent members OF
the Organization may be mentioned
Henry Wilson, United States senator
and vice president of the United
States; Charles Sumner, one of the
original MEMBERS who retained his
affiliation until 1874; william Lloyd
Garrison, secretary of the original
free soil party; Wendell Phillips.
alsola free soiler; Charles w. Slack.
founder and editor of ThesC Common
wealth; John A. Andrew, war gov
ernor of Massachusetts; John /. Ba-
ker, state senator and member of the
harbor and land commission; John
q. Goodrich, lieutenant governor of
this commonwealth and the first re-
publican collector of the port OF
Boston; Charles o. Rogers; former
proprietor of the Boston Journal and
one of the most enthusiastic menu
bers of the club; john b.. Alley. of
Lynn, member of congress-; Hanni-
bal, Hamlin, vice president with Abra-
ham Lincoln; Martin Brimmer
prominent ,abolitiopist and republic
an, and who always looked forward
to the Saturday meetings of the club
with great pleasure; Adjt. Gen. VIII.
liam Schouler; Judge Otis p. Lord. /,
one OF Gov. Rice's appointees; Gen
Nathaniel p. Banks, Gov. Alexander
8. Bullock, orator and an}i-slayerv
mani Alexander s. Rice, governor Of
Massachusetts and congressmans
Henry l.. Pierce, ex-mayor of .sI,os-
ton. and contributor to the anti
slavery cause; William CASTOR. gov
ernor of Massachusetts and mem
Der of the club before his election
ana until he passed away; Leopold
Morse, a. merchant member of con-
gress; Frederic F. Greenhalge. row
erner of Massachusetts,, TO whom orr
Of the largest dinners IN the history
OF the club was given; Gen.. John +.
Swift. collector.sof the port of Bos-
ton under !. Lincoln; Cow Seymour.
of New York; James G., Blaine, 81 |
Maine; John Q. A. Bracket, govern
or of Massachusetts; Judge Thomas
who it win be recalled nut
stop to garroting in Boston.
The senior and nestor Of the club
IS Norris Fitch, of Lynnffeid, Who'll
joined in 1884. and who was one Of
Mr.. Birds trusted lieutenants ii, the |
great days of the snti-slarery msve-
mept, and who ttakes the Rreatesy
in recalling the events and /
Incidents of the :. strenuous times
leading up to the civil war.
In January the two thousantlth I
meeting and dinner of the club viii
be made a special occasion and win
be complimentary to- Mr.. Fitch. with
It's remarkable past the club is .look.
ing into still. greater. future and \
u the. present timers gntherine
around its = hosuifa hlars .1><,as-d Az