Year: 1861

perform. They were organized for one grand
and patriotic object, viz: to concentrate and,
if possible, to intensity, in each locality, the


Union sentiment When the flag Of our
country was lowered at Fort Sumter, we who
felt the insult because we were loyal Ameii-


cans, wanted to talk together, and renew to


each other our pledges of fealty to the glor-


Gus Republic which we believed, and still be-


lieve, is yet but in the vigcr of youth We
threw aside political thoughts when we en-


tered the Club room, as we do when we en-


ter church. No man dared to name any
thing there but the country, its flag and its


honor. Every man carefully avoided any


allusion to the party lines of the past Every
Club, at the first commencement OF us exist


ence resolved unanimously and in strong


language that no matters OF a political char-
acter should ever be allowed to mar the gen
eral harmony. Every man who voted at alb
last November, was, Of course to that extent
at least, connected with political organiza-
ton. Party spirit had run high, as it gen
eraly does in q Presidential campaign and
Union men being but men, could never have
made the splendid and emphatic Union de-
monstrations which have taken place during
the past few weeks, if the slightest attempt
at political conjuring had been apparent 1t
is the total absence of partizanship, and Of
ull efforts to twist party advantages out of
the proceedings Of the Clubs that have made
them so effective in giving voice to the great
popular heart. They must be in the future
what they have been up to this time. They
must be purely Union Clubs. They must
have but one object in view, and that must


be to make converts TO the one all import


ant proposition, that no man is worthy Of the


confidence of the people who is not unequivo-


cally for maintaining the Union and its con-


stitutional authorities; and that no man is
true to the flag wEo would let it go down
rather than mingle his own blood, if ncccssa-
ry, with the blood Of foreign or domestic
foes in its defence. No man is worthy of
admission to Union Club who says less than
this No man should, after being admitted !
10 Lit tluDi bt HShti W HdNG MS DbIIlIcdl |
action bound to any greater extent than op
position to all but unconditional Union men
and measures


There is some talk Of Union State Con-
vention to meet June 18th. Other days are
named also for such Convention There are
calls already out for two State Conventions,
one June 18th and the other July 4th, in
which it is declared that party creeds will be
ignored The Bell and Everett party will
perhaps call still another


1t is folly to say that the people have no
regard for party, in matters Of organization.
True, the great masses of them care nothing
for party compared with the country but it |
is equally true that as a general thing every
man thinks his party will look to the inter
ests of the country first. In view of this


condition of affairs how can Union Clubs be


kept together if any effort is to be made to


direct them to the support of any particular
State Convention. 1t is all very well for
men to say "hurrah for the 18th of June and
no party organization" but will the same
men take pledge to abide the action Of such
a Convention, and to break mp their present
political associations? If any one is disposed
to aulwer this in the affirmative let him test
the matter, and see how many Union men
in his neighborhood are ready to solemnly
pledge their honor not to support the Con-
vention either of the 18th of June or the 4th
Of July he will find that not one in ten
will do any such thing. Many men will ia
vor sort Of general consultation of Union
men on the 18th Of June, or any other day |
agreed upon, but very few viii unequiroca-
" pledge their support to its nominations.
The Clubs can only keep men warned of
wolves in Sleeps clothng that will be la
Dor enough the matter of choosing between
men Of undoubted loyalty, who are named
for official stations is no part of the object
for which they were organized. When the
various Conventions shpll have been held, the
Clubs may find that work has been left for
them to do. If so, let them do it then
Meanwhile let us keep up the feeling which
has governed us up to this time, and let the
wheels Of party machinery creak in other
places. If the State Conventions all fall
short of the Union sentiment, and present
doubtful men, or narrow party platforms,
then we will with such energy as we can
command enter heart and soul into any
movement best calculated to make the Union
question paramount and triumphant at the
ballot box.