Year: 1864

In the summer Of 1868 the idea arose


ar1-ong the liberal Germans OF the nlted


States to create an organization for the


purpose of promulgating radical princl-


piles, of furthering the cause of human


liberty in this country. and obtain that


political influence due to the German


element, which, owing to different


causes, had heretofore been unattainable


by them.


The members of the German Union


Club, is always ready to act when the


cause of our country is benefited, favor


ed the plan. and elected three delegates


to the Convention called in Cleveland


on the 18th of October, 1868, for the


purpose of efecting the organization.


At this early period the German Union
+ Club declared it to be essential for the
/ success of the organization that even
/ the semblance of an exclusively German


party be avoided. and that in no case the


organization appear in factious opposi-


ton to the native born element; that on
the contrary the cooperation Of all 10y


al citizens irrespective of birthplace or
language, is necessary for the successful
issue of the present crisis.
The delegates to the convention were
distinctly instructed in this sense.
The result of the deliberations at
Cleveland did not as is well known meet
the wishes of this club, and the protest
which our delegation, i'll conjunction with
those of some of the most influential
Union Clubs of other cities, entered
against several of the resolutions of the
Convention, was fully endorsed by the
German Union Club of Philadelphia.


Nevertheless, our Club formally joined
the organization, hoping that those Clubs
who, by an accidental majority had ac-
complished their object in the face of the
protest of the actual majority, would ut
a future Convention recede from the OBJ
noNious resolutions, in order to establish
the unity of action necessary for the
usefulness of the organization.


We regret that this hope has not been
realized. The objects of tue organiza-
sion have not been regarded. Instead
of harmonizing the conflicting ideas,
many of our best and active men have
been affronted by the intolerance of ia
matte members, who pretended to express
the sense of the organization. The natu-
raj result of this course could easily be
forescen the organization has been con
fined to q very small circle, and the
(,,,-n,,tfpn
May 21th, 1864, was but slimly attended,
and disclosed the fact that the organza-
tion had not only failed to expand, but
was actually much weaker than when the
first Convention was held Moreover,
the resolutions against which the 1najori-
ty of the Clubs represented at the first
Convention had protested and which had
been severely criticised for their ilnprac-
ticability by the leading organs Of the
German press Of this country, were not
only reafiirmed by this second reduced
Convention, but were actually incorpora-
ted into their platform III 4 much more
Objectionable form.


This convention has finally separated
from the Republican party, with which
the liberal Germans of this country have
been identified during the last eight
years; this Convention has unitel itself
with number of our American fellow
citizens who Lave organized under the
name Of Radical Democratic Party
and has finally adopted the platform of
this new party and their Presidential
candidate


Speaking for an overwhelming najori-
ty Of the liberal Germans of this CITY
and State, we cannot accept the platform
of this Convention in all its points nei-
thcr can the separation from the Rcpuh,
lican party and the nonin ton of
candidate for the Presidency be
Therefore the German Union
club of Philadelphia has no choice left
German organization.


At special meeting Of the German
Union Clup of Philadelphia, held last
week. the following resolutions were
unanimously adopted:


RESOLUTIONS


RESOLVED. That we accept the deci-
sion Of the Baltimore Union Convention.
as it was of the delegates OF
the Union party Of the United States,
elected and accredited in truly demo
cratic form by the people. and that we
ratify the nomination Of
Abraham Lincoln for President. and of
Andrew johnson for Vice President. and
we also support, to the full extent of our
1 =


most radical platform ever presented by
any party in the United States


RESOLVED, That the Cleveland Con
vention. inasmuch as it did not eInanate
from a regular election by the people.
but owed its existence solely to the self
assumed power Of q small number of SO
called Radicals, was not competent TO
give an expression of the sentiments OF
the loyal people of the Uuited States.