The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1871-06-13
Public Reception to Horace Greeley.
New YoRE, June l2,

mittee OF this city, Of which he is chair
man, on account of his return from Texas,
occurred here this evening, in Union
Square, in front Of the rooms OF the Lin.
coin Club. Having been formally well
coined and introduced to large audience
by Enoch l., Fancher, Mr.. Greeley pro.
Ceeded at once to compare the existing
state of affairs with that of ten years ago,
before the war declaring rebellion, and its
sacrifice of half million OF the best and
bravest lives OF the country might have
all been spared had the North and South
only understood each other, and free
speech and fair interchange of opinion
prevailed throughout the entire country.
Two months ago he was first invited to go
to Texas TO deliver agricultural addresses,
and though h0 first determined TO
decline, he yielded TO the advice OF
his friends, who told him they
thought ho could do the whole country
good by his going down to Texas.
Now, said Mr.. Greeley, | hear 1t said
since went to Texas, that there was too
much parade, that there was too much
speech. making from PLATFORMS Of cars
and from balconies Of hotels, and | freely
concurred in that criticism, but invitations
came from Rll quarters and / iGlt 1t my
duty to speak words OF cancellation, |
responded when could and for tho rest
kept silence, Mr.. Greeley said II was
also urged in several Journal that his name
was too often mentioned Us u candidate
Tor Office and ho fully conCurrcd in that
suggestion, but he was In II certain sense
u public man, identified with party con.
tests and party principles. He had often
reproved and reprOached better men than
himself because they would not accept
offices and left secOndratU TO tlll them.
During the last 20 years Mr.. Greeley said
he had been candidate orolllce iOurtimcs'
twice for Congress, once for Constitution.
al Convention, and once on tho State
ticket; but never had he sought nOmina.
tiOn, Hnd rarely was he consulted In re.
gard to 1t. lam not at all grateful, said
he, "to the Republican party for these
nominations. accepted them rs l
would any other duty, But for It's sup
port am grateful; but past is past, and
let the dead bury the dead am per.
iectly willing TO pass receipts with the
Republican party. | could not help be.
Ing Republican For the future need
no office, desire no Office, and though l
shall not decline nomination which has
not been given me, shall seek no office.
| am, however, willing TO do my duty. |
have work enough, for which am rGas.
onably well paid, and the more
quiet and peaceful my remaining days
shall be, the better l shall be satisfied.
With these remarks Mr. Greeley lel the
subject OF his own political future, and re.
lated at length the principal incidents In
his Journey South, the impression Of
southern politics and society, and urging
earnestly his familiar views of liberal
and generous treatment Of the conquered
States, and spoke in severe terms Of the
Ku Klux, which he said the government
ought to eXterpate ut once and forever,
and in severe and more sarcastic Condem.
nation OF the thieving carpet,baggers,
who he said were curse TO the South
and II disgrace TO the North, whence
they come Carpetbaggers who plum
der and prey upon the negroes and
poor whites, while pretending TO
he anXiouA for their education and
salvation Of their souls he said, were
the greatest existing obstacles to Republi.
eau ascendancy in the South, and so he
denounced them Abiding to his speech
ut ViCksburg, Mr.. Greeley said that he
did not say that he trusted the time would
come when we of the North would honor
Lee and StOnewall Jackson as we have
Grant and Sherman, but hoped the time
would come when all Americans, North
and Bouth, will feel a just pride In the
character and achievements Of Lee and
Stonewall jackson, Just as we OF the North
now take pride in the character and
achievements of Grant, Sherman and
Thomas Possibly, added Mr.. Greeley, this
Is too strong for some Of you, but l can
wait. Concerning the new departure,
Mr.. Greeley said, though lie was fully
satisfied that the Democrats had done
well to depart from the foolish old bust.
ness of running their heads against stone
wall, but 1t had always been the rule Of
his life never to conjure bad motive for
good action The Democrats sec where
they had better not be, and that they had
better depart. He was glad Of the new
departure, and glad to see that the Demo.
Gratis had got new political religion, and
hereafter would carry their axes under
their coats instead Of on their shoulders
when they went out choppng on Sundays.
1t would be better yet TO leave II In the
wood.shed and go out and treat the black
man as q brother, and lie believed that the
Democrats, or at least the better part
Of them, meant to do this, and
to make the Democracy something
more than skin deep. lie would not how.
ever make too much ol the new departure.
lie did not understand nor profess any
sorrow for the past warfare against the
rights OF man, nor made any promise mot
to renew, hut II the Democrats admit
three Republican amendments to the
Constitution, are finally and irrevOcably
ratified and must be got out oi, IT at all,
In some way we got in by II majority OF
Congress ahd vote OF three. .fOurthS Of all
the States we shall feel safe and that
all we have gained Is secure under guaran.
tees of the Federal Constitution, for said
Mr.. Greeley, recalling his experiences at
the polls in this city % years and later,
and l2 years ago when could not induce
the Democrats to accept the ballot in fav.
or Ofequal rights. ! believe in human pro.
gress, | believe men arc wiser and better
today than they we're dozen years ago.
am weary Of this sterile strife concern.
ing the fundamental principles OF our
Constitution. Fam tired Of teaching
Democrats the A b G Of Democracy. |
rejoice that they have taken n new dc.
parture. But will It not put tho liepub.
ican party Immediately out Of power
is asked. Burke says that confidence Is
plant Of slow growth, and it will take
some time for the people to have much
faith in new creed of the Democrats. II
will take sometime for their own folks to
believe II. Ultimately, believe II
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