The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1872-08-23
Greeley's Speech Mt Concord.

Horace Greeley is making a visit to
his native State, New Hampshire) and
was rendered grand reception by the
municipal authorities of Concord on the
9Th, on which occasion he addressed
them as follows:
My friend Tappan, and my friends
and fellow-citizens of New Hampshire
More than half century has passed
since I left this, my native State, in
quest cf the future and larger Oppor-
tunities elsewhere. Those years, as
you know, have been full of incidents.
As time rushes. events hurry each other
n our day, he and who lives half GEN.
tury in this age, live 8 longer than q
whole century Of the life of Methuselah.
Well, fellow citizens, the half CEN
tury which has passed since 1 ceased to
be a resident of New Hampshire has
seen the origin and growth of railroads
and telegraphs and the cables across
the ocean. It has seen the rise and
fall of empires and dynasties, and it
has seen the best of all to me, the over
throw of American slavery.
A great thinker has said that to-day
is great thing in disguise; that day
looks common and trivial to the
thoughtless, but all great and noble
successes are made up of to-days. l do
not know how well men have done bet
ter in this age, but would that I might
feel that 1 have added 70 the history of
the last half century of my country.
Our country is better worth living in
to-day, with better opportunities for its
humblest citizen, because of the events
of the last half century. In these events
I have borne an humble part, often
mistaken and of short sightedness, doing
the thing which seemed right but
which was not always in the wisest and
largest view right: but still l think my
life has led me to exercise o large
charity towards the great mass of the
human race. 1 believe the great ma
jority of the human race are constantly
aiming to do right. I have always
wished in my busy life to come back to
the State of my birth, always hoped to
have some opportunity to return, not
expecting ever again to dwell with its
people, but to commune with them,
and trust the few days which will be
spent among You and with my friends,
will be the richest and happiest days of
my life. 1 hope that hereafter as well
as now, in life which draws towards
its close, and which ought to be de-
voted to rest, I shall have frequent
opportunities, not many years hence, to
come to New Hampshire to mingle
with its people and rejoice with them
that the old State bears so proud pO-
sition among her sister States; that her
half million of sons and daughters,
now residents of other States, will al
ways look back with pride and affection
to this State and say, that although her
granite rocks are hard, and her soil re-
luctant to give more fruits, still for all
that, her people are among the happiest
and most intelligent Of any we have
seen. So then, my friends, In the hope
that perhaps / shall have an opportun-
ity hereafter to mingle more familiarly
with you, and that the differences
which have separated us in the past
will gradually fade away in the sight of
new circumstances and we shall come
to know each other more thoroughly
in that faith and hope, I now take my
leave of you.