Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1872-07-06
Peace Jubilee.
SPEECH OF HORACE GREELEY.

BosToN, July 3-The concert this afternoon
was listened to by largeaudicnce. Mr.. Hor-
ace Greeley was escorted TO thepress room pre-
yious to the concert, and introduced to the Ia
Gies and gentlemen representatives OF the press.
After few minutes pleasant conversation, in
answer to general call, he spoke as follows
1t has fallen TO my lot recently, as you are
doubtless aware, to be placed before the pub
lie in a somewhat conspicuous attitude, that is
TO say, we who work for the press and live by
the press, work and live in public sight. and
under public criticism TO a greater degree than
most people, and yet think to-day that my
position is a little more exposed to cavil aud
disparagement than that of most of you. Il
has been said Of me that ! DO not depreciatc.
would not disarm criticism, but il has been
sal d of me, and take it as great testimonial
and compliment, that while in the business
have pursued throughout life, have shown
myself very fairly competent, very fairly dill
gent and successful yet if were or should be
invited into another line of life, into different
and if you please higher responsibilities,
should be found equal to them.
expect 10 have anything better said of me by
my friends, much less by my adyersaries, than
to say that have done well that which have
had to do. Applause.
1t would soon seem a tclerably safe deduction
that one who has been doing well all his life
that which he has tried to do, may possibly
may reasonably, be expected to DO something
else if he were to undertake it. Some of my
critics observe that though for myself, person
ally, | am tolerably honest and respectable
person, yet my associates arc not very desirable
an unworthy set Laughter andapplausc !
am sorry for that, because my associates
through life have been mainly gentlemen and
ladies see about me (applause,) whose &C
quaintanco | made while engaged in the mat
ter of preparing information for the public
press, and | can hardly hope to find better in
future life than those have had. trust this
was not meant to say that such gentlemen and
ladies as | see before ne have not, on the
whole, performed their work, and discharged
their responsibilities with reasonable fidelity.
With human error, with human inperfoctions,
with human faults doubtless, but still with
fair human fidelity.
At all events, ladies' and gentlemen, with
such as you my fortune has been associated
through life; with such as you it will be asso-
ciated to the end, and if the world shall say of
me il the end, he was a good printer, a re-
spectacle publisher aud an honest editor, all
my ambition will be satisfied. Ladies and
gentlemen, | vii! tax your attention no long
err Applause.
At the conclusion of his speech Mr.. Greeley
was conducted to the city reception room,
where large number Of politicians and few
ladies' sought an introduction. On entering
the vast auditorium considerable enthusiasm
was manifested, the people in the parquettc
generally rising to greet him, and those in the
balconies waving their handherchicis in recog-
milton. Cheers were given by the more cXcit-
able, and few minutes elapsed before the
programme could be resumed.