New Orleans Republican., 1872-08-02
Last Chappaqua ReuniOn-sPeech of Mr.
Greeley.
+1,a EuouireV

NEW YORK, July 28.-The announcement
that the receptions at Cappaqua would be
discontinued after yesterday, made all who
had visited Horace Greeley at his rural
home anxious to join the party which gath
cred beneath the outrageous foliage of the
now celebrated groves. There were also
many who had not heretofore enjoyed Mr..
Greeley's hospitality who availed them
selves Of the present opportunity. As might
have been expected, large crowd assem-
bled at the New Haven depot, including all
the. members of the Lincoln club. The
number was increased at every station, and
arrived at Chappaqua, the party poured out
of the cars, each one looking for the portly
figure of the wood chopper. He was soon
espied coming down the road, his face.
WIeathed in smiles, and his brow shaded
with the inevitable white hat. Greetings,
introductions and congratulations followed
the Sage's arrival at the depot. He soon had
the ladies seated in carriages, and the gen
tlemen marshaled for walk to the home
stead.
Arrived at the farm, those who had pre-
yiouslv been these strolIed off here and
there, while the strangers were chaperOned
over the premises. Mr.. Greeley exhibited
his stock and his crops with pardOnable
pride, and was as enthusiastic as ever over
the merits of his celebrated spring. Each
guest Quaffed a goblet of the sparkling
WdUeEy anu dlL6I q blOl pause IL tAN SAO'O
the assemblage started for the house. Here
the ladies were found awaiting the arrival
of the gentlemen. Dinner was served In
the grove, and the substantials and delica-
cies alike disappeared with rapidity. Miss
Ida Greeley dispensed her fathers hos
pitalitv with a grace which added zest to
the viands. Dinner over, a meeting was
organized, and after several speeches had
been delivered Horace Greeley said:
Ladies' and Gentlemen-It was once said
bv one Irish orator to another that he never
opened his mouth but he put his foot IN 1t.
One of the ideas of a candidate for the
Presidency is that he always commits an
error of the same nature. Their friends
ALWAYS advise them not to talk, although
they might talk if they did not say any
| thing. Without referring to politics, l
| shall speak of the meetings in this grove,
as this will be the last one. For twenty
wears, my friends and neighOOrs, It has
| been my chief delight to spend one day at
! least in the week among you. | have en-
| loved myself in your society, and have had
! the recreation which my physical nature
required. In working On my farm this
| sDring a new series of circumstances ar
rayed themselves about me. Quite unex
| pectedly to me, was named as candidate
| for the Presidency by my most intimate
! friends. Then my circle grew from six OF
| eight to fifty or a hundred. We met IN
this grove, and so much of my time was de
manded by them that l was compelled to
| give up my exercise. These reunions were
! very gratifying to me; but the critical state
| of my wife's health, and the 1ll-natured
| and, | must say, imPertinct remarks and
| criticisms of certain journals, have render
| ed them sources of uneasiness and dlscom
| fort to those who united with. me. never
| doubted that persons who consented, as
do, to become candidates for public offices
are fair subjects for criticism, but l can moi
see why ladies should have their names
criticised in newspapers, and dritted across
the continent by electricity. l don't think
| such commentaries, such pertinent revGla
tiOns, are consistent with reputable jour
nalism, nor with that courtesy and goOC
feeling which seems to me to be improved
| " heTeVer one man meets another. 1t Is
therefore, deemed eXpcdient by our friend
to ask all who could not come here
today, to say after this our meetings viii
be intermitted. / trust they have been t.
most of us pleasant occasions, long to b.
remembered. Whatever the future may
have, the past is not to be forgotten. Friend
ships of the warmest kind have been formed
in these gatherings, and if we could hav
been secluded from those insOlent lntru
sions which were deliberately intended t.
be unkind and disparaging, we should hav
continued our reunions. But since we cal
not be secured against 9OSSlp5 ana Ldlt
bearers we will discontinue them here ant
meet elsewhere. vOice-"At the Whit
House" Cheers.l After a while it will b
nothing of particular interest and prof
to msreprCsent what is done here. Th
objection made t. the speeches of candi
dates for the Presidency is not wha
they shall say that is improper or indis
Greet, as what they shall say that is liabl
to misrepresentation. l was plunged
neck and crop, the other evening, into
gatherings social dinner of college grad
uates. 1t would have been easy to max
excuses against going there, but l went.
was entreated to speak, and did speak 70
three minutes on the subject of education
1t was at once reported around theeOuntr.
that proposed to give the government tn
entire control of the education Of the Anne
rican people. The impression was sen
abroad that l favored putting within tn
sphere of the federal government all mat
ters Of this kind. You will, therefore, ceas
your visits for the next few months. The
in November the election will be over, an,
| trust that we shall after that have OCca
sion to meet in this grove and renew our as
piratiOns of friendly regards toward eacl
other, and hope and pray tor each other
long life and prosperity"
Mr.. Greeley's speech was heartily al
plauded