The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1875-04-08
WASHINGTON.
A TRIBUTE TO MR. GREELEY'S
MEMORY
Extract from Mr.. Bayards Speech on Sat
,Irday in the Sendte-A Reply to
DisrespecyM Alhtsion
by Mr.. COnkling.

WASHINGTON, March 21.-In the course
of his admirable speech on the Louisiana
question yeste rday, Senator Bayard gave
feeling and eloquent tribute to the
memory of Mr.. Greeley. 1t was in re-
ply to coarse allusion by Mr., Conkling
during his speech on the same subject
several weeks ago, in when the names
of Gov. Warmoth and Mr.. Greeley were
coupled. Mr.. Conkling, as he has some
times done before, did not allow his
words as uttered to 60 INTO the record,
but suppressed altogether his reference
to the deceased. The following are the
remarks of Mr.. Bayard
1t was once my duty to stand in po-
litical convention composed almost en-
tirely of Jealous advocates for the noml-
nation for the Presidency of Horace
Greeley, and there to express my views
as an Independent thinker, yielding my
contribution of an honest judgment in
qualification Off not decided opposi-
ton to-the prevailing sentiment ofthose
| who surrounded me. Time has in some
degree enabled us to judge of the cor
rectness of what l then said and advised,
and have no other object in THE refer
ence than to express my present sense OF
what this country owes to-day to the
great-hearted man whose name was men
| toned in debate on this Louisiana ques-
ton some weeks ago in such disrespctful
association by the Senator from New
York, Mr.. Conkling. g. ,r-. .y. .
| The nomination Of Horace Greeley had
its impulse largely among the Southern
white people, whose opinions and preju-
dices had for more than one generation
been strongly arrayed against him. There
had been no representative man OF the
past more signally the opponent of what
may be called the, southern system Of
| thought and political action, than Hor-
ace Greeley. He had lived to see that
system utterly overthrown and revolu-
| tioniZed by force of arms, and in the
wreck his ear caught the crv of human
misery and sorrow that ever accom-
| panies such sweeping changes in society,
| and his kind warm heart recognized tie
appeal. From the surrender of the South
| ern armies until the grave closed over
his form, 1 believe the paramount object
| of Horace Greeley's life was to bring his
fellow countrymen into a better under
4 standing with each other, and jnaugurate
4 an era Of peace and good will which
should cement our union Of States, and
make American citizenship tie Of, fra
ternity in all sections of the country.
! To accomplish this, he risked much
4 that he valued; he braved great pecu-
MARY loss. the indignation Of his former
| political and personal allies, the angry
denunciations Of official power, and q
partisan press. Toreunite his country
men in the bonds OF mutual kindness and
good will, he severed the bands of party
organization, and became the leader of a
| political forlorn hope, 30 far as the fate
! of the immediate canvass WAS concerned
And then he died. But the seed sowed
| in a good life did not die; it is to-day
! flourishing in the hearts of a generous
people. Nearly three million voters in
| 1872, of whom over 80 per cent were
Democrats, responded 10 the sentiment
for which Mr.. Greeley struggled. Men
/ lOOkGN lllNO Gdtll plllNl . WiNli VI Atl7t
and not distrust. Tile hands Of former
political opponents met in friendly clasp,
and sectional hatreds and geographical
lines were obliterated from the hearts
and memories ofthose who heard or read
the wise and patriotic speeches made by
himin the summer and fall of 1872.
The ancient Romans decorated with
crowns those citizens, who in the forum
or in battle won distinction. The civic
crown was of all the most glorious, and
was awarded to him who had saved the
life of Roman citizen. To whom could
| the American people more justly award
the civic crown than to Horace Greeley,
who, if he gained not the laurel of the
conqueror surely deserved the oaken
leaf of the pacifcater2 The Grecians
constructed all .Lonuments of civil strife
of wood, that the memories should not be
lasting, while enduring brass marked
victories over foreign foe. 1t is the
lesson that lies in this that shall save a
country, and as Horace Greeley did seek
to instill 1t into the hearts and minus of
his comuymen, believe he was their
benefactor; and for this our own and fu-
ture generations shall rise up and call
him blessed.