The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1877-07-20

+ Speaking of the Grafton of j. Jay
Buck at that place on the 4th, the
Herald says:
/ Following this came the address by
Judge Buck. This was well received
and duly appreciated by all who heard
it. 1t evinced careful preparation.
The delivery was free and easy,
though not given to what is usually.
termed oratorical display. He spoke
from notes keeping up a methodical
and harmonious connection through
out. The address, was not unduly
long nor was any one bored by it.
True this Is but negative expression,
but so rarely can it be said that it
amounts to positive compliment.
some were agreeably surprised.
Col. j Jay Buck, of this city, had
an experience with the south, having
lived there several years after the war.
He knows something about how it is
down there and in his Fourth of July
Grafton at Eureka, he spoke as follows
on Cancellation and forgiveness. His
language is torcible:
No republic which rests upon and
exists by virtue of the will and con-
science of its people, can long survive
when that conscience becomes blunted,
and the intelligence of the people
separated or distinguishable from an
enlightened christian sentiment.
just now noerty and eloquence are
called to- aid and advance what is term
ed universal reconciliation" and the
south, with mOdesty heretofore un-
known, is about ready to forgive. ]
am rejoiced at this liberality, and
do not say it in heartless way.
l would not unnecessarily recount
the incidents of a long and bloody war,
nor array and call up those young
lives that went out forever in the kind
ly embrace of Andersonville and
Libby; nor remind, on every possible
occasion, those who now arrogate to
themselves the exclusive right to con-
troll a government they so recently
sought to destroy, that to them the
helpless orphan and the widow in her
weeds met on every hand, owe all the
misery with which their cup oyerfiows.
When admonished to "forgive and
forget, would seek to obey one-half
of that admonition, and forgive when
and where l clearly discovered con-
triton and regret for wrongs done
and when the society of the south has
so far changed and improved that it
cangovern itself and extend to the hum
blest citizen, though black or a carpet
Dagger, at least so much attention as
it vouchsafes the organized assassins
who nightly raid the country, killing
inoftensiYe women and children in the
interest of local seif-government, then
will l. forgive. 1 believe in forgive
ness; and when 1 have exercised that
virtue to the fullest measure, and
shaken hands across all the bloody
chasms, will devoutly pray the AL
mighty so to prOlOng and intensity my
memory that never for a moment in
this world, nor yet in the world to
come, should forget that liberty was
a blessing, loyalty virtue, slavery a
misfortune, treason crime that those
who fought for our nationally deserv-
ed the tenderest remembrance, that
those who assailcd our flag deserved
punishment that rebellion was treas
on, condemned of man and aecursed OF
God. A reconciliation that fails to
embrace these thoughts is a fallacy,
which makes all the lives we sacrificed
SO many improVident murders, and
leaves our children to adjust what we
should have settled at Appomattox so
that no iuquisitive rebel in after years
would have questioned the results.
Mr.. J. Jay Buck, of Emporia, was
orator of the day on the 4th inst, and
we should judge from what we heard
of his remarks, that his was the best
POLITICAL speech we have listened to
since the Campaign last fall Eureka
Censorial.