, 1877-01-13
An Eloquent Address.

Bayard Taylor made the following
address ut the unveiIing of the Greeley
statue in Greenwood cemetery, New
York:
No. B,d',cH and Gentlemen:
Asnno who studied for two years in
the only university Mt which Horace
Greeley was graduated-thc composing
room Of printing otficc--ond as his
friend and associate for unarter Of a
century,. sSs,, 'cen cnlled upon by the
committee. of journalists and printers to
accept, on behalf of the people, this
monumental bust. 1t is fitting symbol
of his life, 1t comes from the craft Ia
which he belonged, and is received by
the people for whom he thought, Ia
bored and endured. II restores to us
who knew and loved him, and preserves
for coming generations, the expression
of his goodness and gcntlcness, no less
than that of his intellectual power,
His ambition could have desired no
more honorable memorial. Erected by
printers 10 printer, by morkmcn 10 II
worker. Ivy Americans to the representa-.
rive of American honesty, independence,
and originality, this bronze could cx-
press no more though it were as huge rs
the Rhodian Apollo.
1t is well that the completion of a
monument to Horace Greeley should
hive been delayed until now. When he
was laid to rest here, four year, ago to.
day sharper blast than that of the
opening winter blew over his grave; but
the misconceptions of his character have
melted away as tho SHOWS from this
mound, while fresh esteem and reverence
have budded and blossomed Bbnve his
tomb like the trees that shade it. The
knowledge that thousands for whom
and WITH whom hu mad iabursd so many
years--whose considerate respect, at
least, he had right to claim-werc an
grily alenatcd from him. cast dark
and tragic pail over the closing days Of
his life, and decpened the gloom which
settled upon his empty place. But time
swiftly repairs all injustice; and these
few years, which let US hope, have plant
ell permanent If unspoken regrets in
mary hearts, have already placed in
clear historic light the manly honesty
and unscllishness of his whole lite. Men
begin to see that the transparent candor
of Horace Greeley's nature was rare
and precious virtue in man welding
his influence. They begin to understand
that his political course, from first to
; last, was determined by the same un-
changing principles. When there was a
choice between right, rs he conceived it,
and temporary popularity, he never hesi-
'ntcd. When he seemed to overlook ar
disregard the cautious steps and care.
fully selected means of other political
leaders, it was simply because he saw
the distant result so clearly. A tar.
sighted eye may sometimes mistake the
perspective of events, yet it does not
therefore see falsely. The Clearness of
Horace Greeley's vision arose from the
hct that he understood, as few Amer
leans have done, the temper and char
acter OF the people. lie Kept his feet in
paths, and compelled his brain to work
on the level of their intelligence. He
Knew better than they, how their moods
were to change, and their opinions to be
recast by circumstances. lis mind was
"maryel, in its knowledge Of local char.
aclerls-los, interests and influences,
lom one end Of the country to the other.
NO success, no distinction, no possibility
opened to him Of more eminent fields OF
N'"r, ever interrupted the acquisition OF
''at knowledge or lesseucd the sym.
P''ny which grew lromit The broad
'y'e and keen intellectual summit Of our
national life we've thus equally incnrnatc
'' g'm' While his brain grow, his hand
'"o heart kept their early hab,;a The
'@Penence Of the man deepcued and
''VR1eaed but the uosophi.ticutcd sim.