Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1917-01-22
GREELEY IN ALEXANDRIA.

A Richmond paper which often
publishes extracts from it's files OF
fifty years ago today contained the
following: H.
"Horace Greeley lectured in Alex
andria last Friday night to fun
house. It is the first time MR..
Greelev has ever spoken in Virginia :
The famous journalist delivered MS
lecture in what was then known as
the Methodist Episcopal Church upon
the site of the present Trinity M
E. Church. He entered through tnef
south door and proceeded to one OF
the stoves which heated the building.
where he stopped, looked around ana:
smiled at his Southern andlence'
comnosed in the main of republicans
He wore the traditional white over:
coat The church was full, but not
TO OVERLOOKING. After few minutes
he proceeded with those escortlng MN
to the front of the pulpit, Where ne
croft out of his white outside coat and
appeared in a suit of broadclotn.
From a distance he was suggestive
of the late Reuben Johnston as the
small hirsute adornments he wore
were on the neck.
Greeley was introduced we belleve
by Josiah Willard, with the words
gentlemen and LADIES' I introduce
to YOU Hon. Horace Greeley of New
York, our friend and the friend OF
everybody else"
Greeley took for his theme "Self-
made Men, and spoke about an hour.
He reappeared in, Alexandria in 1871
and delivered another address in the
Methodist Episcopal Church. He was
in Alexandria during most OF the
day, and rode through several OF our
streets in an open hack, accompanied
by several Alexandrians who were OF
his political persuasion. Greeley was
the candidate of the democratic
party for President of the United
States the following year against
U. S. Grant, the republican candl-:
date, who was running for second
term. Greeley was badly beaten.
Virginia on that occasion repudiated
the famous abolitionist and cast it's
electoral vote for Grant.
Greeley made tour Of the coun-
try in 1871 during which he made
many friends. 1t was, however, all
inopportune time for him to appear
in the south. Her people had recently
returned home from the war. They
had been confronted by biackened
chimneys and general desolation on
what had before been smiling and
prosperous estates. Their negroes
had been manumitted, in accordance
with the life long preaching Of
Greeley, and the people, or the mass
of them could not look upon him.
except with contempt.
While in Alexandria he consortedI
exclusively with northern men who
were living here at the time andI
those natives who, opposed secession1
in 1860.
Dark days were before the great
journalist after his second visit to]
Alexandria. He was doomed to de-
feat in tn Presidential election froml
the first. At this time his wife, who
had followed his fortunes from the
time her husband entered manhood
was about to pay the debt of nature.
Creole ywatched by her side and re-
ceivcd bulletins concerning the re-
suit of the election at the same time.
After following the partner of hist
life to the tomb the weight OF years,
tolls, disappointment, and sorrows, I
were too much for the man who had
the reputation of being the hardest
worked man in the United States
He gave way physically and mentallyA
and closed his eyes in death in a
sanitarium, shortly after the cam
paign of 1872. His remains were
deposited in a coffin, which was put
upon a hearse and headed for New
York in binding snow storm. !