This handsome speech

[keannu]

Does this "handsome" refer to "awesome or great" or "generous"?

mo26)John Boyle O’Reilly, poet, was one day walking along Boylston street in Boston. A stranger who was approaching ① him from behind mistook him for a friend whom he had not seen for a long time. He slapped O’Reilly on the shoulder and greeted ② him heartily. Many men in O’Reilly’s place would have been annoyed and shown it, but not so the poet. Turning about, ③ he stretched out his hand. “I am not
Jack,” said ④ he, “but I am glad to shake hands with any man who is as glad to see an old friend as you seem to be.” This handsome speech was a great relief to the stranger, who had been much embarrassed upon seeing an unknown face turned toward ⑤ him.

[5jj]

Keanu, the writer chose the word handsome. Why are you trying to straitjacket his thoughts into a different word?

[keannu]

As the dictionary has the following definition, which seems to fit the context.
Handsome | Define Handsome at Dictionary.comgracious; generous; flattering: a handsome compliment; a handsome recommendation.