The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1879-06-11
DIR. E. F. GR1FFIN's ADDRESS.
Ladies and Gentlemen of the Mississippi Pre-
Association:


Association;
At Your last meeting you selected PaScagoula
as the place for holding your next annual Ie-
union, and on your assembling here it has be
come my duty to say something To you IN be
hall OF our citizens, which / snail do IN the
briefcst manner possible.
Situated between New Orleans and Mobile,
with which we have all our business relations,
our whole Gulf coast would seem to be mere
appendage OF those two cities and in some sense
this is true; but | beg to assure you that are
not out CT sympathy with the rest of the state
and that we sincerely and heartily welcome YOU
TO our shores famed, IS they are, ~ the gentle
breezes as they are waited across the Gulf We
welcome you as fellow citizens of Z common
State to our homes and fresides.
Perchance many of you may never have Wis
tied this section OF our State before, and have
come with large expectations of pleasure and
enjoyment In this we hope one will be dis
appointed, and ii your enjoyment shall equal
our desire 10 make your visit pleasant Will
have accomplished all we could desire, and no
one will 90 AVA disappointed. Formerly this
was a resort for pleasure seekers, with large ac-
commodations for guests; since the war, it has
been a string little place OF business in the
way OF manufacturing and shipping lumber, but
has been abandoned a resort, and hence our
inability to entertain you in a manner would
prefer.
Recognizing the Press as the most powerful
instrument in modern times for influencing and
controlling individuals, cGmILuGi!l tiles States and
nations, and you the soul, body and brains
of the Press in Mississippi, welcome you
friends and benefactors, for To you largely, very
largely, are We indebted for the expulsion of
the political cormorants who had Toasted upon
the vitals of our State until they had well nigh
devonred them. And may 1 not say without
tiattery, with all truthfulness and candor, that
the Eress OF Mississippi, in honor, integrity,
morality apd purity, will compare favorably
with that OF any S.ate IN she Tpion. While |
would not be understood as saving that ali eaiiors
make the necessary efforts to keen from pub
liSaIn hat he u,pr
reader, unduly stimulates the imagination
what gives help to sin or hindrance to righteous
ness; what could keep any bad man from be-
coming good, or any good man from becoming
bad and strives that his patriotism may never
be injured bv his partisanship, nor his religion
by his seclicnafism; that the whole tone of his
paper may he stroue aIlG heaithy, yes, there is a
power and an influence for good In our Press
that is broad as the land The editor of a lead
ing journal exercises more real power over the
public mind than the President of the United
States.
One word in the way of business and 1 have
done. For wears a railroad TO the coast and q
seaport for Mississippi has been spoken of.
With Two long railroads traversing our State
from one end to the other, with their termini in
neighboring cities, whose merchants receive all |
the benefits of the sales of productions; with
out adding one dollar TO the wealth of the State /
with two harbeFs, oHe sf which is the equal of
any the whole Gulf coast, and with surplus !
of convict labor to build road bed from Pasca- |
gouIa to Ripley without dollar Of expense 10
the State, we have been Indifferent to the bless
ings and favors which nature with prodigal /
hand has laid at our doors. Is there not near I
future @keE We may and can avail ourselves of /
these fayorS? II will be car pleasure during
your stay ON the coast TO accompany those of YOU
who may desire il on a tour of inspection, that I
you may see for yourselves. Hoping that YOU I
may all live to participate in many more reunions
that your stay may be pleasant, and that at some
future time We may enjoy your meeting here
agaiA, lii vou welcome.
To this address Mr.. Il. n JayLe delivered
a most appropriate response, dwelling parties
ularly upon the importance of our seashore
region, and pledging the Press to devote its
energies for developing and utilizing its natu-
raj Fesoa4ses.