The comet. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1877-1882, 1881-06-11

1
and hand to Aberdeen.
programme, Mr.. B. G. Sims gave us
vocal solo fully sustaining his well
| earned reputation as a vocalist.
Hon. G. ID. Stands Of Senatobia, OF
the part Of the press of the State, re
piled to the address of welcome in ,
happy strain as follows:
cob. STANDS RESPONSE.
Ladies and Geatlemen of iberdeen:
The polished utterances and finished pc
RODS of the gentleman who has just pre-
ceded me, were not necessary to assure u'
that the Press of the State has welcome
In Aberdeen. The hearty hand-grasp, the
beaming cOuntenanccs of your citizens
and the wide-stretched doors of yoW
homes, make an expression of hospitality
that needeth not utterance.
We recognize that this welcome is not to
us as individuals. Man is transitory, let
tiers are everlasting. John Wilson, in his
" hoctes An,br0Sidne," puts into the mouth
of the Ettrick Shepherd these words
''Tbere never leeyed man the warld
missed, ony mair than II great, green
spreading simmer tree misses a leaf that
ia's down on the moss aneath its shadow"
This welcome is not because OF any eXalt-
ed worth of our own, but because we have
entered the mystic portals OF Minerva, and
are just ut this time the mOuth-pieces OF
the great thrObbing heart of the giant Pro-
gress, the chroniclers of that mighty sweep
of events that now cOndenses years into
moments. How far the world is indebted
to men of like occupation with us has
been eloquently and forcibly expressed by
him who welcomed us.
Verify, 8" the .schOolmaster is abroad" 7"
and the dark places Of earth are made lu-
minOus in response to the labored breath
ings of the steam printing press, yea Us an
educator the hand-press has not as yet out
lived Its usefulness, for it is OF the people,
and comes home to the greatest number of
the common people.
1t hath been said that the Legislature is
the heart Of the State, the judiciary the
brains, and the executive its head. TO this
anatomical analogy we would add that the
church represents the soul, and the press
the circulating life-blood. l think utter
the opinions of those who have commits,
stoned me to speak for them to-day, when
say that the click OF the types, which
hath always heretofore meant elevation
will indicate the feverish pulse-bcat of
moral, social and national decay whenever
lngcrsolism shall supplant the Bible Of
Bethlehem in the thoughts of those who
mould public sentiment through the press.
There should be no room for infideity in
and license means death.
Gathered together as we are, from the
counties that border on the mighty COM
monwealth north of us, even down to
those whose southern confines are ever
musical with the harmonious beat of ma
lures pulse, a. 1t strikes in liquid notes on
the glistenng sands of the mighty gulf
from whence come loving zephyrs with
healing on their wings, tanning the ruby
celor OF health into the cheeks of Missis-
sippi's sons and daughters; gathered also
from the banks of that mighty current on
our west, which yieldeth TO the power of
man when IL Is commanded to dig for itself
deeper bed but Is broad, swift and ire
sistible, fifty typefying the mighty current
of general knowledge that took its rise in
Germany cotemporaneously with the in
vention Of movable type, across even to
the boundaries of that lovely land, where
the aboriginal heart pronounced IL place
good for rest; from all this expansc of
goodly land, do we not. here gathered in
Aberdeen in our annual c0nyocation, in
some measure. represent the life-blood
sent out from the heart to the eytremities,
to be periodically returned TO the living
fountain, and there purified and rc-ani-
mated, and sent thcnccforth again to carry
with IL life and health and vigor. For the
true realization of this picture my brothers
of the press are earnestly laboring, and
since it Is an immutablc law of natures
god, that he who eXpends effort for the
amelioration Of his fellows, is himself
strengthened, purified and bcttered there
by, so surely will honest effort in this direc-
tion on the part of my co-laborers bring
about the actual consummation Of our
fOndest iancies. Man cannot make him |
self equal TO God, but it is his bounden |
duty TO be God-like in humanity and
charity. If IL be true that he is entitled 10 |
be called philanthropist, who causes two |
blades Of grass 20 grow where only one /
grew before, how much more worthy is he /
Of the name who removes the rusted |
Of ignorance from the imprisoned |
mind, and strikes away the heavy bars
that for centuries, have closed the portals
or knowledge against the entrance of the
people.
This theme is enhancing, and had not
your speaker voiced our thoughts, we
might be tempted longer TO detain you.
Welcome to Aberdeen meets us every
your people greet us. The in
Tant prattler, and that mighty old man Of
God, who hath been longest on the sentry
post Of all those who mounted guard with
him, TO whom the relief will soon come
hese and all others say 'welcome" in no
phrase. So intense appears TO
Is to be the feeling Of your hospitality,
hat you have levied tribute upon the
mind OF Reynolds fifty TO express IL; and
wen his words Of sparkling eloquencc,
hat are always potent In the councils Of
lis State, do not SO impress us as do these
parking countenances. His tongue speaks
Ike an angels tongue the goodness OF the
reat heart OF Aberdeen. His armless
leeve recalls the bond that was between
Is in days Of past peril, aud IL itself thu
that admits him and you paSl
II the pickets into the inner camp OF our
owe, and makes us all at home in Aber-
leen. Your evident pleasure at meeting
his Association is not inferior TO our JOY
n being thus welcomed.
IAN who Joy would win
Musi share u, happiness was bora twin"
For the encouragement that your well
ONE gives us, we are grateful. When An
rus OF old struggled with Hercules, and
vas nigh 10 exhaustion, he gathered new .
trength from his mother earth whenever .
mid the varying fortunes Of the fight, he
ras thrown upon her bosom. From every !
mbrace he arose refreshed, and fought the
lore yaliantly because OF the brief COM
lunion with his mother, aud he was ins
incible until the giant, lifting him bodily,
tabled him while thus discovered. The I,
eople Of Mississippi are 20 us what mother
arth was TO AntDus, and so long as we 4
their esteem, the Press will be /
ivincible for good.
This communion with the good people Of !
lberdeen will send the life current bound
X anew through our veins, and we shall
o boldly hence to renew the fight with