The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1892-05-20
Mississippi Press Association.
The 27th Annual Convention at Pass
Christian, May II, 1892.
Extracts From Address Of We'll
come Response and Grafton.
ELLIOT HENDERSON wELCOxED
The Press in BETTING Style-Col. J. L,
Power, Of the "Clarion." Responded
In . Well.Tlned Speeeh-Presl.
dent San D. Harper Delivered
His Annual Address, which
Was Replete With Ele.
Uuenfe,

yucmtts
PASS CHRISTIAN, May 12.-1he
address of welcome was delivered
by Col. Elliot Henderson, .. This
place. Col. Henderson, after
warmly welcoming he editors and
visitors in an elaborate speech,
paid great tribute 10 The great
State Of Mississippi, referring 10 its
many natural advantages, its prog
ress ia education, manufactures,
ETC., aud called special attention
ty The beauties Of the seacoast.
He drew a prophetic vision of the
time when this coast would pos.
sess a harbor, improved and deep.
ened, connected by rail direct with
Chicago and The great grain coun.
try OF the West, and when This
little city would be one OF the best
business port; in The country. The
coast, he SAID, was something Of
which they had heard so much and
seen so little; that this state of af-
fairs had engendered a prejudice
to the coast unfair to it and detrl-
mental to Its interests, and he was
glad The Mississippi editors had
come 10 their own coast to see and
herald abroad its unrivaled facili-
ties, advantages and health.
Col. Henderson's speech was in
terspersed wi h numerous pleasant
ries, and was an able effort.
RESPONSE OF COL. POWER.
In response, Col. }. L. Power, of
The Jackson Miss Clarion, who
began life as a printer in New Or
leans thirty eight years ago, and
who is known by the significant
soubriquet, "Neslor Of the Mlssis-
sippi Press" said:
"Mr. President, Ladies and Gen.
tlemen-A few Gays since, while
attending the Grand Lodge of Odd
Fellows a: holly Springs, l receiv-
ed a telegram from President Har.
per, that read about like this !:
will you respond 10 the address Of
welcome by Hon. Elliot Hender.
sonW 10 which l replied, yes.
but would advise yon to get some
body else.' l felt sure this must
be a case of emergency with Bro.
Harper-that some of our silver.
tongued brethren had gone back
on him, and that l must be a last
chance. On reaching home | found
his honest confession TO that effect.
1t had so happened that during
the long years Of nv membership
in this association l have never
been thought OF in connection with
a public address, essay or anything
else IN the line of oratory, or high
literary effort, and | regret that
Brother Harper should have con-
ceived the idea that | was now
equal 10 such an occasion. | am
sure be never again will be guilty
of such an indiscreiiOn. And now,
after SO much by way of preface,
4 will proceed to submit few
carefully prepared preliminary re.
marks.
"My first visit to the coast was
in the winter of 1854. ] was Then
residing in New Orleans. A friend
at Handsboro iavited me over to
look at the Office of The Handsboro
Reformer, with a view to joint pur.
chase. | came over to Mississippi
City on q boat, arriving there at
midnight, and | don't remember
just exactly how l found Handsbo-
ro, but got there after awhile.
was moi iavorably impressed, and
without visiting The Reformer Of.
fee got back 10 the city as soon as
possible.
Sand now, after the lapse OF
thirty eight years, | am 0L this
coast again and judging from my
experience and feelings thus far,
shall not be in q hurry 10 get back
10 New Orleans or anywhere else.
This may not be holy ground,
but feel that it is good 10 be
here
Thirty.ei.ht years! What mighty
changss-what amazing progress
Mls.issippi's total population was
then less than 100000, two-thirds
Of whom were slaves. Now she
has twice that number, and all for.
/ cyor free, She had then less than
400 miles of railroad. She has
now nearly 5000. She had then
i i - A. II