The Kosciusko star. (Kosciusko, Miss.) 18??-1898, 1895-11-22

more imam IlIteen centuries Hal
rolled away since the watchful
shepherds near Bethlehem saw
the new star which helalded the
advent of our Lord before the ma
tons who have been the reposito-
ries of history knew aught of the
mighty river known as the Father
of Waters" the mound builders
had lived, fourished and passed
away, leaving only those wierd
and fantastic structures for arch
biologists to speculate upon; there
had been succeeded by the peace
full Choctaws and Chickasaws,
when DeSOto at the head of a
greedy horde of Spaniards. with
an Unsuitable thirst for gold, was
arrested, near where Memphis
Eow stands, by the sight of the
magnificent Mississippi rolling at
his feet, there making the name of
DeSoto immortal, a name which
will be remembered as long as the
earth continues to revolve and the
stream which he discovered shall
carry its waters to the turbulent
Gulf.
But it is not the name of DeSoto
we wish to immortalize this after
noon. but that at the name of
which a wave of pride and thrill
of pleasure overspreads us all
Well has this mighty river been
named and it required not the in
tell;gence of civilized caucasian TO
know lis Importance, for his red
brothers knew even before the
birth of this country that it might
Justly be called THE King of
Streams The Father CT Wa
ters.
1t is from this magnificent stream
that orr proud and prosperous
commonwealth, the State of Miss
ississippi, derived it's name. 1t
should be the desire and ambition
of every Mississippian that our
dearly beloved State could as just
ly be called the "Mother Of all
States" 1t was down its peaceful
waters, unruffled save by the light
canoes of the red man who lived
along the shores, that LaSalle and
the earliest explorers sailed. Now
those light barcnes have gone to
their eternal resting places and
the waters of the mightiest stream
OF earth are ploughed by majestic
steamers, vessels going back and
forth and ruling the commerce of
that section OF the United States.
It's commercial importance to
the State is of incalculable value.
Besides this it waters tie Mississ.
ippi Delta, rendering it the most
fertile land in our country. While
the first settlement was not exact
ly on the river il was very near
and was a little later moved there.
The second settlement-NAtchez-
then Fort Persalie, was on the
river. The importance of the
Mississippi river to the State was
shown during the war. SO long as
the line of forts along the river
could be held the State was secure,
but as these gave way one by one,
the Mississippi was thrown open,
the State given up and The ConfeG-
eracy cut in twain.
The history of Mississippi may
be divided into four periods: The
first including Mississippi under
the "Lilies Of France" as a part of
Louisiana. The first settlement
was by the French in 1899. The
Governors were successfully, De
Sanvolle, Bienville Cadilla, De
Lejinay, Periere, Vandrilul, and
Kerlerec' By the Peace of Paris
in 1863 Mississippi was forever re-
leased from the corrupting rule of
the French and passed under the
Crimson Cross" of England, who
being the most grasping nation on
the globe, Immediately began to
look after and protect her new
possession.
After GA years occupation by
the French, after the expenditure
of millions Of treasure and the loss
of many lives, the country was
nothing more han a wilderness
where wild beasts roamed at will,
there not being more than 500 in
habitants. white and black com.
bined. After the possession by
the English the tide Of immigra-
.;oo bouoo and tbo cool of prncDar