The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1900-03-09
Tiers. renowned musicians, splendid
doctors and strong editors.

only of the early French settlers. bul
it's later-day heroes as well, men VIII,
have impressed themselves on the his
tory OF the times, and written their
names high on the scroll of fame.
This STATE has given to the country
some OF the grandest men OF earth.
They have always been true in every
relation Of life--in pioneer days, in the
formative period of the State, in
civil affairs and military matters,
always the same consistent patriots.
always the devoted friends of the State.
whether in the homes, on the hustings
or marching to the notes Of marshal
music. They have ever been grand
men, noble men!
Time cannot efface the deeds and
acts OF Gen. Claiborne, your first civil
governor, or dim the lustre that hovers
around the names of Villere, Roman,
White, johnson and Allen. And who
can forget John Randolph Grimes, the
compeer and associate of Webster, and
Stephen Mazarou, great masters of the
law, who gave majesty and power to
the busting; and that wizard of Ian,
guage, Lafeadio liearne, and George
W. Cable, who charmed your finer
senses and administered to you refined
intellect?
Your State honored the country in
giving to it one of its best presidents.
Gen. Zachary Taylor, who won his
spurs on the battletields of Mexico.
while commander in chief of the Amer
lean army.
Here was also born the great natural
list and oraithologist, Audubon. whose
works on birds are regarded as stand
ard authority the world over. lie
brought woodland songsters from glen
n dell, and made them speak and
sing to us from his books.
Louisiana contributed to the "Lost
Cause a trio of great generals-G. Y,
Beauregard, Leonidas Polk and BraX.
ton Bragg; and though the cause for
which they fought went down in defeat
they will ever be known in the history
OF this grand and magnanimous coun.
try, which recognizes merit wherever
found, as great military commanders,
and the compeers of Sherman. Grant
and Sheridan, great generals of the
opposing army, the former of whom re.
signed the SUPPLEMENTARY of a mill.
tary college of this State, when the
tocsin of wa was sounded in 1861, to
take up arms with the people of his
own section.
This State sent to the United States
senate her greatest constitutional law,
yer, Judah ?. Benjamin, who held
three successive positions in the Con.
federate cabinet. A voluntary exile
from his country after the civil war, he
went to London, acquired large prac
tice, and was there honored by the I'D
pointment of Queens counsel, an un-
usual distinction for an American.
Louisiana also sent to the United State
senate the lamented Eustis, who was
the first ambassador appointed from
the United States to the Court OF
France, and in thus IGNORING him the
country honored itself.
Here lived for many years of his
~eventful life the grand old chieftain,
Jefferson Davis: here he died, and here
his body found Temporary ,sgnHlGhtGeT
Here the ~~''"nt ilooo ll'ea anu "'e"'
Here lived Longstreet, the sole surviv-
ing general of the war between the
States.
Here Father Ryan, the poet-priest,
spent many years of his beautiful life.
And this was the home, also, Of the
worlds greatest prima donna, Adelaide
Patti, who has thrilled the earth with
her matchless voice.
Coming down to a later period, and
passing over the most humiliating epoch
in Louisiana's history, when vice
stalked abroad at monday and ignor'
ance sat in the temples of justice, we
cannot pass by without a word of praise
to the glorious record and splendid
achievements of brave Gen. Ogden, of
D. E. Penn, Francis 7. Nichols. L. A.
Wilt, S. D. McEnery, N. c, Blanchard,
and last. but by means least, Murphy
J. Foster.
What lover Of sweet thoughts, lofty
ideas and pure English has not read
and admired the descriptive sketches
of Mrs. NJ. r. Field (known as "Cathe-
rine Cole'), the beautiful poems of Mrs.
Nicholson, who wrote under the nom
de plume of Pearl Rivers or the
poems and criticisms of Mrs. Marion A..
Baker? They graced literature, hon.
ored their State, and their works will
live after them,
1t is said that New Orleans is unlike
any American city. and we are glad
that it is so, for much Of the cIty's pride
and glory are largely due to its disttnc-
tive characteristics. Founded and PEG
pied by the French, her streets and
institutions largely partake OF the
nomenclature of that nationality. The
State also differs with others in its sys-
TEN of Jurisprudence, adhering to the
old civil law Of the code Napoleon,
while others have adopted the common
law practice. But these differences
affect not the people, unless. following
| after the old French idea, they still
retain the proverbial p]oliteness and
polished courtesy OF their distinguished
p~rogenitors. striking examples Of which
we see on every hand, and enjoy here
tonight.
The National Editorial Association i,
grateful. gentlemen, for the courteous
hospitality You have so generously ex-
tended during its pleasant sojourn in
your lovely city, and in the name of the