Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1900-03-10
ADDRESS OF Il. H. HENRY
At the Meeting OF the National
Editorial Association.

0 IcdHs req. ~, by Mr. IL. ii, Henri
president Of the association and editc
: Of the Garion-Ledgcr, Jackson, Miss
E Gov. Foster, Mayor Flower ami Gen. Gllmo
and Gentlemen OF the Committee:
For your courteous, cordial speeches; fC
your hearty, kindly greeting
For your tender words Of welcome, are "
truly, deeply grateful
BY your generous, cheerful manner; b
your free and earnest method;
By your frank and open faces do we fe,
that we are welcome,
Welcome to the Sunny Southland, with II
genial, balmy breeze3,
Cherry homes and grand old places, choic
fruits and fragrant flowers,
Welcome to dear old Louisiana, Creol
State Of great renown;
To its fertile bills and valleys; TO its broa
and verdant plains;
TO the land of cane and cotton, fields Of ric
and orange groves;
10 the home of grand old patriots, gallan
soldiers and statesmen wise.
Welcome to the Crescent City, home o.
comfort, elegance, ease
With its bright and charming people, equal
the best Of any cline.
1t were needless for me, on behalf Of
the National Editorial Association, tc
say that we appreciate to the fullest
this splendid reception, this magnificent
welcome, by the representative citizens
OF Louisiana and New Orleans; and an
honor do we esteem it to mingle and
associate with a people who proudly
trace their ancestry back to the DAYS of
l0erville, and whose records illumine
the brightest pages in the history of
the country.
And as LaSalle took charge of this
territory, over two hundred years ago,
IN the name Of the most powerful and
victorious prince, Louis XIV, King of
France, in whose honor the State was
named, so do the editors of the United
States, desiring to extend their domin-
ion to these friendly shores, having
visited and conquered all other parts of
the country, now take possession of
TINS land OF perennial bloom and ceru-
lean skies, for and in the name of the
National Editorial Association and pro-
claim it theirs by right of voluntary
surrender, if not by discovery and con.
quest. And who is there to modest or
make afraid?
We are delighted to hold the fifteenth
anniversary Of our association in New
Orleans, where it was organized fifteen
years ago, during the Cotton Centen
NAL Exposition. As the wanderer in
many climes gladly revisits the scenes
OF his youth, so are we happy to return
to the home Of our birth, to the lovely
Crescent City, known far and wide for
its generous hospitality, its warm
hearted people, its luxurious homes.
rare flower gardens, gallant men and
beautiful women; where we are well
coined with bright smiles, hearty hand
shakes, and the assurance that we are
at home and among friends.
The National Editorial Association is
what its name implies, national in char
acter, Made up of delegates from all
.he States in the Union, it knows no
no party, its underlying princi-
Die being fraternity and good-fellow-
hip. A homogeneous organization.
without faction, partisan feeling or
ectlonal bias, it tends to broaden. lib
raIize and fraternize, its members
icing equally at home in Massachu-
etts, California, North Dakota and
louisiana. No pent-up Utica contracts
IS powers, aud when off on an annual
our its members feel and act as one
reat family; become acquainted and
asst friends for life.
1t is difficult for our members who
ome from the far north to realize the
Inference in temperature in this coun-
y, or the changes wrought by few
undred miles of latitude. Leaving
lelr homes locked in the embrace of :
lie ice-king, mother earth covered with :
low, and heavy wraps much in
'nce, they here find real sprfuv
Gather, under these Southern 81
18th roses and yiolets in bloom, ana
'enings comfortable outdoors. What
change! What delight! =
Arriving in your city as the advance =;
lard OF his imperial ajesty Rex, with n
ew Orleans aglow in pomp and splen- =
n aud gorgeous in its carnival habili- :,
entS, we have seen much of interest. r
onder and amazement. We have been =
called by regal carnivals by day and y;
Joyed royal .pageants by night; have
tended receptions, balls and enter -,
till sight became dim and ~
ain tired, wearied with the intoxi. y,
ting pleasure of the ever-changing a.
leidoscope. In brief. we have seen y,
lrdi Gras-and shall not soon forget ;n
The recollection of its grandeur, of :.
toric tableaux, beautiful pictures -
wing as though floating in air, of -
ssic groupings, of exquisite blend a.
rs, princely robes, OF rich costumes. ~,
gilded floats, of gay cavaliers and L.,
'k-eyed maidens, will remain with a
as beautiful memories, till we come 60
lin and live over with you once more ~.
sc moments of perfect bliss. -
We are happy to meet in this famous ~
historic city, founded in 17ls by that ~
d and good French Canadian, Jean ~.
nville, who wrested it from Indian
DIS and laid the foundation for this
at southern metropolis. Many of our h h.,
nbers, especially those who have 49,
er before visited here, have tramped W..
ough its quaint old quarters, and -,
nding hours in its shops of antique -
'es; have given morning to French -s
'ket, talked to the Gascon, bought
t from the Dago, drank dripped Ar ~
ee with the Spaniard, purchased bou- wv
laires from the old Creole woman, n
attempted to joke with the stolid
rigine of the forest; have admired
odd old buildings, and learned of ="
r ancient and interesting history; Goa
lied through your parks and plucked see
5 from your flower gardens; have mai
led with uncovered heads in jack g.
square, at the spot where "old tect
Tory" was crowned with laurel bv mar
lg ladies, who scattered flowers in ~
pathway as he returned to the city, Tha
: defeating Paekenham on the ~