The New York herald., 1879-10-08
CONGRESS OF AMERICANIsTs.

The opening Of the third international congress Of
Amercanists held at Brussels on the I'D of
September. and derived additional lustre, says the
London 2imes. from its having been made to coin
eide with the first day Of the nationa ates held in
commemorstion Of the forty-nintn anniversary of
Belgian Independence. This annual diet of those
Interested in the study Of the prehistoric archeol
ogy and ethnology of the New World originated with
the founder of the International Congress of Orient
alists. Professor De Rosny, of Paris This years
assembly met under the protectorate OF His Majesty
Leopold H.. King OF tho Belgians. the honorary pres
idancy of his brother His Royal Hghness the Count
of Flanders. and the patronage of the city of Brus
sells. On the morning of the 23d the preliminary
each Of the four days of the session was
held in tho Marble Hall of the Palace OF the Academies
the acting president Lieutenant General Baron Goe-
thsls. in the chair. In the afternoon the members
or the Congress ana those invited to the inaugural
sitting Assem- bled in the great hall OF the same pal
ace. The general president, Baron Goethals, again
oficatcd having his right the Minister OF the In
terror thl RolnJacquemyns) tho Brazilian Minister
Pcnipotentary at brussels (Cheva.ier de Brtto,
Baron d'Arnos) and the War Minister General Liza
gre); his left the Finance Minister (M. CHI.
del vaD. NJ. Lucien Adam, of Nancy; DR.. warlo-
mont. V. p. and NJ. Anatole Bamps, secretary
and diplomstists were in official costume few
minutes before three the President of the Republic
OF Venezuela. General Don Antonio Guzman Blanco.
in full uniform and accompanied by brilliant Eat
major entered the box facing that set apart the
King. by whom he had been received at His Majestys
palace his arrival the day before at Brussels to
attend the Congress, OF which the Chief Magistrate
of Venezuela il member. Scarcely had the cheers
died away which greeted this transatlantic digntary
when has royal host, who had loft his palace
after him. arrived, attended by Lieutenant General
Baron Prisse and other members of his suite The
assembly's enthusiasm having reached its highest
pitch in the loyal welcome accorded to the King.
Baron Goethals delivered eloquent inaugural
address. clearly defining the work before the
Congress as no untmportant part of the task
marked out tor our age. tho reconstruction OF his
tory upon more positive and trustworthy bases.
We knew but the America of the conquest but there
"a 1t must have boen during the thousands of
years which preceded its discovery by Columbus.
Tho prosidept having declared the session open,
questions on the order of the day discussed.
The last paper was one sent by an American arch@-
ologst, MIR. Baudcier treating OF the Mexican Cdput
in Spanish In the evening there a reception of
tho Congress Of the Brussels Corporation at tho
Hotel de VILE, which occasion the fine paintings
with which that noble old building has been embc-
lished by tho rising Belgian master. Emile Wautcrs.
exhibited to public view for the first time. At
of the last sittings of the Congress Professor
Virchow presided. After acknowledging the honor
done him, no stated that the principal purpose Of
studies s the question Of the origin and
unity of the American race which relates to the
man In America found In the South. In America.
we'll a. in Europe, skulls OF divers forms are met
with everywhere. From this it results that the be-
lief in diversity OF race has apparently moro foun-
dation than that In unity at least according to this
indication but. ON the other hand. great resom-
the Esqumaux. the opinion prevails generally that
they are of recent immigration, without relation
with the American race. He would nevertheless ex-
the belief that one day the general relation OK