New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-09-09
TIE INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS OF AMER
ICANISTS


The coming International Congress of American
ISIS at Madrid which begins on the 25th of Senter,
Der and lasts four days promises to be the most in
terestlng thus far held by the Association from the
fact that the museums libraries and archives of the
Spanish capital will afford the members an onnortn
hity OF investigating questions connected with
the history, ethnology and languages of the
many races, savage and civilized, found in Ameri-
ca by the Spanish conquerors, by the aid of MATE
rial which can nowhere else be examined The Con-
gress last met at Brussels in 1879 Among IFS Nom,
DerS are many distinguished scientists representino
almost every country in Europe and America. Its
object is TO aid in the progress of researches relo
tNe 10 the two Americas, especially for the period
anterior To the discoveries OF Columbus The
list of subjects named in the official programme for
discussion nj the session in Madrid i SO lon,, that
II Is difficult to see how anything like a tborongb
consideration can be given 10 each Int perhans vo
shondsakc this list only guide to he preuaratop
OF papers Tor reading showing only the yarious di
rectlons IN which the Association particularly de-
sireS its members 10 work The mention of a few M
these subjects win indicate the breadth and
interest OF the field in which the Congress is to labor
The division of History and Geology embraces in
the programme no fewer than twenty-ono sub
Jects. Among them are Pre- Columbian expedj-
tons of the fasqucs TO Newfoundland and the
adjacent mainland shores should the VOYAGES of
Juan de Fuca and of Lorencio Muldoaado be re-
garied rs apocryphal; nations which existed in
America before the invasion of the Aztecs and otbo
Northern peoples; was Cuba a part of the Ameri-
can continent in pre-Columbian times; what have
been the changes produced in the course and oman
uty of the interior waters of America by the PIN
tonic forces of tho globe by other natural cousc
tho question to be studied not only from the his
toric, geographic and climatologc point of view
out IN relation to the interest which il
may nave for the present American pom
ulation in the sense of their dcvelopnent
and well-being. Two of the subjects i'm the d.nort
ment OF Archaeology are the religious aud emble-
matte Significance of the various types of idols
statuettes and figures found In the Peruvian
tombs, and a study of the monuments of ancient
Peru containing figures signs Inscriptions In
the line of Anthropology and Ethnogronly
the questions concern photographic aflipities
between tho American and Oceanic rooos
nomenclature of the peoples of America
before inc conquest and the territory occu-
pea by each, and the principal con-
taRious diseases which have have been recip
rocally exchanged by the peoples of the Old and
New Worlds. Under the head of Iinenis,ics ond
photography there are topics relating to the
possibility OF the translation of the Qaippos into
Rraphlc writing; whether there exist languages
outside Mexico which have aiinities with those
spoken in that region the language of men and
women in tho American dialects and whether an
cAhcU hhoWleuge OF the organism and texture of the
indigenous languages of America can he obtained by
means OF the neolatin grammars which have thus far
served European rhiloiogsts and investigators The
delegates from tho United States whose names ap-
pear in the official prospectus of the Congress are
the following: Professor Is. B. Anderson. of the
University of Wisconsin; Professor Spencer T.
Baird of the Smithsonian Institution. Washington:
Hubert Bancroft, of San Francisco the author of
the well-known work the Indian Tribes of the
Pacific Coast; Levi Bishop, of Detroit; L. T. Cox.
State Geologist of Indiana the Rev. b. j. De Costa
of NewYorlS Putnam Duncan, of the Dayenport
Qowa) Academy of Sciences Judge NJ. j. Force. of
Cincinnati Albert S. Gatschet, of WASHINGTON
DIR. c. c. Graham, of Louisville Mr.. Moody Of
Mendoza, ILL.,. Professor j. X. Patterson of Iexing
ton. KY; Dr. stephen Peet, of Ashtabula. Ohio: r.
Robertson, of Fort Wayne, Ind.;> State Ceolo,ist
Shaler, OF Kentucky and tho Hon. Robert & Win.
throp, OF Boston, president of the Massachusetts
Historical Society.