The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-06-05
NOT Welded TO vOLAPUK.
The Historical Society Discusses the
Universal Language Question.

! The Historical Society Discusses the
Universal Language Question.
AT the last meeting Of the Georgia his
torical society a communication from the
| American philosophical society concerning
an international congress for the purpose of
establishing a universal language was re-
ferred to the library committee, to be
reported upon last night.
committee, read the committee S
report recommending that the
society be represented in the congress by
Gen. A. R. Lawton. In this report the
committee said: Upon the abstract ques-
ton of the Importance and value
Of an easily acquired medium
OF written communication between commu-
mites Of different tongues, no necessity for
consideration exists. 1t goes without say
ing, that of all things desirable in these
days Of commercial progress and constant
written intercourse between nations,
such a medium would be of the greatest ini-
portance. Until very recent period this
achievement has appeared like the phiIoso-
piers stone, or the elixir Of life, a mere
phantasy of the imagination. But while
the invention of system known as "Nola-
pukn has not certainly solved the problem
at least 10 the satisfaction of many candid
minds-it has experimentally gone far to
ward demonstrating that it may be solved,
if, indeed. it does not offer the solution.
The fact is that to-day that sys-
tenn is being used as means Of in
ternational Communication by hundreds OF
commercial houses, and has been acquired
by many thousands of people. Undoubt-
edly it is justly criticised for its imperfec-
tons by many acute and philosophical
students who approach the subject fafly
equipped with an adequate knowledge OF
the sources, hkenesses. a1alogies, eaSe, diff
cultles and weaknesses OF the various known
languages, but there are hopeful Indications
that through the fire of such general criti-
clsm upon the medium capable Of standing
the test Of practical and constant use, a per-
fected language may come which will
really supply the want. In such circum-
stances the committee docs not think
that this historical and literary body should
stand off from the desired effort in either a
captious or Indifferent attitude As remote
as we are from the national centers of
learning, we can do bn. little TO ad vance
the object; but your committee believes
that it is the duty of this society, not only
because OF the nature of this body, but be-
cause OF the large International intercourse
of this city, TO do what is beftting US to
show our interest in the undertaking, and
our hopefulness that it may succeed either in
the present system or in proper and thor
ough amendment of that system. This
committee, therefore, reports the following
resolutions as proper to be adopted by this
society:
Resolved, That Gen. Alexander r. Lawton, a
member OF this society, now minister of the
United States 10 Austria, be appointed deleRste
from this society TO the international conven-
ton on a Universal Language to be held in
Europe and that he be notified of such appoint
ment and requested 10 represent the society
when the time and place of such congress shall
be announced
Resolved, That the corresponding secretary
Of this society be instructed to write to the
PRESIDENT OF the American philosophical society
advising that society OF the interest OF this
society in the holding of an International con-
gress, and that this society will be there repre-
scented