The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1889-10-17
A GLITTER OF GOLD LACH.
The international Maritime Con-
gress is Received
Blythe SECRETARY OF STATE,
Mr., Blalne's Speech Welcoming the
Delegates = Nearly Every MARI
time Power Representative
sented to the President,

partment presented a scene OF unusua
bHlllancy this morning when secreIar!
Blaine received the delegates to the in
ternational marine conference, Tht
hour fixed for the ceremony was i
o'clock, and previous to that time tht
delegates had gathered in the ante.roou
and exchanged Courtesies and greetings
The members are noble looking set O
men, and sttired IN the gold lace O
every prominent maritime nation Of the
world, made striking appearance. The
exceptions to the glitter Of uniforms and
decorations were the delegates from
China and South America, the former
in their distinctive national dress, and
the latter In regulation dress suits. The
delegates were accompanied by the min
listers oil their respective countries.
AT 8 minutes alter II o'clock they were
ushered into the diplomatic parlor by
Assistant Secretary OF State Adee in the
order OF the precedence Of their minis.
ters. The American delegates, headed
by the martial figure OF Admiral Frank.
lin, needed no introduction to bring
them 10 the notice OF the Secretary oi
State. The reception, partaking OF q
diplomatic nature, was conducted In &C.
cordance with etiquette OF such oCca.
sionF, the doors being sCrupulously
guarded by messengers and the proceed.
iugs had In strictest secrecy. When Mr..
Blaine entered the parlor, accompanied
by Solicitor Walter Blaine, the members
oithe various delegations were presented
by their respective ministers, and he
cordially received each one with warm
grasp OF the hand and an appropriate
word.
To the delegates formally Mr.. Blaine
said:
MIR, DLAINE's SPEECH.
GENTLEMEN:-It Is the cause OF ex.
treme qualification to the Government
OF the United States that its invitation
to the maritime powers Of the world has
been met with so general response.
Representatives from Asia, from Europe,
from North and South America and from
the isles OF the sea will compose the
conference. On behalf Of the United
States / welcome you all, gentlemen, to
the honorable, the scientific, the philan.
thropiC duties which lie before you. The
already great and rapidly increasing In.
tercourse between continent and cont.
nent, between nation aud nation, de.
mands that every protection against the
dangers OF the sea and every guard for
the safety OF human life shall be pro.
vided. Tho spoken languages OF the
world will continue to be many, but
necessity commands that the unspoken
language OF the sea shall be one. That
language must be as universal as the
needs OF man for commerce and inter.
course With bis fellow man.
The deep interest which the maritime
nations haYe taken In these questions at
lsspe 10 shown by the eminent character
and the Wide experience Of the delegates
TO whom they have committed tho i'm.
portant work. Again, gentlemen, Iwel.
come you, and alter your preliminary
organization Is complete 1t will be my
pleasure to present you In person to the
President OF the United States"
At the conclusion Of Secretary Blaine's
brief address, on motion OF one OF the
delegates from Great Britain, Admiral
franklin waS chosen President OF the
conference, aud an adjournment until
tomorrow morning at IL was taken,
This concluded the proceedings in the
State Department, not more than twenty
minuLeS haying been occupied.
With Secretary Blaine and Sir Julian
PaunCefote, British Minister, at their
head, the delegates started for the
White House. AS they emerged from
the State building they were grouped on
the southeast entrance and photograph
ed In q body. When the delegates
reached the White House they were
shown into the east roon and the house
was closed TO everybody else. Secretary
Blaine informed the President OF their
arrival, and they at once repaired to the
east room,
Secretary Blaine presented Rear Ad.
miral Franklin, President Of the Con.
gress, and he, in turn, introduced the
other American delegates. The foreign
delegates were next presented. Mr..
Blaine first preSented the resident min.
lister Of the country, and be, In tlrn,
presented the members Of his delegation,
The ceremonies, while rather formal,
were very brief. The President made q
brief address OF welcome, in which he
expressed the opinion that their delib.
erdtiops would result in much good to
tho commercial interests Of the world.