The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1889-10-11
international American Congress,


This great body met in Washington. where
state Blaine. lwho, without the cerc-
mony of formal introduction, welcomed per-
sonally each and all OF the delegates. After
q few minutes thus employed the delegates
were seated, aud Secretary Blaine, standing
ut one end of the long central table, spoke
| in substance as follows:
Your presence here is no ordinary event 1t
signifies much to The people of all America to-
day. 1t may signify far more in the days to
conc. No conference Of nations has ever as
| pembled to consider the welfare Of territorial
posst ssions so vnst and to contemplate the pos
slbitics Of q future so great and 50 inspiring
| The delegates WHOM ! am addressing can do
| much to establish permanent r. lations of conf
dcnce. respect ana friendship between the iia-
tiOns they represent. They can show to the
world mn honorable and peaceful conference of
| seventeen independent American powers. in
whcn all shall meet together on terms of u bsu-
lutc cunality:a conference in which there can bc
| no attempt To cocrcc u single delc.atn against
| his own conception of the interests Of his ma
| ton: u conference which will permit secret
| understanding on any subject, but will frankly
publish to the world all its conciu -i0ns: Il com
ference which will tolerate no spirit Of conquest
| but viii! aim to cultivate an American synpnth hy
| as broad as both continents: u conference which
| will form
NO SELFISH ALLIANCE
against the older nations from which va arc
prond to claim inheritance; u conference in
| fine, which will seek nothing. propose nothing,
endure nothin. that is not in the general sense
OF all the delegates timely and wise and peace
full. We meet In the firm belief that the nations
OF America ought to and can be more helpful,
each to the other, than they now are, and that
each will tind advantage and profit from an en-
larVctl intercourse with the others. We believe
that we should be drawn together more closely
by the highways OF the sca, and that nt no dis
tant day the railway systc OF the North and
South will meet upon the istlImus aud connect
by land routes the political and commercial cap
itals OF all America. We believe that hearty ca
operation. based on hearty confidence. will save
all American states from the burdens anu evils
which have long and cruelty afflicted the older
nations Of, the world. We believe
equal interest between the American states will
leave no room for an artificial balance OF power
like unto that which has led to wars abroad and
drenchcu Europe in blood. We believe that
with good faith. will remove from American
states the necessity of guarding boundary lines
between themselves with iu,tIiica'ions and mil
| tary force. We believe tlat standing armies
beyond those which are rrcdful for public order
and the safety of internal administrator should
be unknown on both American continents. We
believe that friendship and ilOt force, the spirit
OF just law and not the violence Of tho lnub
should be the recognized rule Of administration
between American nations aid i'll American ma
tiOns. To these subjects. and those which are
covnate thereto. the attention OF this conference
is earnestly and cordially invited BY the gov.
crnmcnt OF the United States.
MR. DIAlN MADE PRESIDENT.
At tho conclusion of the address, which
was received with AN amount of enthusiasm
somewhat remarkable i'll a body OF This char
acter. Secretary Elaine retired. Hon John
u. Henderson OF Missouri was elected prcsi-
dent pro te,n., and appointed committee of
five on organization. The committee re-
tired, and in q tew minutes returned with
n recommendation. which was Immediately
adopted, that Secretary Blaine he named as
president Of the congress.
The magnificent train of the Pendsvl yauia
company, which liz to convey the delegates
on their long journey, arrived here To-day
anu stands practically rea.,v to receive those
who arc to be its occupants for the next
forty days DIR. S,crn5ery. OF the army, goes n s
surgeon OF the congress. lie was selected by
tine secretary Of war for this duty because Of
his familiarity with the Spanish language
and tho Spanish American people. lhe
American delegates have been assigned
to bcrths III each Of the sew
eral cars. thus enabling them to minglc
more freely with the foreigners und promote
| tho friendship already initiated here. The
| delegates 10 the international congress have
| received invitations to no less than forty
| two Danquets in the various cities which are
includea in tho itinerary of the trip, and
about twenty Of these invitations have been
| accepted.