Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-10-03


ductlon, welcomed personally each and all
of the delegates. After few minutes thus
employed the delegates were seated, and
Secretary Blaine, standing at one end of the
long central table, spoke as follows:
Gentlemen of the International American Con-
gress:
Speaking for the Government of the United
States, l bid you welcome to this capital.
Speaking for the people of the United States, l
bid you welcome to every section and to every
State of the Union. You come in response to
an invitation extended by the President on the
special authorization of Congress. Your pres
| ence 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 come. No
| conference of nations has ever assembled to
| consider the welfare of territorial possessions
SO vast, and to contemplate the possibilities OF
| future SO great and SO inspiring. Those now
sitting within these walls are empowered to
| speak for nations whose borders are on
BOTH THE GREAT OCEANS,
whose northern limits are touched by the
Arctic waters for 1000 miles beyond the straits
of Behring, whose southern extension furnishes
human habItations farther below the equator
than is elsewhere possible on the globe. While
| considerations of this character must inspire
Americans, both South and North, with the
lvellest antIcipations of future grandeur and
sense of the gravest responsibility, touching
the character and development of their respec-
tive nationalities.
The delegates whom am addressing can do
much to establish permanent relations of con-
fdence, respect and friendship between the
nations which they represent They can show
to the world an honorable and peaceful confer
ence of IL independent American powers in
which all shall meet together on terms OF abso-
lutte equality; conference in which there can
be no attempt to coerce a single delegate
against his own conception of the interests OF
his nation; conference which will permit no
secret understanding on any subject, but will
frankly publish to the world all its conclusions;
conference which will tolerate no spirit of
conquest but will aim to cultivate an Ameri-
can sympathy as broad as both continents; a
conference which will form no selfish alliance
against the older nations from which we are
proud to claim inheritance; a conference, in
fine, which will seek nothing, propose nothing
endure nothing 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 find advantage and profit from an en-
larged intercourse with the Others.
HOPES FOR THE FUTURE.
We believe that we should be drawn together
more closely by the highways of the sea, and
that at no distant day the railway sytems of the
North and South will meet upon the Isthmus
and connect by land routes the political and
commercial capitals of all America.
We believe that hearty cooperation, based
on hearty confidence, will save all American
States from the burdens and evils which have
long and cruelty afflicted the older nations of
the world.
We believe that a spirit of justice, of COM
mon and equal interest between the American
States will leave no room for an artificial
ho1a nf l. AI.oN ,1INl Ii
to wars abroad and drenched Europe in blood.
We believe that friendship. avowed with can.
dor and maintained with good faith, will re-
move from American States the necessity of
guarding boundary lines between themselves
with Notifications and military force.
We believe that standing armies beyond
those which are needful for public order and
the safety of internal administration, should
be unknown on both American continents
We believe that friendship and not force the
spirit of just law and not violence of the mob
should be the recognized rule of admlnistra-
tion between American nations and in Ameri-
can nations.
TO SEE THE SIGHTS.
Before the conference shall formally enter
upon the discussion of the subjects to be sub
mitted to it, 1 am instructed by the President
to invite all the delegates to be the guests Of
the Government during a proposed visit to
various sections of the country, with the double
view of showing to our friends from abroad the
condition of the United States and of giving to
our own people. in their homes, the privilege
and pleasure of extending the warm welcome
of Americans to Americans.
At the conclusion of the address. which
was received with an amount of enthusiasm
somewhat remarkable IN a body of this
character, Secretary Blaine retired, and
Hon. John B. Henderson was temporarily |
called to the chair. The following Commit |
tee on Organization was announced by the |
Chairman: Senator Romero, the Mexican |
Minister, Councillor Lafayette, Rodriguez |
Pereira, of Brazil; DR.. Alberto Min, of |
Uragua; DR.. Horatio Guzman, OF Nicaragua,
and DR.. Jose M. Hurtado, of Colombia
The committee retired and in few min
utes returned with recommendation, which
was Immediately adopted that Secretary
Blaine be named as President of the Com
gress.
HoNoRs FOR BLAINE.
Another committee was then appointed.
consisting of Sebor Hurtado, Mr.. Bliss,
Senior Valerde, of Bolivia; DIR. Aragon. of
notify Secretary Blaine of his election. A
further resolution was adopted, providing
that in the absence of the President the
chair will be occupied by one of the dele
gates of each of the nations represented in
the Congress by turn, selected by lot. On
motion of one of the South American dele
gates the following resolution was adopted:
Resolved That the members of the Interna.
tional American Congress accept with pleasure
the invitation of the President of the United
States of America TO be the guest of his Gov
in an excursion through the territory
of the Unite States and that we express our
thanks for said invitation.
At this stage Secretary Blaine entered the
room and was escorted to the Presidents
chair. A recess of Is minutes was taken.
and at its expiration, on motion of Mr..
Henderson, the Congress adjourned until
Monday, November 18, when'it will meet at
noon at the Wallach mansion.
A WHITE HOUSE CALL.
After the adjournment the delegates were
escorted to the White House by Secretary
Blaine. The Blue, Red and Green Parlors
and the East Room had been specially pre-
pared for the occasion, and were liberaIly
decorated with tropical plants and rare ex-
,tics. The Marine Band was stationed in
he main vestibule and played almost con-
.inuously during the reception and lunch.
The programme included the national and
patriotic airs of each of the countries repre
,ented.
The reception took place in the blue par
or. The President and Mrs. Harrison and
vi the members of the Cabinet except Mr..
Blaine, proceeded to that room shortly be-
ore the hour set for the reception and
waited the arrival of the delegates. They
Irrived promptly on time, under the escort
# Secretary Blaine and Mr.. Romero, the
Mexican Minister. Upon being ushered
nto the blue parlor they were individually
presented By Mr.. Blaine to the President