New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-11-20
plNAMERICA IN COUNCIL.

Tho International Congress has now entered
unon the serious work for which 1t was called
together. the wide and thorough range OF which
is indicated in the report OF its COMMITTEE Oh
Committees. 1t rs evident enough that the
Congress appreciates the magnificent results
that NAV accrue from its labors to every one
Of the nations interested, and that itintends to
omit no endeavor which can bring about the
Conditions under which higher, better and
closer civilization shall flourish throughout the
American Continent. Those condiuohS dio
we'll outlined in the separate tasks assigned u
the various committees. The South American
nations have in particular three great ooIec'S
that they hope to see promoted by this con-
ference They want the opportunities 1or inc
deveonu,ent of their internal resources IN
creased. They want international communlca-
tion facilitated. They want international peace
and comfy secured These are objects as
worthy from humanitarian as they ave usel I'll
from a practical point of view, and they are
oil easy of accomplishment if public sentiment
in each Of the countries concerned is alive TO
N. vast moral and commercial advantages sure
to flow from them. a..
Excellent Judgment has guided the committee
in apportioning the work to be done. ~ Is
largely work of inquiry and lnveSugauoh'
| The committee that is asked to Suggest the
| basis of a customs union, for instance Will De
working upon one of the deepest problems OF
the situation. It's solution will exert vast
influence upon the fateof wage learners all over
the continent. Not less important, II less dill
cult is the work to be performed by the COM
mittee to consider ocean transportation. Much
attention has already been paid to this subject
and with the feeling that now obtains IN the
limited States in favor of an extension OF trade,
therya should be no serious obstacle In the way
of formulating sensible business propositions
which all countries can support and encourage
THE Committee on General Welfare which ia
expected to devise plan Of interna lonai ar
filtration. will undoubtedly find many delicate
questions to consider, and yet none are 50
| troublesome as to defeat purposes dear to
the conference and to all progressive Amen
cans. These, perhaps, are the more important
committees, since they deal directly with the
particular ends to be attained but in the plan
and scope of the work no material point seems
DO have been overlooked.
The subject of railway communication, to the
Pacific countries especially, is full OF interest
and will be carefully regarded. The formula
ton of a harmonious international system %
customs regulations is cOnfded to specia
committee. Uniformity in weights and meas
ures in shipping dues, in commercial sanitar!
laws, and in patents and copyrights, will b
considered, together with such general matter
as extraditon, banking laws, credit system
and monetary conventions All these subject
are covered more or less fully in treaties AM
conventions between the United States ant
each of the visiting nations and probably be
Z tween each other. What has been possible +
two countries ought to be possible to dozen
they meet in the right spirit and are sensible o
the rewards attainable as the outcome of agree
ment. These are rewards that appeal as muc
to the imagination as to the selfishness of tn
representatives. They are rewards that ca
only be secured by continental harmony Q
purpose, and that are then within the reach q
all to the prejudice Of nome If ever an as
sembly Of men dealing with human affairs wa
, entitled to to the sympathy and encouragement
, of mankind, and especially of those to whor
liberty and equality are vital words, it is thi
! assembly of Americans.