The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-10-03
GUESTS OF THE NATION.
THE INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS
FORMALLY OPENED.

After the Organization Routine an
Adjournment is Taken to Nov. 18-
Blaine Makes a Speech Of Welcome
The Delegates Presented to Presi-
dent and Mrs. Harrison-Luncheon
Served amid Bnticing Surroundings.
WASHINGTON. Oct. 2.-Snortly before
noon the delegates to the international
American congress left their headquarters
and repaired in a body to the department
of state. All the delegates to the congress
were present, with the exception of Judge
Coolidge Of Boston, who will join the party
later on. After a short stay in the waiting
room the delegates were escorted by
Assistant Secretary Adee to the diplomatic
reception room. Here they were met by
Secretary Blaine, who, without the ceremony
If formal introduction, welcomed person.
ally each and all of the delegates.
After a few minutes thus employed, the
delegates were seated, and Secretary Blaine,
stan ling at o e end of the long central
table. delivered felicitouS address of well
come.
BLAINE'S SPEECH.
Mr.. Blaine said:
GENTLEMEN OF THE INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS:
Speaking for the government of the United
States, | bid you welco 9 to this capital.
Speaking for the people of the United States, |
bid you welcome TO every section and to every
state Of the uuion. You come in response
to an invitation extended by The President on
special authorization OF congress-, Your presence
here is no ord nary event. it sig 1itieS IN ch to
the people of all America to-day 1t may sig
nfy far more III days to come. No conference
Of nations has ever assembled TO consider tha
welfare OF territorial pos essions so vast and to
contemplate possibilities Of future SO great
and inspiring. Those now sitting within
tlese walls are empowered to speak for nations
whose borders are on both great oceans whose
northern limits are touched by tine Arctic
waters for a thousand miles beyond the straits
Of Behrlng, whose southern extension furnishes
human habi atoms farther below the equator
than is elsewhere POSSIBLE on the globe. The
aggr gate terrlt rial extent OF the nations here
represented rails ut little short of 100000 of
square miles-more than three times the area
0 all Europe. and but little less than one-fourth
ia Of the globe: while in respect to the power
OF producing articles which are essential to
human life and those which minister to ife's
luzu es, they constitute an even larger pro-
portion Of the entire world.
These great possessions to-day have an aggre-
gate population approaching 12J.O00,000, but if
peopled as densely rs the average of Europe
the total number would exceed coo, 900.
WHAT THE CONFERENCE CAN DO.
While considerations of this character must
inspire Americans, both south and north, with
lyeliesC auticipGtioDS Of future grandeur and
power, they must also impress them with q
sense of gFaVeSU responsibility touching the
character and developm MT of their re-
spective natiOnalitiss The delegates whom
! am addressing can do much to establish
permanent relations of confidence, respect and
friendship between the nations which they rep
resent they can sh to the world an honor
able and peaceful conference of sevente n indie
pendent AmerI an powers, III which all shall
meet together on terms OF absolute equality; a
conference in which there can be no attempt
to coerce Si- gle delegate against his
oTn conception OF the interests OF
his nation; a conference which will
permit no secret understanding on any subject.
but viii frankly publish to the world all its con
clnsIons; conference which Will tolerate no
spirit OF conquest, but will aim to cultivate an
American sympathy as broad as both con
tuents; a conference which viii 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 peaceful.
INTERESTS IN COMMON.
And yet we cannot be expected to forget that
our common fate has made us inhabitants of
two continents which, at the close of four cent l.
RES, are sui regarded beyond the seas as a new
world. Like situations beget like sympathies
and impose like duties We meet in the firm
belief that the nations of America ought to be
and can be more helpful, each TO the other,
than they now are, and that each will
lind advantage and profit from an
enlarged intercourse with the others We be-
leve that we should be drawn together more
closely by the highways of the sea. and that at
no distant day the railway systems of the north
ana south viii meet upon the isthmus and con-
meet and routes the political and commercial
capitals of all America.
We believe that hearty cooperation base d on
nearly confidence, will save all the American
states from the burdens and evils which have
long and cruelty afflicted the older nations of
the world.
NO ARTIFICIAL BALANCE OF POWER.
we believe that the spirit of Justice of COM
mon ana equal interest, between the American
states VIII leave no room for an artificial bal
auce OF power like unto that which has led to
wars abroad and drenched Europe in blood
we believe that friendship, avowed with candor
ana maintained with good faith, will remove
rom tl9 American states the necessity
oi guarding bou dairy lines between them
SSeNes Witn tortif1cations and military force
we neheVe that standing armies. beyond those
W.lcl are needful for public order and the
salety OF in ernal administration. should be nn-
known on bOtn American cont ,ents We ha-
iloVe mat friendship and not force the spirit of
{VS1 Ia" ana not the violence of the mob should
os the recognized rule of admin stration be-
S"een American nations and in American
nallous. 10 these subjects aud those which
are coSnate thereto, the attention of this con-
LereAce Is earnestly and cordially invited by the
government Of the United States.
COMMON CONFIDENCE.
~ VIII be a great gain when we shall acquire
Suh4luoiice on Wnlcn all lnterna-
tona friendship must rest It will be 3. greater
gam when We shal. be able to draw the peonle
u. al the American nations into closer acouaint-
80 WIN each other--an end TO be facilitated
nication -~P-N -N'0A ASoiiiiiiu-
~ ~ VIII be the greatest gain when the personal
@ aIt commercial relations of the American south
IIu IIu hQrtn shall be SO developed and so regIl-
aaSeu that each shall acquire the highest possible
tSuNaulage from the enlightened and enlarged
Intercourse of all. Before the conference shall
,to'illaily enter upon discussion Of the subjects
W oe submitted to it, l am instructed by the
.esluehL TO invite all the delegates to be the
su9s.s OF the government during a proposed
iis'V 20 various sections Of the country with
st ste uouole view OF showing to our friends from
ceS4oa9 the condition Of the United States and
" 5NIng TO our own people in their own homes
~ w.. privilege and pleasure of extending the
III welcome of Americans to Americans
az the conclusion II mis- addre s. which
was received with an amount of en-
uusaSIn somewhat remarkable in a BODY
VI VnlS character, Secretary Blaine retired.
THE TEMPORARY CHAIRMAN.
Ex-Senator Henderson of Missouri was
ulaoe temporary chairman, who appointed
t es d CoinmIttee on permanent organization
ne representatives of Mexico, Brazil.
Uruguay, Nicaragua and Colombia These
Ietlfeu, and In few minutes returned with
recommendation, hich was Immediately
adopted, that Secretary Blaine be made
president Of the congress.
resolutions were adopted providing for
b,,liilltees Uliiilltees ON rules and future order of