The Delta independent., 1889-10-08
CONGRESS OF THE AMERICAS.
Formal Address of Welcome by Secre-
tary Of State Blaine.

gress assembled at the State Department
at noon and proceeded in q body to the di-
piomatic reception room, where they were
presented to Secretary Blaine, who deliv-
cred felicitous address of welcome. Mr..
Blaine said:
| Gentlemen of the Inter,,ottc,,l American
| Conference Speaking for the Govern
ment Of the United States, bid you well
come To thls capital. Speaking for the
people OF the United States, bid you well
come to every section and to every State
| oi the Union. You come in response TO an
invitation extended by the President on
1 tne special authorization of Congress
| nour presence here is no ordinary event.
~ signifies much to the people of all Amer
lca Today L. may signify far more in
| Gays 70 come. No conference of nations
| ever assembled 10 consider the welfare of
| territorial possessions SO vast and to con
| template the possibilities of the future SO
great and 80 inspiring.
Those now sitting within these walls are
| empowered TO speak for nations whose bor-
ders are on both the great oceans, whose
| northern limits are touched by Arctic
| waters Tor thousands of miles beyond the
| Straits OF Behring, and whose southern
| extension furnishes human habitations far
| ther below the equator than is elsewhere
| possible on the globe. While considera-
| uons OF this character must inspire Amer
| leans, both North and South with liveliest
/ u,
| they must also impress them with a sense
of great responsibility touching the char
acter and development Of theiy respective
nalonalities -
The delegates whom / am addressing
can do much 10 establish perma rela-
| uons OF confidence, respect and friendship
| between the nations which they represent.
They can show TO the world honorable,
peaceful conference of seventeen indepen-
dent American powers, in which all shall
| meet together terms of nhSOlnta
| equality, and confidence in which there
| can be no attempt TO coerce n single dele
gate against his conception of the interest
/ OF his nation; a conference which will per
/ NIT no secret understanding on any sub
lect- but will frankly publish 10 the world
all Its conclusions: a conference which will
tolerate no spirit of conquest, but will aim
to cultivate American sympathy, broad as
| both continents; a conference which will
form no selfish alliance against older ma
tions from which we are proud TO claim in
| heritapcc: "a conference. in fine, which will
| seek nothing, propose nothing, endure no
| thing that is not, In the general sense of
all the delegates, timely and wise and
peaceful
And yet we cannot be expected to forget
| that our common fate has made US inhabi
tants OF two continents, which at the close
OF four centuries are still regarded beyond
| tho seas rs the New World.
Like situations bcgct like sympathies and
| impose like duties. We meet in the firm
belief that the nations Of America ought to
| and can be more helpful TO each other than
they now arc, and that each will find ad
| vantage and profit from an enlarged inter
i course with the others. We believe we
| should be drawn together more closely by
the highways OF the sea, and that at no
distant day tho railway systems Of the
| North and the South Will meet upon the
isthmus and connect by land routes politi-
cal aud commercial capitals Of all Amer
lea We believe that hearty reception,
trN Nx..N. I..., a.
American States from the burdens end
evils which have long and cruelty afflicted
| the older NATIONS of the world. We believe
| the spirit Of justice and common equal in
tcrcst between the American States will
| leave no room for an artificial balance of
power like unto that which has led
| 10 wars abroad and drcnched Europe
| in blood. We believe friendship
| avowcd with candor and maintained with
| go?d fait h shcll remove from the American
Stste1 the necessity OF guarding boundary
lines between themselves with fortifca-
uons and military force. We believe that
standing arIiics beyond those which are
needful for rublic order and safety of in
known 70 both American continents. We
toiisvo that friendship and not force, a
spirit Of Just law and not the violence of a
| mob, should be IN, recognized rule of the
administration between American nations
anti In American nations.
To these objects and those which are
| cognate thereto, the attention to this con
ference is earnestly and cordially invited
by tie the Government Of tho United
Statcs. II will be treat gain when we
rhall acquire that common confidence on
which all International friendship must
rest. II will bc great gain when wo
shah to able to draw the people of all
| American nations into closer acquaintance
with each othcr-an end TO bclfacAitatcd
| by more frequent and more rapid inter
communication. II will be the greatest
| gain when the personal and commercial re-
iations of the American States, South and
| North. shall be so developed and so regu-
lated that each shall acquire the highest
| possible advantage from the enlightened
| and enlarged intercourse of ell.
Before the confercnccsshnll formally enter
upon the discussion Of the subjects to be
submitten to IL, l am instructed by the
| President to invite nll delegates to be the
| gucsts Of thp Government during the pro
| posed visit to various sections OF the conn
| try, with the double view of showing to
our friends from abroad tho condition of
| tho United States md of giving TO our pco-
| ple in their homes the privilege and pleas
| urc Of extending warm welcome to sister
Americans.
Tho address WINS received with an
amount Of enthusiasm somewhat remark
able in body of this character.
| - q the conclusion of Secretary Blaine's
speech he withdrew, and resolution was
| adopted naming SECRETARY blainc as prcsi
dent of tho cor. .Nss.
On motions OF tho South American del
cgatcs tho following resolution was
| adopted;
Resolrcd, That tho members of tho In
/ tcrnntional American Congress accept
| with pleasure the invitation of tho Presi.
| dent Of tho United States OF America 70 ba
the guests of this Government in un OK
cursion through the territory OF the United
States, md that wo express our thanks for
that invitation. -
Anumbcr OF committees were appointed
and the Congress- adjourned until Monday,
Nov. TO-
Mr.. Blaine then escorted tho membors
70 tho White House. Tho President gavc
special reception to tho delegates at 80
y. M, ono Of tho features Of which was
an informal lunch served in the State din
ing. room at2. Tho reception took place in
tho blue parlor. The members wero pre-.
scntcd by Secretary Blaine, first to Prcsi.
don't Harrison, and then to Mrs. Harrison,
then TO members of tho Cabinet. After so.
cinl Interchange tho party repaired to tho
dining room and partook Of the lunch.
The centre pieco Of tho table WINS largo
floral representation Of tho western hcmis-
| phcrc. South American dishes and South
American cigarettes were served. Every.
! thing was dono TO show honor to tho differ.
ect countries represented A few OF tho