The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1889-10-03
FRIENDS AND ALLIES.
Nh. Blaine Addresses the Span
ish-American Delegates.
BROTHERHOOD or NATIONS.


HisSEos. ocS. The delegates 20
tne international American corsress as
senanied Al the state department. Al noon,
1hd proceeded IN body 20 the diplomatic
.ssspsaon rooms and we're presented TO
naine. who delivered q felicisious address
OF welcome Mr.. Blaine said:
srezsfssEes 81 sse International C,ssr~zssoa
Speaking fo- the government of the United
states. ] hsd you welcome TO this capital.
speaking for the people OF the nifed States.
l e'a you welcome 70 every section and 70
every state Of the Union You come in re-
sponse 10 an invitation given By the prssi-
aeris on special authorization Of congress.
fo1r presence here is no ordinary event.
Ii signifies much 10 the people OF America
tciay, II may signify far more
In DAYS TO conse. 1t is the greatest
conference OF nations ever assembled 10
consider the welfare OF territorial posses
lions 80 vast and 70 contemplate the posi-
ulEhes OF future SO great and so inspiring;
TOT thoSe now standing within these walls
are empowered 20 act FOR nations whose
borders are on both the great oceans, with
their northern limits touched hy the Arc
tic waters While considerations Of this
character must inspire Americans. both
south and North, with the iiveiiest sense
OF their future grand power, they must
also impress With a sense of grave respon-
sihslity touching the character and aevel-
opment OF their respective naiionalities.
The delegates whom am addressing can
DO much to establish permanent relations
OF confidence, respect and friendship be-
tween the nations which they represent
They can show TO the world an honorable,
peaceful conference OF seventeen independ-
en-, American powers. in which all shall
meet together on terms of absolute eaual-
ity conference in which there can be no
attempt to coerce single delegate against
his own conception of the interests OF his
nation, conference which will permit no
secret understanding on any subject, but
VIII frankly publish to the world all its
conclusions; conference which viii toler-
ate no spirit of conquest. but will act 10
cultivate . sympathy as broad as both con-
unentss conference which will form no
seifish alliance against the older nations
from which We are proud to claim inner
itance, conference which will seek
nothing. propose nothing. endure nothing
that Is not to the general sense of the dele
gates timely aud wise and peaceful"
We cannot be expected 70 forget that
our common fate has made us inhabitants
OF two continents, which, at the close Of
four centuries, are still regarded beyond the
seas as the New World. Like situations
beget ike sympsthies, like purposes and
Ike duties. We meet in the firm bstfef
that the nations of America ought to and
can be brought nearer each other than thew
now are; that each viii End advantage and
profit from an enlarged intercourse with
the others. We believe we should be drawn
together more closely by the hishways OF
the seq, and that At no distant day the shin
and railway systems of the North and
South will meet upon the seas and land.
uniting the political and commercial CANT
tails OF all America. We believe that hearty
cooperation, based on confidence, will save
the American states from the burdens and
evils which have long and cruelty afflicted
the older nations of the world.
We believe the spirit of justice. of CON-
mon and equal interest between all the
Americans. will leave no room for an arti-
nciai balance of power like unto that which
has ed TO wars abroad and drenched
Europe in blood. We believe the friend
ship established with candor and main-
.sined with good faith will remove from
the American states necessity of guarding
boundary lines between themselves with
Notifications and military force. We be-
lieve that standing armies beyond those
which are needful for public order and
safety OF international administration
should be unknown on both the American
continents. We believe that friendship and
not force. courts of Just Law and not the
violence of mob. should be the recognized
rule OF administration between American
nations and in American nations
TO these subjects and those which
are cognate thereto, the attention of this
conference is earnestly and cordially in
vited by the government OF the United
States. 1t viii be a great gain when We
shall acquire that common confidence on
which all international friendship must
rest IL will be greater gain when We
shall be able TO draw the people OF the
American nations into closer acquaintance
with each other, an end to be facilitated by
more friendship and more rapid intercom-
mercial communication. Ii win be q great
day when personal and commercial reia-
tons of the South and North shall be
adopted and so regulated that each shall
acquire the highest possible advantage
from the enlightened and enlarged inter
course of all.
Before the conference shall formally en-.
ter upon the discussion of the subjects TO
be submitted 10 them, | am instructed that
ali the deiegases are 10 be the guests of the
government during the proposed visit 10
various sections of the country. with the
double view of showing 10 our friends from
abroad the condition of the United States,
and OF giving TO our people in their homes
the privilege and pleasure Of extending the
warEns hospitality of Americans"
Mr.. Blaine escorted the delegates 10 the
White house, where the president gave q
special reception TO the delegates at 20.
one OF the features Of which Was an informal
lunch served in the state dining-room al 2
The reception took place in the blue rarlor.
The members were presented by Blaine,
first 20 Mr.. Harrison. then 10 Mrs. Harri-
son. and then "a the cabinet. After dinner
the party repaired to lunch. The center
piece was an elaborate floral representation
Of the Western hemisphere. South Ameri-
can dishes and South American cigarettes
were served. and everything done TO show
honor 10 the different countries repre-
sented. A few Of the delegates were in full
eoart eostame, bu, the majority wore
plain civilian dress. The reception lasted
two hours and wsx altogether informal
John b. Anderson acted as presi dent pro
tenn Of the dee ,atss. The following reso-
Fation was sd"pJed; That the members
OF the InterI. sttonal American Congress
accept with pleasure the invitation OF the
president Of tie United states o. America
to be the guests Of hts government in Al
excursion through the territory @! the
United ssates, ard that we express our
thanks fo- said invitation"