The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1889-10-17
Blaine on the Three Americas.
HE MAKES A BRILLIANT SPEECH ON WELDON
ING DELEGATES

HE MAKES BRILLIANT SPEECH ON wELCoM-
ING DELEGATES.
WASHINGTON. Oct 2.-This has been a great
day for the three Americas, The visiting states
men were formally received at the State De-
partinent by Secretary Blaine listened to a
great speech by the PREMIER unched with the
President, formally organized as a congress and
i'll the evening were banqueted by the Score
tary OF state.
it was a few minutes after noon when the
delegates headed by Assistant Secretary Adee
of the State Department, walked in procession
from the diplomatic ante room to the diplo-
matte reception room in pairs The Brazilian
delegates were attired in brilliant uniforms, re-
Splendent with gold lace, but all the others wore
plain black clothes. Some of the delegates were
attired in evening dress and carried opera hats.
A soon as the delegates had arrived in the room,
,cretarv Blaine greeted each of them personal
", and then delivered an address of welcome, as
fllOwS:
ENCE-Speaking for the government of the
United States bi you welcome to this capital.
Speaking for the people OF the United States
bid you welcome to every section and to every
State of the Union. You come i'll response to an
invitation extended by the President on the
authorization OF Congress. Your presence here
is no ordinary event 1t signifies much to the
people OF all America to-day. 1t may signify
far more i'll 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 inspiring. Those now sitting
within these walls are empowered to speak for
nations whose borders are on the great oceans,
waters thousand miles beyond the straits of
Bahring, whose southern extension furnishes
human habitations further below the equator
than is elsewhere possible on the globe.
The aggregate territorial extent of the nations
here represented falls but little short of twelve
millions of square meS-mOfe than three times
the area of all Europe and but little less than
one fourth part of the glObe-whilein respect to
the power of producing the articles which are
essential to human life and those viii oh minister
to life's luxury they constitute even larger
proportion of the entire world. These great
lay1 ,IJefi Nt1c 20 nj
ing one hundred and twenty millions, but
if peopled densely as the average of Eu-
rope the total number would exceed one thon-
sand millions.
While considerations of this character must
inspire Americans both South and North, with
the livliest anticipations of future grandeur
and power, they must also impress them with a
sense of the gravest responsibility touching the
character and development of their respective
nationalties. The delegates whom l am adj
dressing can do much to establish permanent
relations of confidence respect and friendship
between the nations which they represent.
They can show to the world an honorable anu
peaceful conference OF seventeen independent
American powers, in Which all shall meet to
gether on terms of absolute equalty-a con-
ference in which there can be no attempt to
coerce single delegate against ms own con
ence which will permit no secret understanding
on any subject, but will frankly publish to the
world all it's conclusions conference which
will tolerate no spirit of conquest, but will aim
to cultivate an American sympathy as broad as
both continents; conference which will
seek nothing, propose nothing, endure MOTH
ing that is not i'll 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 inhabitants of the
two continents which, at the close OF four cen
turtles, are still regarded beyond the seas as the
New World Like situations beget like sympa-
thes and impress like duties. We meet in the
firm belief that the nations or America ought to
be and can be more helpful, each to the
other, than they are now, and that each will
find advantage and profit from an enlarged in
tercourse with the others. We believe that
should be drawn together more closely by the
highways of the sea, and that at no distant day
the railway systems OF tile North and South will
meet upon the isthnuS and connect by land
routes the political and commercial capitals OF
all America. We believe that hearty co-opera-
ton, based on hearty confidence, will save all
American States from the burdens and evils
which have long and cruelty affected the older
nations of the world. We believe that spirit
of justice, OF common and equal interest be
tween the American States Will leave no room
for an artificial balance OF power like that
which has led to wars abroad ana drencned Eu-
We believe that.rr1endship, avowed with can
dor and maintained with good faith, will re-
move from American States the necessity of
guarding boundary lines between themselves
with fortifications and military force. We be
lieve that standing armies, beyond those which
are needful for public order ana the SAFETY OF
internal administration, should be unknown on
friendship and not force, the spirit of just law
and not the violence Of the mob, should be the
recognized rule of administration between
American nations and in American nations.
10 these subjects, and those which are cognate
thereto, the attention or TINS conference is
earnestly and cordially invited by the govern
ment OF the United States. 1t will be a great
gain when shall acquire that common conf
dence on Which all international friendship
must rest. 1t will be d greater gain when we
shall be able to draw the people Of all American
nations into closer acquaintance With each
other--an end to be facilitated by more frequent
and more apid intercommunication. 1T will be
the greatest gain when the personal ana COM
mercial returns 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
inter S OF all.
Before Jne conference shall formally enter
upon the discussion OF the subjects to be su' :
mitted to it. am instructed by the president to
invite all the delegates to be the guests OF the
government during a proposed visit to various
sectors of the country, with the double view CT
showing to our friends from aboard the condt-
ton OF the United States and of giving to OH
own people, III their own homes, the privilege
and pleasure Of extending their warm welcome
of AmericanS to Americans.
Mr.. Blaine'S speech provoked the heartie
demonstrations OF delight, and the delegates
crowded about him to express their apprecia-
ton Of the sentiments uttered. Having deiv-
cred it the Secretary retired. General John B.
Henderson was chosen temporary chairman,
and Munster Romero OF Mexico, Councillor La
fayette Rodriguez Pereifa of Brazil, DR.. Alberto,
Minister of Uruguary; DR.. Horacio Guzman,
the Nicaraguan Minister, and DR.. Jose HuftadO
of Columbia, were appointed Committee on
Organization. Secretary Blaine, as predicted
in the Press, was unanimously proclaimed presi-
dent OF the congress A committee, of which
Cornelius n. Bliss OF New York was q member,
notified Mr.. Blaine of his election and escorted
him to the chair
After formally expressing thanks to the PreSi-
dent for the invitation to make excursion
through the United States the convention adj
mansion, this city. Before PROCEEDING to the
reception at the White House the delegates
We're photographed in group on the east por
tc. Ct the State Department Building.-Speeial