The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1889-10-03
CONGRESS OF AMERICAS.
The Most Notable Gathering in
the New Worlds History.
MR.. BLAINE'S GREAT SPEECH
Welcoming the Distinguished Guests
orthe Republlo-EIOGuent Greet
ing bya Great statesman-Re'
ccptlon at the White House

| WASHINGTON D. w OcI' s'-1He ueF
egates to the international American
Congress assembled at the State Depart
ment this morning, and at l2 o'clock by
appointment they went in a body from
waiting room to the diplomatic reception
room, Here they were presented to
Secretary Blaine, who delivered a ie'
llcilous address Of welcome,
Mr., Blaine said:
GENTLEMEN OF THE INTERNATIONAL
AMERICAN CONGRESS; Speaking for the
government OF tho United States, bid
you welcome TO this capital. Speaking
Tor the people OF the United States,
bid you welcome to every section and TO
every State OF the Union, You conc
in response to an invitation extended by
the President on the special authorlza'
ton Of Congress, Your. presence here
is no ordinary event 1t signifies much
to the people OF all America to-day. II
may signify far more in the days 10 come.
No conference OF nations has ever as
sembled to consider the welfare OF terri
toTial possessions so vast, and to con-
template the possibilities OF future so
great and 80 inspiring. Those now sit-
ting within these walls are empowered
to speak for nstions whose borders are
on both the great oceans; whose north
ern limits are touched by the Arctic
waters for q thousand miles beyond the
straits OF Behring; whose southern ex'
tension furnishes human habitatlons
farther below the equator than Is else
where possible on the globe.
While considerations Of this character
must inspire Americans, both South and
North, with the liyeiest antiCipations oi
future grandeur and power, they must
also impress them with a sense OF the
gravest responsibility touching tue char
RCter and development Of their respec-
tive nationalities, The delegates whom
AM addressing Gun do much to estab'
lish permanent relations Of confidence,
respect and friendship between the ma
tions which they represent. They can
show to the world an honorable and
peaceful conference OF seventeen indie.
pendent American powers in which all
shall meet together on terms Of absolute
equality; Il conference in which
there can be no attempt to Coerce a
single delegate against his own ConCep'
tion OF the interests OF his nation; u
conference which will permit no secret
understanding on any subject, but will
frankly publish to the world all It's con.
Clusions; a conference which will tole.
rate no spirit Of conquest, but will aim
to cultivate an American sympathy as
both continents; u conference which
will form no selfish alliance against the
older NATIONS from which We arc proud
10 claim inherital0e % conference, in
fine, which will seek nothing, propose
nothing, endure nothing that Is not in
the general sense Of all tue delegates
timely aAd wise and peaceful.
And yet we cannotbe expected to for
get that our common fate has made us
Inhabitants Of the two continents which
at the close OF four centuries are still re.
garded beyond. the seas as the new
world. Like situations beget like sym.
patbies and impose like duties. We
meet In the firm belief that the nations
OF America ought 10 and can hp more
helpful each to the other than they now
are and that each will find advantage
and profit from an enlarged intercourse
with the others. We believe that we
Bhopld be drawn together more closely
by the highways Of the SEQ, and that at
no distant day the railway systems Of tue
North and South will meet upon the
Isthmus and connect by land routes the
political and commercial capitals Of all
America. We believe that hearty CO.
operation based on hearty confidence
will save all American states from the
burdens and evils which haye long aud
cruelty afflicted the older nations Of the
world.
UNIVERSAL PEACE TIE MOTIVE,
We believe that a spirit Of justice, Of
common and equal interest between the
American States, will leave no room for
IN artificial balance Of power like unto
that which has led to wars and drenched
Europe in blood. Webelieye that friend.
ship avowed and Gand0r maintained
with good faith, will remove from the
American States the necessity Of guard
ing boundary lines between themselves
with Notifications and military. force.
We helieYe that standing armies, beyond
those which are needed for public order
and the safety Of internal pdminiBtra.
ton, SHOULD be unknown TO both Ameri'
can continents. We beleYe that friend
ship and not force, the spirit Of just law
aud not the violence OF the mob, should
be the recognized rule .of administta'
tlon between American nations and In
American nations.
| TO these subjects the attention Of this
conference 10 earnestly and cordially In.
vited by the Government OF the United
States. II shall BIZ great gain when We
shall acquire that common confidence
on which international confidence must
rest. Belqro tho conference shall for
mally enter upon the AlsCgsGIon Of the
subjects 10 be submitted 10 II, am in'
istrGeted by the President 10 invite al
the delegates 10 be guests Of the Govern
nent during a proposed S!s!t 70 varioul
sections Of the country, with the double
view OF showing 70 our friends from
abroad the condition Of the u nited stateI
and OF giving 10 our people In theil
homes the privilege and pleasure ot ex
tending th0 warm welcome Of Americana
10 Americans.
BLAINE ELECTED PRESIDENT.
AZ the conclusion Of hlsspeech, secre
tary Blaine withdrew and resolution
were adopted naming james g. Blaint
as President Of tho Congress. John B
Henderson acted as President pro TEN
pore. A number Of the committees
I were then appointed, after which thI
Congress adjourned until Monday, No
Yember 10,
Mr. Blaine then came In and esOortel
the members Of the Congress 10 tn
White House. The President gave
special reception 10 the delegates 6t / i3l
O'clock, ope Of the features ol which wa
an informal lunch, gVFyp1 In the stat,
dining room At 2 O'Clock, Tie blue, Iut
and green patlOB and tho cast foou
had been specially prepared for the occa
sion aud were fbera)ly decorated Will
i ..Iaala aaA SaNu