Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-02-25
ESPECIAL TELEGRAM TO THE D1sPArcH.I

fourteenth Boston Monday lecture In Ire
mont Temple, this being the fourth in this
seasons course. His preclude was on the
topic, "Pan-Aperican Congress and Colum-
bus Centennial" Mr.. Cook said:
The official representatives of 1900 900 Of
people are now consulting about the CONNER
cial interests of a territory more than three
times as large as that of modern Europe. What
the friends of peace, freedom and fair trade can
do for South America is suggestive OF what
they can do for the whole world. The pur-
poses of the Pan-American Congress have their
chief suggestiveness in the fact that they are
an entering wedge, not merely for the centen-
nisl but for cosmopolitan reforms. 1t is
cheerful sign Of the times that bodies like the
Senate and House of Representatives should
agree 20 call together at the cost to this Gov
ernment of 100000 convention to consider
such topics as these, every one of which has a
cosmopolitan as well as continental bearing.
THE CHIEF OBJECTS.
First measures to preserve the peace and
promote the prosperity of the several American
States; secondly measures looking toward a
formation of an American Customs Unioni
thirdly the establishment of regular and fire.
uuent communication between the ports of
these States; fourthly uniform system of Gus
toms port dues and charges, uniform system OF
invoices sanitation of ships in quarantine, etc.;
filthy, patent laws, copyright etc; sixthly the
adoption of a common legal-tender coin; sew
enthly agreement upon recommendation to
the respective governments of a definite plan
of arbitration of all questions and disputes be-
tween these nations.
Now. there are three great hopes before the
American people to-day; the first is that this
comment may be brought from pole to pole
under system of arbitration that Will prevent
war, promote commerce and advance niviliZa-
ton. The second hope is that this example
may have international influences beyond the
seas and that arbitration may ultimately be-
come the settled rule of the entire civilized
world. The third hope is that self-government
in America if successful is to be the inspira-
ttiOn of the age through the world.
Let us look closely at a few great facts-a
summit from which the whole field can be COM
,manded On this continent we have no slaves
and no king; representative institutions are the
american fashion, selfgovernment is the only
available road here to pure government,
sELF-EvIDENT TRUTHS.
y These truths we hold to be self-evident: That
all men are born with certain inalienable
rights, among which are equality at their birth
before the law, life and the pursuit Of nappi-
mess. we do not level down the social land.
Scape, but we level up the political. Now that
hhe last King has gone from Brazil can we
avoid class government Was the carrier pig
feon which Dom Pedro sent back to Brazil as
her shores sank from his sight dove of peace?
J Glass government is likely to rise You are
mot yet freed in tropical and subtropical regions
from the peril of government by caste. The
wisdom of self-governmenU depends on the
diffusion of education. property, conscientious
mess, etc. Without these there would be class
government There is a particularly strong
Tendency to this wherever the climate makes
the class In the Gulf States and in Central
America and Brazil the tendency is likely to be
strong in this direction. Among the bronze and
9hlack populations, as well as among the whites,
education, property conscientousness must be
GiffuSed,
The Argentine Republic has to-day such fa-
tilities of water communication as the North
west would have If it could ship its cAtte,at Du-
luth. The whole region of the temperate zone
in South America is becoming rival of Texas
In the wool trade.
THE NATIONS GROWTH.
This is the 27Oth year since the landing of the
pilgrims, and our nation owns to-day one-if-
teenth of the GLOBE and one-half of all its rail-
ways, one-third of its mining, One-fourth of its
manufacturing, one-ffth of its agriculture, and
possesses one-sixth of its wealth. There is no
where on the globe the possibility of such a
combination of nations as on this continent. 1
wish the Northern Republic and the Southern
Republic to lock hands for the advantage of
free labor be it bronze or black. Slavery has
been swept away almost simultaneously in
several quarters. By consecratIng this CONT
nent to free labor, providing means to educate
the colored population of our hottest climates
politically and relgously well as indus |
trlally and commercially. giving subsidies to
trade by sea as well as by land as now dis
cussed even by cautious political reformers in
the United States.
commit myself to a few propositions on
this point: First, we are largely shut out from
natural relations with South America by GER
tam rivals; second other nations give large |
subsidies to their merchant marine: third we !
grant enormous subsidies to railways but not
to ships: fourth, our small experience in grant
ing subsidies to Pacific Mail steamships did not
prove satisfactory; fifth, therefore subsidies, if
given at all, must have most cautious safe
guards; SIXTH without subsidies our merchant |
marine can never compete with its rivals; sew
enth, q high protective tariff will need to be |
modified in a few important particulars If we 1
are to be able to trade in the market with other
nations,
IN FAVOR OF RECIPROCITY.
] am for reciprocity treaty with all the
Americas. A customs union of Northern, Gen.
tral and Southern America will be a slow
growth, but when American manufactures
shall have become firmly rooted such a union !
will be worth trying. |
Touching the possibility of expanding the |
work of the Pan-American Congress into a |
celebration of the Columbus Centennial wish |
to read the following propositions: The CEN
tennial should be pan-Americau: it should be |
q political continuation of the Pan-American |
Congress; 1t should be an occasion for a confer |
ence OF the friends of all great enterprises |
temperance. social reform, peace, etc. The
Pan-American Congress should be the proto-
type Of an international congress to promote |
peace and give rise to an international arbitra-
tiOn commission.
Let such commission have only advisory
powers, but with such arrangements that if any |
nation should make war, the other party should |
have the power to coerce it to keep the peace
The moral influence of such a league WOULD |
spread peace over half the continents and all |
the seas. The United States is in the best place
TO call such convention. If Germany should |
call it France would not come and if ENGLAND |
SHOULD call IL she might be regarded as fearing /
o stab from Ireland.
AFRAID OF NOTHING.
But we are not afraid of our enemies in |
America, and we. above all other nations, are |
pepared to propose such an arbitration COM |
mission to all other nations.
The lecture that followed was upon the |
topic: ''This Disfranchisement of Polyga-
mists." Mr.. Cook said:
Three great events have recently occurred in
the history Of Mormonism: first, the exposure
of the Endowment House oaths as criminal:
secondly, the decision of the United States
Supreme Court affirming the constitutionality
of the Idaho Law which disfranchises those
who refuse TO take oath to the effect that they
are neither bigamists nor polygamIsts thirdly,
the recent victory Of the Gentle party at Salt
Lake City.
In the middle of last November Judicial in
EestigatiOn concerning the character of the
Endowment House oaths was undertaken in
Salt Lake City. This was the first time when
the judicial evidence had been presented on
this subject What did these witnesses prove2
That the oath demands the avenging the
blood Of Joseph Smith and other martyrs upon
the heads of all the Government, from the
President down; the recognizing of the su.
preme authority of the Mormon priesthood
and the obligation never to divulge the secrets
OF the Endowment House.
A TRIFLE SEVERE.
The penalties attached to this oath are to
mt 4 hn dfaau h0V olod 70 |