The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1894-05-30
A Notable Document.

The Worlds Columbia Exposition
Memorial for International Arbltra-
ton, of which mention has heretofore
been made in these columns, has at
last been completed, after some un-
avoidable delays, and is now to be
transmitted to the Governments OF
the world.
The Memorial was adopted by the
Worlds Columbian Commission on the
18th of October. 1898, and bears the
signatures of seventy-nine Commits.
sioners of the Exposition appointed by
the different States of the Union. II
is also signed by thirty-six Directors
of the Exposition by the general
officers of the Board Of Lady Mana.
gers; and by the officers of the
Worlds Congress Auxiliary, under
whose auspices the numerous Congress-
es and the Parliament of Religions
were held.
1t carries the names of four Worlds
Fair Commissioners from Great Bri-
tain; of seven Commissioners from
Canada of two from New South
Wales; two from Ceylon; two from
the Cape of Good Hope: three from
Jamaica; five from Spain two from
Portugal five from Italy one from
Switzerland two from Greece two
from Sweden three from Norway
four from Denmark; five from Brazil !;
three from Venezula; three from Aus
tria three from Turkey two from
Argentina; three from Mexico; two
from Costa Rica one from Paraguay
three from Guatemala; two from Col
ombia; two from Japan; one from
Siam two from Korea; four from
Germany one from Uruguay; two
from Ecuador; one from Hayti; one
from Liberia; one from Bolivia, three
from Belgium one from Bulgaria
one from Curacao three from Persia
two from the Netherlands; one from
the Orange Free State; one from
British Guiana; and two from China.
1t is likewise signed by many of the
officers and prominent men and wo-
men of the various Congresses held
during the Exposition, from many
countries and of all religious beliefs,
and by distinguished people of every
kind who spent some time at the great
worlds gathering in Jackson Park.
The whole list constitutes weight OF
names and influence such as has per-
haps never been appended to any pre-
vious document.
Such a memorial, when finished and
lying before you, seems to be very
simple affair, but to have conceived
such a thing and to have brought it to
successful execution is proof of real
originality, great persistence and the
deepest interest in the cause which the
Memorial seeks to promote. Our read
ers already know that Mr.. William f.
Blackstone of Oak Park, ILL.,, one the
Honorary Commissioners of the Ex-
position, was the originator of the Me-
merial. He has, with great labor and
at large expense, completed 1t and de-
livered copies Of it to Secretary Gresh-
am who has kindly consented to trans.
init them to the several Governments
of the world.
The Souvenir Copy of the Memorial
which now lies before us is very hand
somely gotten up. All the signatures
are reproduced in fac-simile and print
ed on heavy white paper. They cover
| fifty pages. There is an appendix of
sixteen pages containing addresses on
the subject of arbitration by Judge
Thomas NJ. Cooley, Lord Chief JUS.
tice Coleridge, Prof. Emile de Lave
leye, Rt. Hon. w. E. Gladstone, Hon.
&c. G.. Bonney. ex-President Harrison,
Bishop J. P. Newman and others, and
articles giving the size and cost OF
armies, the history of legislative action
in behalf of arbitration, etc. The
whole is bound in beautiful white cloth
and on the front of the cover arestamp.
ed in gilt letters the words ''The
Worlds Columbian Memorial for In
ternational Arbitration"
The words of the Memorial are as
follows:
"To the Governments of the World.
"The undersigned, citizens of many
countries, gathered at the Worlds
Columbian Exposition in Chicago, in
the United States of America, recogniz-
| ing the advantages accruing to those
nations which have pursued the policy
of arbitrating international disputes,
and desiring that the like benefits may
in the future be enjoyed by all nations,
and deeming this q fitting opportuni'
ty, do hereby join In this memorial to
all our various Governments, praying
that they will unitedly agree, by mutua
treaties, to submit for settlement by ar
bitration all such international ques
tions and differences as shall fail OF
satisfactory solution by the ordinary
peaceful negotiations. And for this
the petitioners will ever pray.
ut is requested that copy Of this
memorial shall be presented to each OF
the governments of the world"
1t need not be said that among the
many influences working to bring
about the peace and harmonious coop
Grafton of the nations this memorial,
growing out of the greatest worlds
gathering ever held and seriously
signed and supported by so many emf.
nent people Of many lands, and sym.
pathized with and heartily approved
by hundreds of thousands OF Others
who have not been permitted to SET
their hands to it, will prove one of the
most potent and far-reaching. Let II
90 forth on its beautiful mission attend
ed by the prayers of all those who
wish to see the sword forever sheatheu
| opb tho uarlika farun-heof fOrayol