The times., 1897-05-09

be expected, these results are largely 1ue
to the liberal and conciliatory spirit con-
stantly shown during the deliberations by
the delegate Of the government which took
the initiative
At the conclusion of the conference Mr..
Kasson proceeded to different capitals,
maxim & treaties upon the ne w basis with six
or seven of the European governments in
order to put the rules of uniformity into
practice at once.
Upon Mr. Kasson's return to the United
States many changes took place in the
Postoffice Department; be becoming a
member of the Thirty-seventh Congress,
and Postmaster General Blair giving place
to Governor Dennison, of Ohio, further
progress In this direction Was, accordingly,
delayed, andit was not until S67. upon his
retirement from Congress that Mr.. K4sson
was again sent abroad to make further
postal treaties in the same direction
The Prussian and Netherlands postoffice
department took an active interestin in these
reforms and no man morethau the late DR..
Won Stephan, of Berlin. to whom Germany
owes its present admirable system. DR..
Won Stephan had had experience IN
simplifying the postal system OF the differ
ept kingdoms and princpalities of q Germany,
and appreciated the need of uniform and
international postal laws. II was owing
to him more than to any other postal
authority that re-asscmbiing of the in
ternational postal conference was secured
and the ideas of the first conference gradu-
ally perfected in the form of postal
union, where, so TO speak, one treaty Was
prepared embracing the common prin-
ciples to which all nations might success
sively adhere. In the development of the
ideas OF uniformity aud simplicity Identical
treaties were TO be made between success.
sye union postal conferences.
In the four congresses that followed the
Paris conference.-the 81 4, at Berne: of
1873, at Paris; OF e95, at Lisbon, and OF
1891, at Vienna-the system has been per-
fected TO its present stage, where all na-
tions accepting the modern principles OF
civilization have adopted the one standard.
1t is impossible for the contemporaries
of a great movement to judge Of it. Its
effect upon history can only be determined
by posterlty, but Ii / s not to be doubted
that no movement of the century has been
more useful in advancing the principles
OF Christian civilization and of promoting
which have put the postal matters Of the
world on the simplest basis and made in
ternational correspondence as faoite as
the exchanging OF letters in the same
town was fifty years ago.
Mr.. Kasson, who has served his Govern
ment In the lower house, in the postofifee
department and as minister to Austria
and Germany, is still living in Washington
in a spacious house In / street, oppo-
site the mansion made historical by the
FIelinghuysens and the Whitneys, who
lived in it during their official careers
at the Capital He occupies himself with
literary pursuits, the character of which
can be readily determined from bis Ii
brary, which is richly stocked with books
relating TO the history of the United States,
especially during and since the war, and
from the pictures OF the statesmen that
hang on the walls.
over his desk is photograph of the mem
hers OF the first postal congress, a rare
souvenir, which he treasures, perhaps
nothing in his whole official career gives
Mr.. Kasson so much satisfaction as his con
nection with the postal service OF the coun-
try, and his instruuentality in institiiting
International postal reforms His private
affairs, however, prevented him from ac-
cepting the presidency OF the postal CON
gress, now in session, which position was
offered to him by the President
Mr.. Kasson's is a most engaging per-
sohality He is respon sive and genial,
and has that old-fashioned courtliness of
manner so delightful. and so rarely met
in these end-of-the-century days. His cub
turp is broad hi { lea rni in O. deem n nd few men
have so compr ehensive knowledge of his
own times, in which b. has played a con-
spicuous part, or better understand their
place in history. Gout is his only enemy,
to rid himself of which be will visit the
baths of Gcstein, in the Austrian Tyrol
this summer CHARLOTTE NJ CoNGER.