The evening times., 1897-05-05
THE POSTAL CONGRESS |
Continued from Second Page.

ufes looking TO the revision, sirplifica-
tIcn and uniformity OF International postal
arrangements, and the Department OF
Sta.e submitted the proposition TO the gov
ernments of Great Britain, France, Prus-
Sia, Sweden, the Netherlands, Belgium
Italy and Ecuador. Favorable responses
were received from all the governments
named ,-and at Paris. or the second Monday
of the following May, the first interna-
tioaal conference assembled.
"Out Of this idea OF an international
conference grew the larger idea Of per
manent Universal Postal Union, and the
first congress OF this union met Ia the han
of the National Senate OF switzerland In
Septcmber, 1874 The treaty ere atlng
this union went into effect on the lst or
July, 1878 In congratalatIng our gov
ernment and our people uIon being the
host of this, probably the tody most rep
reseutative OF all the civilized nations or
the earth that has ever assembled, can
therefore express our profound pride that
the idea creating this union originated
with Us.
..The Universal Postal Uuion is young in
wears. but phenomenal in successes and
achievements. 1t is the outgrowth OF
separate treaties between different ma
tional organizations, each comp2ct differ
ing in some essential respect from atl
Others. Only twenty-threc years ago, IN
the city OF Berne, at the foot of the Alps,
the delegates from a few administrations
met and laid deep and Solid the founda-
tions OF this union. The founders OF the
institution are fast passing away, only a
few remain on this side of the boundaries
of time who have personal recolleotions Of
its inauguration, and soon there will be
left only the scattered and incomplete rec
ords of the different administrations tc tell
the story of how one Of the grandest pro-
iects of the century was conceived and
born.
We are rapidly approaching the real
ization of tie dream which was outliued
in the colossal enterprise, for there is
reason To believe that by the time this
congress adiouTns. tie sun in its daily
circuit through the heavens viii not rise
upon civilized people, nor set upon an
organized government which Is not III
cIuded in the wise and beneficent juris-
diction OF the Universal Postal Union.
Thus YOU meet under happy auspices.
Representatives FROM countries not in the
uii,oa, nutaHlv, those from China ana
Korea, are present and ready TO join yot1T
brotherhood, par, r,iCipate IN your deibera-
tons. and become co-woIkers with you
Would that the representatives OF the
several governments which constituted
the Compunen, parts Of the infant union
the men " hose genius shines through every
written page Of your early history, and
whose influence is eveTyw here vistle in
the beneficent labors of their successors
could be present 10 enjoy the almost full
rruitinn OF their hopes and aspirations.
Most Of them have crossed the dark river,
and now rest under the shade OF the other
shore.
since the congress OF Vienna official
notices Of the death of some of its hon
ored members have been sent out by the
International bureau at BeTne; such CON
spicuous names as Hofstidc, director gen
eral Of posts and telegraphs of the Neither
lands. OF LUnd, the late director general
OF the posts Of Denmark; Of Sir Arthur
Lockwood, secretary OF the general post
office at London; of Eugene BOrel, the
accurate. scholarly, accomplished and ef-
ncicnt director of the international bu-
reau at Berne, and OF DT- Won stephan, the
imperial director OF the posts of Germany,
a man Of wide learning ana wisdom, aud
exceptional mental resources, the acknowl-
edged postal mind OF the world, the Bis
marck Of the post.
Thus briefly alluding TO the virtues Of
your former coIlaboratoTs ndfricndS, am
tempted TO quote from the touching tribute
paid 10y Dr. Won Stephan at the opening
OF the Vienna congress to those OF his
former associates whose deaths had just
been announced. Gentlemen, said he. al
the moment we are about TO iuauEUrdte
our lal,ors. permit me TO follow sacred
usage in calling to mind the names OF our
fellow-laborcrs and friends, who. since
the congress Of Lisbon, have, by the in
scrutable decree OF Providence, passed
beyond the confines OF this life Then,
after a brief euogy Of the honorcd dead,
he closed with the suggestion that: on
their tombs let us lay the wreath Of re
membrancc and friendship
so let us bring today 10 his grave and
to the graves Of those whom he, too. would
have dpl g'ited t. honor, the fragrance OF
friendship. the remembrance of their lives
crowned by useful deeds. Fortunate il is
that in tile practical affairs Of life no one
man or group OF men is indispensable TO the
accomplishment OF great reforms. Men tile,
bat genius survives. Useful work follows
the coming aud going of the years. The
deeds of brave and successful workers out
live them. Those to whom | have referred
have left a precious legacy of difficulties
overcome. of distractions removed from the
path OF postal progress and reform, and
have surveyed aud made straight the high
WAYS upon which You aTetO travel in rea Ch-
in the goal they set up for your ambition.
They have made your work lighter. They
conceived and left you to execute. L doubt
not that you Will enter upon the task cheer
ed by the prospect that your successes will
be the consummation Of their designs.
.'Some impoItantqueStions will be brought
to YOUR attention which are not likely 10
be decided by unanimous vote; some power
ful governments will propose notifications
of the treaty of Vienna relating to the 1e-
daction of transient rates. Others. per
hans will ask to have such rates abolished.
The question of reducing the rates OF inter
national hostage viii come before you.
To the consideration Of these grave prOpO-
siiions i invite your careful attention.
confident that your decision thereon, as
well as on the other subjects, VIII be wise
and profitable for all the Countries con-
ceIned.
Again welcoming you TO this Capital,
wishing for each of you pleasant sojourn
among MS and a safe return to your homes