The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-05-09
THE INTERNATIONAL POSTAL
CONGRESS.

In some respects the international postal
congress, now sitting in Washington, is the
most important body ever convened in this
or any other country. This is the fifth con-
gress of the kind, but it is more important
than any that have preceded it because it
represents more states, a larger proportion
OF the human race and a principle that
is constantly broadening. This congress
will admit China, Corea and the Orange
Free State into the postal union, and then
1t will represent about 1,750, Co., 900 human
beings. No such convention ever met in
the world before. The principles it repre-
sents are commensurate with it's CONNER
cial clientage. They are as broad as hu-
manity itself. No other business or func-
ton of government comes as close home
to the people and touches as many and
varied interests as does the postal business.
There is not a corner of the world thai it
does not reach nor a phase of human af-
fairs that it does not involve. 1t is more
universal than civilization, for it is a
pioneer of civilization. AS a function of
peace the postal service of the world comes
nearer representing the universal brother
hood of man than does any other human
institution. Since 1863, when the first inter
national congress was held, a great advance
has been made in the promotion of postal
Intercourse between the nations. 1t is to
the credit of the United States that it was
the originator of the congress, and that it
has contributed very largely to the good
features of the postal union. One of it's
achievements has been to greatly cheaper
and secure uniformity of rates between the
different countries of the union, thereby
facilitating intercommunication between
various peoples and effecting a great saving
in the cost. A letter from any part of the
United States to almost any part of the
world now costs only ) cents, and a postal
card 2 cents. Even a 1-cent postal card
can be sent to any part of the world sub
ject to the collection of an additional cent
on delivery. A prepaid letter bearing a
United States stamp will go to any part of
the world. and so will letters prepaid in
other countries to any part of the United
States. The rates on newspapers and peri
odicals nave been greatly reduced. Under
the universal treaty letters or papers sent
from one country TO 81 peTSOH III dlObAlCl
are required to be forwarded at the request
Of the ADDRESSED from one postoffice to
another, or to any country embraced in the
union, without additional charge. Thus a
citizen of the United States sojourning in
foreign countries or travelling around the
world may have his mail matter forwarded
from one office to another or from one
country to another without extra charge.
These are only a few of the advantages
that nave been gained by the postal union,
and when it is remembered they embrace
the whole civilized world, and by far the
greatest part of the human race, one sees
how important an institution it is. The
congress is held every five years, and there
is reason to believe it will accomplish as
much on the lines indicated as has any
one of it's predecessors. Americans should
wish it entire success, for no other country
contains more persons who have corre-
! spondence with those in foreign countries.