The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-08-26

en-; the somewhat rigid bulge formali-
ties Of preliminary organization are
past; the commissioners have became
acquainted and the body of interna-
tional arbitrators are now ready for
the hard work before them.
The ceremonies Of organization took
place in the parliament buildings to-
day and while they were characterized
by a considerable degree of dignity,
the utmost degree of friendliness was
manifest in every word and movement
and an amicable adjustment of all
questions is predicted by both the
American and the British commission
ers. At noon the commissioners met
in private session in the legislative as
sembly, the upper house of the Que
bee parliament, all of the commission
crs except Congressman Dingley and
Sir James Winter, being present. At
ter he formal exchange of creden-
tails senator Fairbanks, as chairman
Of American delegation, named Lord
Herschell, Of England, as permanent
president of the joint commission.
Three secretaries were then chosen,
Chandler i. Anderson representing
NAN AAAAC AC%AS1 w. - O"A "
Great Britain, and Henry Bourassa,
M. p, representing the Canadians.
A committee of fOu commissioners
was appointed to formulate a plan of
procedure and will report at the next
meeting of the commission m Thurs
day at IL o'clock a. m.
After this work of organization was
finished the commissioners proceeded
to the Legislative council chamber,
where a public reception was rendered
them by Mayor S. N. Parent and the
city council of Quebec. When the
commissioners had taken their places,
Mayor Parent, standing at the foot Of
the table, addressed them. His words
were delivered first in French and then
in English. He spoke in part as fol-
lows:
The Honorable Members of the In
ternatiOnal Commission of Quebec:
The citizens of Quebec, through
their mayor and council, are happy to
welcome you most cordially on this
memorable day, which marks the open
ing OF the important work which has
been cOntded to your care. They high
ly appreciate the honor conferred upon
their city by the choice which has been
made of Quebec to be the seat of the
international conference, which has
been entrusted with a mission of peace,
which will be one of the lasting events
of this eventful age. We feel honored
and proud to be called on to extend
our unbOunded hospitality to a gather
ing composed of most eminent men,
who voice the wishes and aspirations
of two powerful nations, bound by
the ties of blood and filiatiOn, and at
the present moment drawn one toward
the other by powerful interests, the
Importance of which asserts itself in
q most significant manne and which
may open a new and unexpected chap
ter in the history of our times
Senator Fairbanks replied, as fol-
lows:
Your worship, the American COM
1niSSiOnerS, in whose behalf | have che
honor to speak, are deeply sensible to
the high tribute of an address from
the venerable and historical city OF
quebec, and take pleasure in express
ing to you our gratitude therefor.
This spot is full of historic memo
ries. The soil has been enriched by
English, American and French blood;
1t has been made more notorious by the
deeds of heroes, deeds which are our
common parentage.T The stories of Mont
calm, Wolf and Montgomery will en-
dure when that nobl shaft dedicated
in COmmemOration of Wolf and Mont
calm has faded from memory.
Let us hope that this gOodly city
shall know no future strife, save the
wholesome contests which are the rich
fruit of peace.
Recent events which sharply en-
listed the attention of the world, hav,
served to emphasize our kinship an
to increase the bonds of affection
which should exist between the tw
English speaking nations. We indulg
the hope that the Joint high commits
sion which you have honOred witt
your cordial welcome, may by it's de
~liberations still further promote tina
feeling of amity and good will whicl
we desire should ever continue be
tween the kingdom of Great Britai
and the republic of the Unite
States"
Lord HerschelI followed Senate
Fairbanks and spoke as follows:
Mr.. Mayor n Gentlemen:
On behalf of the British commission
erS, L desire to associate OurSelve
with the observations which have JUS
been addressed to YOU in such elO
quent terms by Senator Fairbanks. w
also highly appreciate the honor yo
nave done us in presenting this ad
dress to us, and thank you for the wei
come with which you have received u
here. l am sure that we, in conjunC
ton with our brother commissioner
representing the neighboring republi,
Join in the expression of the hope,
may l trust. say the ~sanguine expecta
ton, that the conference about t
may result in establishin
relations completely satisfactory an
of the fullest amity between neigh
boring peoples, relations which cannC
but inure to the benefit of both cour
tries"
The commission then left the builC
ing, to meet again Thursday.
A NEW TRIPLE ALLIANCE.
London, August 24.-The Madrid col
respondent of The Times says:
Zone paper here declares boldly Q
the authority of an anonymous Freno
diplomat that owing to M. HanatouX
exertions, a treaty of alliance has bee
signed between Spain, France an
Russia, with the object of counterac
ing the Anglo-German influence in M
rocco. Other papers mention the ma
ter, but without affirming that TT
treaty has been actually signed.
THE idea of a permanent reappraci