The herald., 1898-02-13
Ill.

The DAY appointed 1Or the assembling
of the nations in Washington opened
bright and beautiful. Arrangements
had been made for the reception of the
distinguished guests at the Capitol. No
time was to he wasted and, having as
sembled in the Senate Chamber, the
business that had called them together
was to be Immediately begun. The
scene ON Pennsylvania avenue when
the procession of dgnitaries and royal
ties passed up toward the Capitol, was
one never 10 be forgotten. Bands
were playing, magnificent equipages
flashed in the morning sunlight, the
flags of every nation on the earth flut-
tered in the breeze. Queen Victoria.
with the Prince of Wales escorting her,
and riding in an open carriage. was
greeted with roars of cheers; the En-
peror William, following in another
carriage with Empress Victoria at his
side, condescended to bow and smile
in response to the greetings of a free
people. Each of the other monarchs
was received in a similar manner.
The crowd apparently hardly knew
at first how to receive the Sultan OF
Turkey, but the universal good feeling
was in his favor, and finally rounds of
hand clapping and cheers greeted his
progress along the splendid avenue.
A happy idea had apparently oc-
CURED to the Emperor of China and
the Mikado of Japan, for, attended by
their intermingled suites, they rode to-
gether in a single carriage. This OBJ
ject-lesson in the unity of internation-
al feeling immensely pleased the
spectators.
The scene in the Senate Chamber
stirred everyone profoundly. That it
was brilliant and magnificent goes
without saying. but there was a Sc
robustness, an intense feeling of eX-
pectancy, pervading both those who
looked on and those who We're to do
the work for which these magnates of
the earth had assembled. which pro-
duced an ineradicable impression. The
President of the United States, of
course, presided.
No time was wasted in prelminar-
les. The President made a brief
speech.
eve have come a)gether," he said.
W cOISlueI d QueSl4oll NHdl cbuebi4H
interests the whole earth. I need not
remind you that Unexpectedly and
without provocation on our part the
people-the monsters, 7 should rather
say-of Mars recently came down
upon the earth, attacked us in our
homes and spread desolation around
them. Having the advantage of ages
of evolution, which for us are yet in
the future, they brought with them
engines of death and of destruction,
against which we found it impossible
to contend. Il is within the memory
of every one in reach of my voice that
it was through the entirely unexpected
succor which Providence sent us that
we were suddenly and effectually freed
from the invaders. BY our own efforts
we could have done nothing.
But, as you all know. the first feel
ing of relief which followed the death
of our foes was quickly succeeded by
the fearful news which came to us
from the observatories that the Mar
tians were undoubtedly preparing for a
second invasion of our planet. Against
this we should have had no recourse
and no hope but for the genius Of one
of my countrymen, who, as you are all
aware, has perfected means which may
enable us not only to Withstand the at
tack of those awful enemies, but to
meet them, and, let us hope, to con-
quer them on their own ground
'Mr. Edison is here to explain to
you what those means are But we
have also another object. Whether we
send a fleet of interplanetary ships To
invade Mars or whether we simply
confine our attention to works of de-
fence, in either case it will be neces-
sary to raise a very large sum of
money. None of us has yet recovered
from the effects of the recent invasion
The earth is poor to-day compared
with it's condition few years ago; yet
we cannot allow our poverty to stand
in the way. The money, the means,
must be had. 1t will be part of our
business here to raise a gigantic war
fund by the aid of which we can con-
struct the equipments and machinery
that we shall require. This, / think, is
all / need to say. Let US proceed to
business.
"Where is Mr.. Edison?" cried a
voice.
'Will Mr. Edison please step for
ward?" said the President
There was a stir in the assembly,
and the iron-gray head of the great in
ventor was seen moving through the
crowd. In his hand he carried one of
his marvellous disintegrators. He was