Omaha daily bee., 1899-10-13
HILL REPRESENTS MklNLEY
Welcomes Delegates of International Con-
gress in Name of United States.
TO CONTINUE IN SESSION TWO WEEKS
Its object IN Discussion of Trade
Matters with II View to Develop
mcnt oS Both Foreign and
Domestic Commerce.

PHILADELPHIA, Oct. 12.-The Interna-
tional Commercial congress, composed Of
representatives Of nearly every nation, was
formally opened today in the auditorium OF
the National Export Exposition.
The congress, which will continue for two
weeks, has for its specific object discus
sion of trade matters with a view of the
development Of both foreign and domestic
commerce and with this purpose in view
nearly 500 delegates. representing boards of
trade and commercial bodies in this coun-
try and as many more representing foreign
countries and foreign commercial bodies,
were present when the opening ceremonies
began.
President Mckinley was represented in
the person Of Assistant Secretary of State
Hill, while members of the various foreign
legations at Washington had come to the
city in special train over the Pennsyl-
vania road.
feature Of the session is to be change
in presiding officers every day. The ofrl-
cial language of the congress Is English and
all the deliberations and most OF the papers
Will be in that tongue
Assistant Secretary Of State Hill the pre-
siding officer OF the congress, called the
delegates TO order and welcomed them in
the name of the United States.
Lessons of Industry.
He spoke in part as follows:
"As the dignity of human labor is derived
from the happiness it bestows upon man
kind. the more widely its benefits are dis
tributed the more noble it becomes. The
patient toiler whether in the field the mine,
the factory or the great agencies of trans
portation, can entertain no more worthy
sentiment than that inspired by the thought
that his toll and skill are destined to satisfy
the needs of some fellow being and bring a
thrill of pleasure to some unknown recipient
as a reward for his own activities. All too
slowly, but none the less surely, after cen
turtles of savage battle, men have learned
that it is better and nobler to feed and
clothe and help one another than to rob and
plunder and destroy. The lessons of benef-
cent industry which have lighted the fires
of happy homes and built up peaceful COM
munities in every civilized state have at last
been learned by the nations also and fleet
ships, without fear Of piracy, traverse the
great international highways of the deep,
bearing fruits of toll to distant peoples.
Commerce spreads the white wings of
peaceful sails upon the barren sea and the
| JOY OF mutual exchange and reciprocal
service springs up in the hearts OF men.
The convocation of the International
Commercial congress in this city at this time
is significant token of the worlds progress.
1t treasures us that the political independ-
ence OF nations, which Is essential to their
existence and well-being, is not incon-
sistent with their social and economical in
terdependence. 1t promises hope that the
asperities Of commercial competition may be
tempered by the amenities of generous CO.
part OF all parties OF the civilized world
to secure the widest possible diffusion of
! the blessings arising from the achievements
OF the prolific century in which We live. II
the problem Of economic distribution could
be rightly solved. there would not exist a
single human being, capable of rendering a
social service, whose legitimate needs
could not be satisfied. 1t is a mark of high
| honor to the government of the United
States, as well as to the city and corporation
whose invitation has been extended through
its embassies and legations, that delega-
| tlons from nearly every commercial country
| OF the globe and representatives from more
than 200 chambers OF commerce have con-
ferred upon this congress the distinction OF
| their presence
THE president of the United States ha.
great pleasure in this gratifying evidence o
| interest in the international commercial
| congress and has expressed his desire tha
1t may prove a bond of union between thi!
and all the countries represented. ! hav,
the honor to convey to all the foreign repre-
sentatives who have distinguished this con
ference by their participation the most cor
dial welcome of the government of tn,
United States. May this reunion lay tn,
foundation of lasting friendship and be
permanent inspiration to the commerce o
the world"
Mayor Ashbrdge welcomed the delegates
on behalf Of the city, after which Charles
| H. Cramp president OF the Phiadelphit
Commercial Museum, declared the assembl.
ready for business.
Some time was taken up in the adoption
OF rules of the congress and other matters
Of routine detail.