THE HISTORY OF THE CONGRESS 35 



time the acquaintances made, and the common incidents and anec- 

 dotes experienced, heightened the enjoyment of all. 



The toastmaster of the banquet and presiding officer, Hon. David 

 R. Francis, was never in a happier vein than when he assumed the 

 gavel and proposed the health of the President of the United States 

 and the rulers of all nations represented at the board. 



President Francis said : 



MEMBERS OF THE INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS OF ARTS AND SCIENCE : 



On the facade at the base of the Louisiana Monument, which is the central 

 feature of this Exposition picture, is a group of Livingston, Monroe, and Marbois. 

 It represents the signing of the treaty, which by peaceful negotiation transferred 

 an empire from France to the United States. Upon the inscription are the words 

 of Livingston, " We have lived long and accomplished much, but this is the 

 crowning act of our lives." 



It is that transfer of an empire which this Exposition is held to commemo- 

 rate. And paraphrasing the words of Livingston, permit me to say that I have 

 presided over many dinners, but this is the crowning act of my career. 



In opening the deliberations of the International Congress of Arts and Science, 

 I made the statement that a Universal Exposition is an ambitious undertaking. 

 I stated also that the International Congress of Arts and Science is the crowning 

 feature of this Exposition. I did not venture the assertion then which I have the 

 presumption to make now, that the most difficult task in connection with this 

 Universal Exposition was the assembling of an International Congress of Arts 

 and Science. I venture to make the statement now, because I feel that I am justi- 

 fied in doing so by the success which up to the present has attended your delibera- 

 tions. Any congregation of the leaders of thought in the world is a memorable 

 occasion. This is the first systematic one that has ever been attempted. Whether 

 it proves successful or not, it will be long remembered in the history of the civilized 

 countries that have participated in it. If it be but the precursor of other like 

 assemblages it will still be long remembered, and in that event it will be entitled 

 to unspeakable credit if it accomplishes anything toward the realization of the 

 very laudable objects which prompted its assembling. 



The effort to unify all human knowledge and to establish the inter-relations 

 thereof is a bold conception, and requires the courage that characterizes the 

 people who live in the western section of the United States. If it be the last effort 

 of the kind it will still be remembered, and this Universal Exposition, if it had 

 done nothing else to endear it to cultured people of this and other countries, will 

 not b forgotten. The savants assembled by the call of this Exposition have pur- 

 sued their respective lines of thought and research, prompted by no desire other 

 than one to find a solution of the problem which confronts humanity. By bringing 

 you together and making an effort to determine and establish the relations between 

 all lines of human knowledge, we have certainly made an advance in the right 

 direction. If your researches, if the results of your studies, can be utilized by 

 the human race, then we who have been the instruments of that great blessing 

 will be entitled to credit secondary only to the men who are the discoverers of 

 the scientific knowledge whose relations we are endeavoring to establish. The 

 Management of the Universal Exposition of 1904 salutes the International Con- 

 gress of Arts and Science. We drink to the perpetuation of that organization, and 

 I shall call upon its distinguished President, Professor Newcomb, to respond to 

 the sentiment. 



Dr. Newcomb in a few words thanked the members of the Congress 



