THE TWO AMERICAS 



SPEECH AT THE FORMAL OPENING OF THE PAN- 

 AMERICAN EXPOSITION, BUFFALO, MAY 20, 1901 



TO-DAY we formally open this great exposition 

 by the shores of the mighty inland seas of the 

 North, where all the peoples of the Western Hemi 

 sphere have joined to show what they have done in 

 art, science, and industrial invention, what they have 

 been able to accomplish with their manifold resources 

 and their infinitely varied individual and national 

 qualities. Such an exposition, held at the opening 

 of this new century, inevitably suggests two trains 

 of thought. It should make us think seriously and 

 solemnly of our several duties to one another as citi 

 zens of the different nations of this Western Hemi 

 sphere, and also of our duties each to the nation to 

 which he personally belongs. 



The century upon which we have just entered 

 must inevitably be one of tremendous triumph or of 

 tremendous failure for the whole human race, be 

 cause, to an infinitely greater extent than ever be 

 fore, humanity is knit together in all its parts, for 

 weal or woe. All about us there are innumerable 

 tendencies that tell for good, and innumerable ten- 



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