REPORT OF THE SECRETARY GENERAL. 69 



of the countries of this continent has the same form of government, a 

 republic. To all of them are common the ideals expressed by Lincoln in 

 that speech known to every child in this country, that the Government 

 is established by the people and for the people. This, the most profound 

 and noble profession of faith by one of the greatest sons of America, is an 

 inspiration for all the countries of the continent. Many and diverse are 

 the roads to attain this object that these Republics have followed and 

 have yet to follow; many are the obstacles to be met in its realization; 

 multiple and diverse the forms that have militated against the develop- 

 ment of the culture that each of them has attained. And finally we must 

 be just and not forget that conditions have not been equal for all in the 

 march toward this ideal, but yet each Republic, even the smallest, has 

 from its experience instructive lessons from which all may learn. I 

 believe it may be affirmed in all truth that the political history of Chile, 

 at times an ardent strife, but always on a high plane, makes for the 

 realization of this ideal. 



Could these reunions have an object more noble, more worthy than 

 the study of our republican life, than its evolution toward democratic 

 ideals? Let us not forget that each law, each happening in the life of a 

 people is a political and social phenomenon that results from given his- 

 torical conditions at times fatal, that often are not within the power of 

 man to alter. Let us study these with the serene and calm criticism of 

 science, unprejudiced, passionless, without ulterior purposes. The fruits 

 of this study will be abundant, not to be appraised in immediate increase 

 of commerce and worldly profit. Material interests do not always unite. 

 At times their influence is other than civilizing. 



The benefits which v/e hope for are of an order more elevated. Therefore, 

 the Chilean delegation in' thanking this great country and its Government 

 for the hospitality extended to us, charges me to express my admiration 

 not alone for the stupendous material development, varied and inex- 

 haustible riches of the United States, but for the high and noble repub- 

 lican and democratic ideals with which Washington and Lincoln have 

 endowed it and the whole American world. 



COLOMBIA: ROBERTO ANCIZAR, FIRST SECRETARY OF 



LEGATION. 



Mr. Vice President, Mr. Secretary of State, Mr. President of the Congress, 



Ladies and Gentlemen: 



From all the Americas we have met in this city beautiful, endeavoring 

 to put together and to direct into intelligent channels the energies that are 

 to remodel the economic shape of this part of the world. 



