70 REPORT OF THE SECRETARY GENERAL. 



We meet to-day as if to take stock of our ever increasing assets of 

 science, this builder of free nations, which, first appearing as an immi- 

 grant on our shores, has now won with all honors the right of citizenship 

 forever in America. Mysterious currents beyond our control, because 

 bom in God's mercy for the human race, are in their silent errand march- 

 ing toward the manifest destiny of this continent of ours, destiny which 

 can not be attained by conquest, preponderance, oppression, or unfair 

 exploitation of nations or individuals. Glorious destiny which is freedom, 

 the three times blessed freedom, that wealth helps to make stable, and 

 which grows and prospers, aided by science, and is worth attaining if 

 justice and right go hand in hand with liberty. 



Let us believe, nay, let us ardently hope, that after the congress of 

 finance and science, there will come one hailed as the congress of Pan 

 American justice, where the delegates of all the nations of America, 

 "upon a footing of genuine equality and unquestioned independence," 

 to quote President Wilson's happy words, shall convene to bear witness 

 that there will be no more pending questions, no unquenched thirst for 

 right and for redress between the sisters, but where will only reign a 

 common eagerness for cooperation ever mindful of its goal of continental 

 good will and happiness, perished forever the remembrances of past sus- 

 picious grievances. 



Finance and science to-day, laboring together to build a continental 

 fabric cemented with justice, vyill unite the Americas for the benefit of 

 humanity, with no fears for its durability; for, if united, we shall stand. 

 But let no cause of distrust ever wander between our nations; for, if 

 divided, we must fall. 



COSTA RICA: EDUARDO J. PINTO, OF THE COSTA RICAN 



DELEGATION. 



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



and Gentlemen: 



The peaceful assembling of free America to discuss in this Con- 

 gress, and at this moment, the best and most adequate means science 

 can control in order to dignify and beautify human life, is highly signifi- 

 cant to all who have had the privilege to have been born in the 

 New World. And that this should happen at the precise moment 

 when the genius of war prevails, bringing ruin and desolation on the 

 other side of the Atlantic, is even more significant. The pride which 

 the New Americans to-day experience is the more intense and well 

 justified since this is the Second Continental Convention which meets 



