126 REPORT OF THE SECRETARY GENERAL. 



and smoothly toward the political international side of our common 

 relations within the continent; and, although we have perhaps uninten- 

 tionally entered into that ground, even a little further than it became a 

 convention of scientific purposes, we have thus taken a further step in 

 the direction of consolidating the work of harmony and of mutual under- 

 standing, of cordial cooperation, and of mutual respect, in which the 

 young nations of this continent should thrive and grow strong. It is 

 certainly not the business of the delegates to this congress to determine 

 what shall be the course followed by the foreign offices of our countries. 

 But we, who have breathed this atmosphere of American fraternity, can, 

 at least, let them know that in this congress, from the President of the 

 United States to the delegate from the most distant parts of the Ameri- 

 cas, we are united in the noble desire of seeking political unity of the 

 continent, so that the nations which compose it may thus lend one another 

 mutual support and thus afford themselves better protection against 

 foreign danger, and, at the same time, voluntarily settle their own dififer- 

 ences through any means which friendship should suggest to them; for 

 all are equally good and efficacious, provided it be not attempted to im- 

 pose them upon the free will of any sovereign nation. 



We can, therefore, say that the congress has been a success, both as 

 to its scientific side, which belongs peculiarly to it, and as to its aspect 

 of social intercourse and of a better political understanding, which have 

 been its cordial and significant support. 



The delegates return to their homes carrying with them the certainty 

 of the good results which have been realized and the sincere congratula- 

 tions of the opinion of the continent, which applauds the work done. It 

 is a pleasant duty for me to extend these congratulations, principally 

 to the Government of the United States, to the officers who had under 

 their charge and carried out successfully the vast organization of this 

 congress, and, finally, to the numerous and brilliant learned and educa- 

 tional societies and intellectual corporations from the United States 

 which have brought so valuable a contribution of enlightenment and 

 activity to our labors. 



Under one of the resolutions you have adopted, the city of Lima, 

 capital of Peru, has been selected as the seat for the next congress. 

 Congratulating the representatives here present from that illustrious 

 Government for the well-deserved honor conferred upon it, I call upon 

 you, Messrs. Delegates, to promote in your countries with the energy 

 that you are capable of devoting, for the sake of these noble ideals, the 

 preliminary work necessary in order that the coming scientific congress 

 at I/ima may be one of equal success. 



