Maech 19, 1909] 



SCIENCE 



4.4:1 



night a dinner was given ia the hall of the 

 university, at which there was a generous 

 representatives of every section of a great conti- 

 nent, should be able to get together and, casting 

 aside all petty prejudices, freely and frankly ex- 

 change the results of their careful investigations 

 and ripe experience, is not only a tribute to the 

 culture of this continent, but is also an indica- 

 tion of the extent to which our ideas have ad- 

 vanced beyond those which we inherited from our 

 European mother countries. 



The fact that we have met to place the results 

 of the best scientific thought at the disposal of all 

 the countries here represented, and through them 

 at the service of the civilized world, contains a 

 lesson of deep and lasting import which no other 

 assembly of modern times has been able so clearly 

 to impress upon the civilized world. 



The historian of the intellectual development 

 of the American continent, in reviewing the work 

 of these assemblies, will probably give to the 

 Santiago congress the honor of having clearly 

 demonstrated that the republics of the American 

 continent, because of their geographical position; 

 because of the peculiar conditions under which 

 they were settled; and because of the special 

 racial problems which they present, are confronted 

 by a series of problems distinctively American. 

 The mere fact of the existence of these problems 

 involves an obligation not only to ourselves, but 

 to the civilized world to concentrate our efforts 

 upon their solution. Through their solution we 

 can make that contribution to the progress of 

 mankind which the world has the right to expect 

 of us. 



We can best hope to do this by carrying to our 

 respective countries the spirit that has hovered 

 over this congress — ^that of service in its broadest 

 and highest sense. This spirit of service must be 

 made the key-note of our national and of our 

 international relations. The republics of the 

 American continent must demonstrate to the civil- 

 ized world that the willingness and determination 

 to be of service to our fellow-men is the corner- 

 stone of a philosophy which the nations of this 

 continent are determined to make the guiding 

 principle of their conduct. 



I can see a time, not far distant, when with 

 each conquest of science the question will imme- 

 diately arise in the mind of every American, 

 " How can these results be made of service to the 

 democracies of this continent ? " — a time when in 

 every field of endeavor the American republics 

 may call upon one another for counsel in the solu- 



expression of good feeling and a striking 

 display of oratory. 



The social features of the congress were 

 most noteworthy. The president of the 

 republic, besides giving the usual official 

 reception, entertained the foreign dele- 

 gates at dinner, invitations being extended 

 to a limited number each day during the 

 congress. Eeceptions were given under 

 government auspices at the principal social 

 clubs. The American Minister, the 

 French, Brazilian and Argentine Minis- 

 ters, and numerous prominent citizens en- 

 tertained the delegates. Members of the 

 American and other delegations were 

 guests at a number of charming haciendas 

 in the vicinity of Santiago ; and the Amer- 

 ican delegation entertained at dinner 

 members of the organization committee, 

 chairmen of various national delegations 

 and others. Visits were made to institu- 

 tions of learning, museums, art galleries,, 

 hospitals and manufacturing establish- 

 ments, and no effort was spared by the 

 officials of the congress to make the visit 

 of the foreign delegates enjoyable and 

 profitable. The writer wishes to express 

 his personal appreciation of these courte- 



tion of their problems, and be certain to receive 

 the best expert advice. Then, and not till then, 

 shall we have developed a real continental spirit; 

 then, and not till then, shall we have fulfilled the 

 obligations which our privileged position in the 

 world's affairs has placed upon us. I can imagine 

 no greater distinction for the next congress than 

 the possibility of marking a further step in the 

 development of this spirit of service and of con- 

 tinental solidarity. 



And now, in closing, let me again extend the 

 thanks of the delegation of the United States of 

 America to you, the members of the organizing 

 committee, for your broad grasp of the purposes 

 of the congress and the skill with which these 

 purposes have been made real and effective; to 

 you, our colleagues, for your cordial reception of 

 newcomers in your midst, and finally to the gov- 

 ernment and people of Chile for the warm-hearted 

 hospitality which we have enjoyed. 



