New-York tribune., 1907-01-06
FARsJGHTED PHILANTHROPY.

In altering $4,000 TO be spent III the con-
strr,ction of a home in Washington for the Bu-
roam of American Republics Mr. Carnegie mas
shown q true spirit of enlightenment and pTac-
deal patriotism. A building monumental enough
In character to reflect the dignity and mpor-
tance of the work committed to this bureau mas
been q public need. But the erection OF such
a building has been surrounded with dlfhcul-
ties The enterprise is an international one.
supported by the contributions of many coun-
tries. each country paying a share proporuon-
ate TO its population. The umted states Is ac-
cordngly the most liberal subscriber. Yet 1t
would be unbeconing on the part of this coun-
try to suggest an expenditure for bureau
building in Washington which might seem ex-
cessive to other contributors with more limited
resources. The federal government has already
appropriated 100000 as its share OF the cost
of the proposed structure, although according
to the plans first drawn this country's allot-
ment would have been only S71,OO0. Several
Of our southern neighbors have paid assess
ments under the original plans amounting to
more than $4,000. But MI Carnege's gen
erosity makes 1t possible to build an appro-
pirate home for the bureau without further
solicitation of funds and further delays in col
lecting them.
There has been disposition in some quar-
tiers to belittle the work done by the Bureau
of American Republics. Its beginnings were
undoubtedly modest and it treated for a
time a visionary and sentimental rather than
a practical and rational enterprise. But it has
outlived the skepticism of those earlier years
and has come TO be recognized as an inStitIl-
ton capable of useful service and worthy of
permanence. Its publications have helped ma
teriaily to bring the United States into closer
touch with the Spanish speaking American re-
has,
commercial relations with the peoples south of
us. Its work has been supplemented by the
convening of two additional Pan-American con
crosses, and it furnishes medium for calling
together other congresses as the occasion may
demand. 1t is an always available channel of
friendly exchange and intercourse.
Mr.. Carnegie's chief desire in enlargiur the
Importance of this international institution and
giving 1t a permanent and suitable home is 10
strengthen the bonds of peace on this hemi-
sphere and TO promote the cause of universal !
arbitration. We are bound by treaty to appeal
TO arbitration in most cases of dispute likely
TO arise between US and our southern neigh
bors, and we arc morally bound by our position
among the Western nations not TO use our
power in any case for purposes Of aggression.
The principle OF arbitration will probably come
IN time into complete acceptance among the
nations represented in the Bureau OF America n
Republics. But that bureau can also do high
y valuable work in stimulating commercial
relations and enlarging our present means OF
intercommunication. An all-rail connection be-
tween the two continents is still dream of
the future. But the progress made in the last
ntteen years points to the completion within a
generation or two of a through rail route To
the Isthmus of Panama and beyond. and finally
10 the linking of that system with the system
rapldly building north from the Argentine Re
pubic. Farsighted patriotism will encourage
at every opportunity the cultivation along all
possible lines of closer relations with the Cen
traI American and South American republics.