The sun., 1908-05-12
ROOSEVELT. LT.CAUNEGE CLASH
Ar LAYING or CORNERSTONE or
PiN-AMERICAN BUILDING.

for the use Of the international Bureau OF
tho American Republics was laid by the
President Of the United States this after
noon. It was a notable Pan-America occa-
sion. Accredited representatives Of the
,wenty-one republics Of the Western Hem
I-phere we're present and the flag OF each
nation hoated over the site Of the building
In which all these republics are to have a
common interest The occasion was also
made notable by the fact that the event Ia
supposed 10 mark another step in those
Efforts which Mr.. Root, the Secretary OF
state. has been making TO establish closer
understanding and an improved state OF
GOOD will among the American republics,
There were several highly interesting in
cdents which were not prearranged. CHIEF
of these was a joint debate between Presi-
dent Roosevelt and Andrew Carnegie on
the subject Of international peace. The
President began it, but Mr. Carnegie had
the last word,
II all came about in this way: President
Roosevelt had proceeded for some minutes
with the reading of his prepared speech
when he seemed to seek diversion aud
certainly caused some applause by re-
marking that -Our feet has reached the
other side Of the continent" lie proceeded
~ repeat the arguments which he has
used on many occasions In favor of large
navy. Mr.. Carnegie. he said, did not agree
with him as TO the remoteness OF the time
when we may expect to do away with all
var but az for him dhe President he be-
neyed that the nations duty was 80 to equip
itself that no foreigner would be tempted
to impose upon us. He declared that with
big navy at our backs the rest of the world
would be less likely to find cause OF quarrel
with us.
When his turn came to speak Mr.. Car
regie did not read his address, but spoke
with much informality. Turning to the
President he said it was true that they
did not agree AS to international peace,
hut one reason for that was that Mr. Roose-
welt had not lived as long as he had
when the President is as old "a | au
and has had as much experience ! think
lie will agree with me, he said
He could stand with the President on one
statement, he continued, and that was
ITO use Mr.. Roosevelt's own Words that
u was desirable first Of all ito maintain
ueace among ourselves He was not IN
.ympathy with the movement for huge
naval armament. Mr., Carnegie thought
that the Hague conference had already
pointed the way to better things, that
man slaying should cease just as man buy
ing had ceased in the United States He
looked forward 10 the time when peace
would be assured by a universal treaty OF
the world Powers,
The audience seemed nightly tickled
with Mr.. Carnegie's reply and applauded
literally
The building site is on Seventeenth street
about half way between the State, War and
Navy Building and the Potomac River;
and the place has historic interest, since
il ia the site of the old Van Ness mansion,
where half century ago Statesmen oi the
period we're entertained and the most brill
ant social life Of the capital had its centre.
The ground where the cornerstone was
laid to-day is even now commonly known
in Washington as Van Ness Park The
location is one Of the most attractive in
Washington. The building which was
officially begun to-day Is in part the gift
Of Andrew Carnegie, for he contributed
s75oOOO toward the construction. He was
present at the cornerstone laying and made
an address.
The exercises we're begun at 2:9O O'Clock,
when the United States Marine Band rem
dered an Introductory concert in which
music characteristic Of the several nations
represented on the occasion was conspicu-
Gus. John Barrett, director Of the Bureau
Of the American Republics. then made an
address introducing Secretary OF State
Root as the presiding officer. After this
Introduction the Marine Band played a
medley of national airs, each OF the twenty
one American republics being represented.
Az the same time the flags OF the several
republics we're one after another unfurled
and raised.
The invocation was by James Cardinal
Gibbons, and then Secretary Root deliv-
cred an address Mr.. Root said in part
Many noble and beautiful public buildings
record the achievements and illustrate the
impulses Of modern civilization Temples
NJ religion, OF patriotism. Of learning. OF art.
oC Justice, abound: but this structure will
stand alone, the first Of ITS kinda temple
dedicated to international friendship, II will
he devoted to the diffusion OF that inter
national knowledge which dispels national
rreiudice and nberalizes national judgment.
Here will be fostered the growth Of that sym
pathy born OF similarity IN good impulses
and noble purposes which draws men Of diff
ferent races and countries together into a
community OF nations and counteracts the
tendency OF selfish instincts to array nations
against each other as enemies From this
source shall spring mutual helpfulness be-
tween oil the American republics, 20 that the
hest knowledge and experience and courage
and hope OF every republic shall lend moral
mower to sustain and strengthen every other
ip IFS struggle TO work out its problems and "a
advance the standard Of liberty and peace
with Justice within itself. and 40 that no
raople in all OF these continents. however
oppressed and discouraged, however i'm
poyerished and torn by disorder, shall fail "a
fccl that they are not alone In the world OF
shall fail to see that for them better day
may dawn. as for others the sun has already
risen.
Nav the structure now begun stand for
many generations TO come as the visible evil
dcpca Of mutual respect, esteem, appreciation
and kindly feeling between the peoples OF all
the republics: may pleasant memories OF
hospitality and friendship gather about H.
snd may all the Americas come 70 feel that
for them this place is home, for 1t istheirs, the
product of common effort and the insiru'
ment OF a common purpose.
Al the close OF Mr.. Roots address a num-
ter Of cable messages. felicitous In char
acter, we're read from the Presidents OF
Latin American republics. Then came the
address by President Roosevelt. Among
81 ha aofA