Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-05-11

tional capital an object or national PRIDE
and a source Of that pleasure which
comes to rich and Door alike from the
education of taste.
THE public spirit and enthusiasm for
the good Of humanity which have inspired
an American citizen, Mr.. Andrew Car
negie. In bis administration of great
fortune. have led him to devote the ade-
quate and ample sum of three-quarters
of a million dollars to the construction "
the building.
Unto the appropriate adornment and
fitting Of the edihce will go the contribu-
lions Of every American republic, already
pledged and, in a great measure. already
paid into the fund OF the union.
The International Union.
1.-The International Union for which the
building is erected is a voluntary associa-
ton. the members Of which are all the
American nations from Cape Horn to the
great lakes. 1t had it's origin in the first
pan-American conference held at Wash
ington in 1859. and it has been developed
and improved in efficiency under the reso-
buttons of the succeeding conferences in
Mexico and Brazil. It's primary object is
to break down the barriers Of mutual ig-
norance between the nations of America
by collecting and making accessible. fur
nishing and spreading, information about
every country among the people OF every
other country in the union, to facilitate
and stimulate intercourse trade. ac-
quafntance. good understanding. fellow
ship and sympathy. For this purpose it
has established In Washington a bureau
or office under the direction of a govern
Ing board composed of the official repre-
sentatives in Washington of all the re-
publics, and having a director and secre-
tary, with force of assistants and trans
lators and clerks.
The bureau has established a rapidly
increasing library of history travel de-
scr1ptfon. statistics and literature Of the
American nations. II publishes a month
ly bulletin of current public events and
existing conditions in all the united coun-
tries. which is circulated in every coun-
Try. 1t carries on an enormous cor
respondence with every part of both
continents. answering the questions of
seekers for information about the laws
customs. conditions. opportunities and
1T has become medium Of introduction
AMI guidance for International intercourse
THE governing board Is also a perma-
nent committee charged with the duty
OF seeing that the resolutions Of each
Pan-American conference are carried out
and that suitable preparation Is made
for the next succeeding conference
The increasing work OF the bureau
has greatly outsrOwn the facilities of it's
cramped quarters on Pennsylvania ave-
nue., and now al the close Of its second
decade and under the influence of the
great movement OF awakened sympathy
between the American republics. the
Union stands upon the threshold of more
ample opportunity for the prosecution OF
Its beneficent activity.
Dedicated to Friendship.
MANY noble and beautiful public build
irEs record the achievements and illus
trate the impulses of modern civilization.
Temples of religion. of patriotism, of
learning. of art. Of justice abound: but
this structure will stand alone. the first
of its kinda temple dedicated to inter
national friendship. 1t Will be devoted to
the diffusion of that international knowl-
edge which dispels national prejudice and
liberalfzes national Judgment. Here will
be fOstered the growth of that sympa-
thy born Of similarity In good impulses
and noble purposes. which draws men
of different races and countries together
into a community of nations. and counter
acts the tendency of selfish instincts to
array nations against each other as enc
mics. From this source shall spring
mutual belpfulness between all the Amer
lean republics. so that the best knowl
edge and experience and courage and
hope of every republic shall lend moral
power 20 sustain and strengthen every
other in its struggle to work out it's prob
lens and to advance the standard of
liberty and peace with justice within
itself. and so that no people In all of these
continents however oppressed and dis
COuTdgeO. however Impoverished ana torn
by disorder. shall fail to feel that they
are not alone in the world. or shall fail
TO see that for them a better day may
dawn. as for others the sun has already
risen
1T is too much to expect that there will
not be controversies between American ma
tons TO whose desire for harmony We now
bear witness: but to every controversy
will apply the truth that there are no in
ternatonal controversies so serious that
tt,o,- no az Ylen |nfl,
parties really desire peaceable settle
ment. while there are few causes of dis
pute so trifiing that they cannot be made
the occasion of war If either party really
desires war. The matters in dispute be-
tween nations are nothing: the spirit
which deals with them IS everything.
Influences for Peace.
he graceful courtesy OF the twenty
republics who have agreed upon the CAPT
tai Of the United States for the home of
this international union. the deep appre-
citation of that courtesy shown by the
American government and this repre-
sentative American citizen. and the work
10 be done within the walls that are TO
RIG on this site, cannot fail to be power
full Influences toward the creation of
spirit that will solve all disputed ques-
tions OF the future and preserve the peace
OF the western world.
Nav the structure now begun stand for
many generations to come as the visible
evidence of mutual respect. esteem an
probation and kindly feeling between the
peoples of all the republics; may pleasant
memories Of hospitality and friendship
gather about IT, and may all the Americas
come to feel that for them this place is
home for il Is theirs. the product OF
common effort and the instrument OF
common purpose.
Message of Greeting.
Then there were read cable messages
from the presidents of the twenty Ameri-