Page:The World's Famous Orations Volume 10.djvu/287

 McKINLE Y

��and owned by Americans. These will not only be profitable in a commercial sense; they will be messengers of peace and amity wherever they

go.

We must build the Isthmian canal, which will unite the two oceans and give a straight line of water communication with the western coasts of Central and South America and Mexico. The construction of a Pacific cable can not be longer postponed. In the furtherance of these objects of national interest and concern you are per- forming an important part. This Exposition would have touched the heart of that American statesman whose mind was ever alert and thought ever constant for a larger commerce and a truer fraternity of the republics of the New World. His broad American spirit is felt and manifested here. He needs no identification to an assemblage of Americans anywhere, for the name of Blaine is inseparably associated with the Pan-American movement which finds here practical and substantial expression, and which we all hope will be firmly advanced by the Pan- American Congress that assembles this autumn in the capital of IMexico. The good work will go on. It can not be stopped. Those ])uildings will disappear ; this creation of art and beauty and industry will perish from sight, but their influence will remain to "make it live beyond its too short living with praises and thanksgiv- ing." Who can tell the new thoughts that have been awakened, the ambitions fired and the high

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