Brownlow's Knoxville Whig. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1866-1869, 1867-10-23
Sen0r Romero and Mexico.

The dinner given to Senor Romero, the
Mexican Minister, at D9lmonico's Hotel
New York, on Wednesday evening, on the
eve of his departure for homo, was not only
a magnificent banquet but an occasion Of
great interest from the men present and the
spirit of the letters and speeches read and
delivered. We have already published
General Grants sympathetic letter Those
from Gov. Fenton, ex-Gov. Andrew, Secre-
tary Seward, Schuyler Colfax and others
were equally outspOken in their expressions
of good viii toward our sister republic.
The Hon. Thad. Stevens in his note OF de-
clination, culogized Juarez as equaled IN
fortitude and patriotism by only two men
in his Washington and William Of
Orange. William Cullen Bryant presided
over the meeting and proposed the health
of Senor Romera. The latter, in reply,
made long and sensible speech. He ad-
vocated the adaptability Of republican in
stitutions to all nations, and held that pop
ular revolutions arose from the conflict be-
tween the people and the intolerable des-
potism of the aristocratic element. The
aristocracy in Mexico had been an ambl-
tious and unserupulous priesthood, who had
welded for centuries political power, and
would rather sec their country sublugated
by a foreign despot than under The control
of their political opponents, who desire IN
good faith its advancement, prosperity, ana
its emancipation from religious intolerance,
and from opposition to popular ana nee
education. Fortunately for Mexico, the
question there had been purely polltlcal
one, though the clergy had tried to make IL
religious Now that Mexico had been freed
from French intervention, an election would
soon be held Theneeforward, he continued
our policy viii be to enforce our laws,
which allow the free exercise Of all re-
I ligions and give no preference to any; to
establish q system of free schools, which
will educate the masses of our people, and
make them productive and happy, to en-
courage the immigration Of peaeeable and
/ laboring citizens of the United States,
which will assist us in developing our re
4 sources; to unite the investment OF the sur
plns capital Of the United States IN Mexl-
I can enterprises. and to look up to this
,rivileged country as to our eldest sister,
afYordinG ms an example worthy Of imita-
ton. When these objects arc attained,
when both countries stand in the relation
of friendly Powers. with . common op|ec'
and common destiny, realizing the re
sponsibllty they have before the world, as
the guardians Of Republican institutions
my lifelong ambition and my pr0udesl
wishes viii have been realized He admit
ted that Mexico was not as far advanced AZ
. the United States. Education was not gen.
t orally extended, and the Spaniards and th,
; Church had purposely kept the people il
! ignorance Yet the Mexicans had exceIlen
I qualities. which only needed development
The remainder Of the speech was devote'
10 a criticism of the French Austrian in
vasion. Other speeches were made b,
, Senor Nariscal, Mr. Beekman, DR.. Navarro
! Hon. +. A. Conkling, Judge Whiting an
Gen. Bnttcrfeld, and the company selara
ted at 4 late hour