Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-05-02

cordfng to the words of your negotiator.
their place among the greatest powers of
the world, 1SO3 did nothing but perfect what
had been gloriously begun in 177S and 1873.
Following the "Hallelujah Chorus from
the Messiah, which was given by the
band. the Spanish minister. Senior Don
Emilio de Ojedo, spoke for Spain.
Speech Of the Spanish Minister.
He said: Mr.. President. Ladies' and Cen
tlemen: deeply regret by inability to re-
spond to the very f1attering recognition of
the part played by Spain in the early his
tory Of this territory. I wish I were en-
dowed with the same eloquence displayed
by previous orators which it has been our
privilege to listen to and admire. Still had
not the national glOries of Spain been so
brilliantly alluded to, were 1 able to recall
them now, with colors as glowing as the
warmth their memory brings to my Spanish
heart, l feel I could not raise to them a
iof1er or more eloquent monument than
has been raised by these immortal works
OF Washington Irving, Prescott, Lowell and
T1cknor, which have made Spanish tradi-
ton familiar. household, patrfmony of
this nation.
I am sure you Will agree with me in
thinking could do no better. that could
not pay higher nor more honorable nor
lasting tribute to our share in the history
OF this continent and of this country, than
by invoking the testimony of your own lit
erary g1ories. and by referring now to that
grateful recognition which moved the
founders Of this republic to associate the
revered memory Of Isabella, the soul
stirring deeds Of Pizarro Cortez and Oieda
with the temple of your nationality.
IL ever the engrossfng consciousness of
your wonderful actual prosperity, the inten-
sity OF your life, made one OF your strenu-
GUS citizens forget what your present owes
to our past let him ascend the steps in your
national Capitol, let him pause before its
maJestlc gates, and there he will behold.
carved In bronze on the threshold of your
proudest monument the ef1lgies and the
names OF these Spanish heroes who discoy-
cred, conquered and pointed to you the way
into the path you have so successfully fol-
lowed. ~
Found Many Friends Here.
AS guest sitting now for the first time
at the hearth Of the American nation feel
bound to respond to that high tribute paid
to Spain by publicly acknowledging here
the invariable kindness shown me by all
classes OF your people since I landed on
your shores. As the representative of the
nation whose ancient and honored flag was
the frSt to be reflected in the majestic
course OF the Father Of American Rivers
! am happy to feel that my first official ap-
pearance before an American audience Is
associated in both your minds and mine
with the commemoration Of an event which
although involving far-reaching issues In
the respective histories OF three great ma
tons has not and never was darkened by
the ranking memories which war and In
ternational strife always leave in their
wake.
Now, Mr.. President. Spain, exclusively
devoted today to the task of developing her
Immense natural resources, is happy to be
associated with you in this peaceful cele-
bratton Of peaceful event. Believe me-
Mr.. President. the Spanish people will en-.
ter into this noble competition for the
prizes OF progress and civilization with that
same stubbornness with which during seven
centuries they maintained the heroic strug-
gle which saved Europe and the Christian
world from the baneful invasion of the
African hordes. Spain will apply to the
arts OF peace. to the conQuests Of progress
that same tndOmitable spirit which enabled
her to enrich the old world with new one
over whose brilliant destinies she watches
and ever Will watch with intense and IN
dying interest.
Spain halls with pleasure an opportunity
Ike your future exhibition win afford. OF
showing her peaceful conquests In the do.
mains Of labor and 10 especially bent upon
attracting toward her the benefits to be de
rived from this growing tendency Of hes
people to an ever-tncreasing commercial
agricultural and Industrial inferciaange She
more than ever anxious to cultivate and