The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1906-08-18
OF AMERICA
SECRETARY ROOT MAKES I'M.
PORTANT SPEECH.

try Toward Latin Republics
and Emphasizes Reciprocal
Friendship for Mutual Help
fulness-Our TraditionalP olicy.
Buenos Ayres, Aug. 18.-At the off,
clal banquet given at the government
house last evening bysPresident Alcor-
ia in honor of Secretary Root, to
which the diplomatic officers and off,
GERS of state only were invited, the
secretary made what is considered the
most important speech he has deliv-
cred while on his tour.
Rising to tender the secretary an
official welcome and proposing the
health of Mr.. Root, the president
traced the similarity in the constitu-
ton, progress and success in overcom.
ing obstacles of North and South
America and dwelt especially on the
mutual advantage of closer friendship
betweent her aces. In replying, Mr..
Root said:
'Thank you, sir, for your kind well
come and for your words of apprecia-
tion. 1 thank you for myself. I thank
you for that true and noble gentleman
who holds in the United States of
America the same exalted office which
you hold here. thank you for the
millions of citizens of the United
States.
A Inherited Right of Interest.
1--WE inherit the right to be inter-
ested in the Argentine republic and to
be proud of the Argentine people.
From the time when Benjamin Rush
was fighting, from the day when James
M onroe threw down the gauntlet of a
weak republic, we we're then in de-
Tense of its independence and rights
and from that day to this the interest
and friendship of the people of the
United States for the Argentine re-
public have never changed.
"We rejoice in your prosperity. We
are proud of your achievements. We
feel that you are justifying our faith
in free government and self-govern-
ment; that you are maintaining our
great thesis, which demands the pos
session, the enjoyment and the control
of the earth to the people who in
habit it.
$50 how can the people of the Unit
ed States help feeling friendship and
sympathy for the people of Argentina?
I deemed it duty to come in response
to your kind invitation, to say this,
and to say that there is not cloud in
the sky of good understanding.
"There are no political questions
at issue between Argentina and the
United States. There is no thought
of grievance of one against the other.
There are no old grudges or scores
to settle. We can rejoice in each
others prosperity. We can assist in
each others development. We can
be proud of each others success with
out hindrance or drawback, and for
the development of this sentiment in
both countries nothing is needed but
more knowledge.
Need Better Mutual Knowledge
"That we shall know each other
better and that not only the most edu-
Gated and thoughtful readers of our
countries shall become familiar with
the history of the other; but that the
entire body of the people shall know
what are the relations and what are
the feelings of the country, I should
be glad that the people of the Argen-
tine republic, not merely you, Mr..
President, not merely my friend, the
minister of foreign relations not
merely the gentlemen connected with
the government; but the people of Ar
gentina might know that the people
of the United States are their friends,
as I know that the people of the Ar
gentine republic are the friends of the
United States.
81 have come to South America with
no more specific object than ! have
stated. Our traditional policy in the
United States of America is to make
no alliances. It was inculcated by
Washington. It has been adhered to
by his successors ever since. But, Mr..
President, the alliance that comes
from unwritten and unsealed instru-
ments, as that from the convention
signed and ratified with all formalities,
is of vital consequence.
1--WE make no alliances, but we
make an alliance with all our sisters
in sentiment and feeling from the pur-
suit of liberty and justice in mutual
helpfulness, and in that spirit beg to
return to you and to your govern
ment and the people of this wonderful
country my sincere thanks for the
welcome you have given me and my
country in my person.
Mr.. Roots speech was received with
applause and the greatest possible sat
isfaction.
The entertainment of Secretary
Root yesterday comprised visit to
the national primary schools and at
tendance at the races, to which he was
accompanied by President Alcorta in
the state carriage. In the evening
there was gala performance at the
opera house. The streets in all parts
Of the city were covered with shields
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