Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1908-05-12

this republic I greet the representatives
of all our sister republics to the south
of us. In sense, you are our elder
sisters and we the younger people, for
you represent a more ANCIENT civiliza-
ton on this continent than we do.
Your fathers, the Spanish and Portu-
guese explorers, conQuerors. lawgivers
and commonwealth builders, had
founded a fiourishing civilization in the
tropics and the south temperate zone
while all America north of the Rio
Grande was still unmapped wilderness.
Your people had founded American uni
versities, were building beautiful cities,
were laying deep the foundations of
future national life, at many different
points in the vast territory stretching
from the Colorado to the Plata, before
the ships Of the Englishman, the Swede
and the Hollander, had found per-
manent havens on the north Atlantic
seacoast. For centuries our several
civilizations grew each in its own way
but each sundered from the others
Now we are growing together.
More and more In the future we
shall each give to and get from the
others, not merely things of material
value, but things that are of worth for
the intellectual and spiritual welfare OF
all of us. In the century that has
passed the development of North Amer
than the development of South America
but in the century that has now opened
believe that no other part of the
world win see such extraordinary de-
velopment in wealth, in population In
all that makes for progress, as will be
seen from the northern boundary OF
Mexico through all Central and South
America; and l can assure you thai
the people of this nation look with the
most profound satisfaction upon the
great growth that has already taken
place in the countries which you repre-
sent-a growth alike in political stabil-
ity and in the material well being
which can only come when there is
political stability.
Refers to Fleet
"Our battle fleet has Just finished it's
trip around South America, and 1 wish
to thank the rulers and the peoples OF
South America and Mexico for the
generous and courteous hospitality
which has been shown this fleet on
every possible occasion throughout the
trip.
I'm conclusion, let me speak of an
other trip, made a couple of years age
by the secretary of state, Elihu Root
the first time in our history the Ameri-
can secretary of state, during his term
of office, left the country to visit GER
tain other nations. Mr.. Root made the
complete tour of South America, ira
yersed Central America, and afterward
visited Mexico. He was everywhere re-
ceived with the heartiest greeting, 4
greeting which deeply touched our peo-
pie, and I wish to say once more how
appreciative we are of the reception
rendered him.
His voyage was unique in character
and in value. 1t was undertaken only
because we citizens of this republic
recognize that our interests are more
closely intertwined with the interests of
the other peoples of this continent than
with those of any other nations. l be-
lieve that history will say that though
we have had other great secretaries of
state, we have had none greater than
Elihu Root; and that though in his
high office he has done much for the
good of this nation and of mankind,
yet that his greatesr achievement has
been the success which has come as the
result of his devoted labor to bring
closer together all the republics Of the
New World, and to unite them in the
effort to work valiantly for our COM
mon betterment. for the material and
moral welfare of all who dwell in the
western hemisphere"