Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-05-28
PAN-AMERICAN
NATIONS HELD BY
INDISSOLU BLE TIES

Ambassador Calero spoke as follows:
Il account 1t a high honor and an in
estimable privilege to be permitted to ad
dress this select assembly. brought to-
gether at the magic touch of a sentiment
that is being every day more and more
infused into the spirit of the sons of this
continent. and which, rising above selfish
business motives. brings us to the realiza-
ton that the human groups inhabiting the
world of Columbus have a destiny de-
creed by fate to be common one, and
are held in ties never to be rent asunder.
1.-The sentiment Of Pan-Amercanism. as
1t would be fitting to call it, has ceased
to be a mere state of mind proper only
to men of the very highest type, and has
begun to reveal itself in deeds. in prac-
teal efforts, in results deserving of the
greatest praise; and those of you who
constitute the Pan-American Society
acknowledge this when you associate here
tonight, in happy fellowship, illustrious
personages of this mighty nation and the
representatives of the Latin American
republics accredited to the government OF
the United States of America.
THE movement you have set on foot,
and which We Latin Americans so warm
ly espouse, gives US the right to reclaim
for us all the title of Americans. which
you North Americans have appropriated TO
yourselves: for the name of America
should not, as you would often have 1t. be
confined to this portion-great, wealthy
and populous. but nevertheless only
portion of this American continent.
Bear in mind that the tree from which
came forth the hull of the Mayfiower was
yet untouched by the AK Of your ances-
tors when already the vanqu.shed Aztec
warriors had wept Ger the ruins OF the
great Tenochtitlan. and the rough and in
domitable 'conquistadores' had settled
and even organized the colonies which,
three centuries later, were to give rise
to the vigorous communities that hold
sway on this continent, from the margin
of the Rio Grande even unto Its southern
most end.
Il owe it to the beneTolence of your
organizing committee that l have been
designated from among the representa-
tives of the Latin American countries
north of our sister Republic OF Panama
to say a few words on behalf of our Pan
American ideals. / accept the honor for
my country, and in her name l thank
you. Fortunately. the task is not a difii-
cult one, since Mexico. Central America
and the republics bathed by the Caribbean
sea differ but slightly In their technical
characteristics, and are almost wholly IN
terwoven in historical ties, which bind,
as 1t were in a sheaf our sentiments and
our ideals. The men who inhabit those
countries, profoundly sensitive Of their in
dependence and of their liberty and ever
to the supreme sacrifice TO main
tain untouched these priceless gifts, are
endowed with broad spirit, always open
to exalted ideas and noble emotions. Pan
will find in them fertile
field, il by Pan-AmerlcanS we mean our
cordial and harmonious cooperation to-
ward the attainment of material and moral
interests, to the extent in which these
are common to us all ana on the basis
of that mutual respect so eloquently
voiced by the greatest Of the apostles of
Pan-Americanism. the Hon. Elihu Root.
Mutual respect, a necessary condition
OF friendship among men-nay, the very
essence OF home life-is a conception
which, from the point Of view of inter-
national intercourse. marks a glorious
step in civilization. AS is the case among
members Of q highly cultured community.
SO. too. among nations. mutual respect
demands that the great and powerful
consider itself the equal Of the weak and
small: and 1t is this condition which
brings about a happy understanding. and
leads them. united to strain toward the
highest aspiration OF humanity. the reign
Of justice among men and among ma
tions.
Mexico stands shoulder to shoulder
with you, doubt it not We Mexicans
love. perchance with fanatical ardor.
what is truly Ours-our language, our
history with its tears and its joys. our
liberties dearly won. our independ-
ence-yet We possess a mind ready to
receive and welcome great ideals.
And what / say of Mexico I feel
authorized to add OF Guatemala as well
as of Ell Salvador, of Honduras and Of
Nicaragua. too; Of Costa Rica. of PAN
anna. Of Cuba. of Santo Domingo and OF
Haiti. The Latin spirit is everywhere
the same. ready to scale the Hottest
heights Of human sentiment"