New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-02-08
Nicaraguan, in Reciting
Wrongs by u. S., Looks
at Colonel
SPANISH-AMERICAN
GATHERING THRILLED
Roosevelt, on Programme,
Not Called On-"I Didn't
Do Anything He Says

The National Arts Club. in Gramercy
Square, opened it's doors last night
and welcomed men and women of let
tiers of the South and Central American
republics. A score of Spanish-Ameri-
cans, all distinguished in the literary
arts of their countries, were present.
and an equally impressive company Of
North Americans was on hand TO greet
them.
Theodore Roosevelt, Winston Church
i'll, Hamlin Garland, Ida NJ. Tarbcll.
Edwin Markham, Augustus Thomas and
two dozen other names which would 60
as we'll on the outside cover of maya
zine were there TO cement the literary
entente cordiale.
That was the theme OF the evening
the reciprocal admiration of the two
peoples and the friendship in which all
dwelt together on the same hemisphere
was rected in prose and verse.
The literary fellowship Of Pan
America had been toasted so often that
nobody was thinking OF politics when
at about IL O'Clock Professor Solomon
de la Selva, of Nicilagua, was pre-
sented by Chairman Garland. IL was
announced that Professor dc In Selvs,
an instructor in Spanish at Williams
College, had a few words to add 10 the
general sentiments of the evening.
Then the audience was to hear Colonel
Roosevelt adopt a harmony resolution
and 80 home.
"A previous speaker referred TO my
country as little Nicaragua" began
Professor de la Selva, and il wasn't so
much his words as his tone that caused
a general strengthening IN chairs. The
professor undoubtedly was in earnest.
"My teeth CRASHED at those words!" he
continued. Nicaragua may be small
i'm size. but it is mighty in pride.
land is as large as its thoughts are
great; as large as its hopes and aspirs-
tions.
"A previous speaker (Mr. Thomas)
said governments derive their Just
movers from the consent of the gov
erned. through the United States my
country is ruled by government which
its people have not chosen
The speaker was making gestures
and looking right in the direction OF
Colonel Roosevelt. who was leaning
forward in his chair taking in every
word.
81 will now read a poem." announced
Professor de la Selva, without any
warning whatsoever.
The verses were of his own COM
position. They told the story OF
small nation forced TO bow TO the will
of its larger neighbor. There wasn't
any mistaking what the professor was
driving at.
The entente cordiale seemed about to
90 I'D in smoke. The young mans
earnestness caught the audience
fancy. however, and he was spplauded
vigorously when he finished his read
ing. He sat down, and then got up,
smiling.
~ see We can now come to an un-
derstandng," ne said But It was
hard before. row love this land. And
if have opportunity to shed my blood
for il there is not one vein IN my
BODY which would keep back one mill
ionth of one drop. II has been hard
for mo TO talk OF love for America
while NV own land was being tramped
down by the United States. There can
be no real ran-Americanism until
wrongs are righted.'
More applause-and suspense. Pre-
viously Chairman Garland had said ne
would call on Colonel Roosevelt for
imoromptu remarks. Instead, the
chairman said:
"The meeting is adjourned"
The Colonel was at once surrounded.
"Why, the young man didn't mean
me-" he explained. 81 never did any
thing 10 Nicaragua. II must have been
the present Adninis-ration.'
Kermit Roosevelt contributed TO the
early symposium of good feeling with
AN article on Authorship in South
America"