I thank you sincerely, both in my own behalf and in behalf of my
country, for your kind welcome and for the words, full of friendship and
of kindly judgment, you have uttered regarding my country and regarding
her servants, the President and myself. The distinguished gentleman who
represents Peru in the capital of the United States of America, and who
shares with you, sir, the inheritance of a name great and honored, not
only in Peru but wherever the friends of constitutional freedom are
found--in his note of invitation to me, upon which I am now a visitor to
your city, used a form of expression that has dwelt in my memory,
because it was so true. He spoke of the old, sincere, and cordial
friendship of our two countries--that is indeed true of the friendship
of the United States of America and the republic of Peru. It is an old
friendship, a sincere friendship, and a cordial friendship. I have come
here not to make new friends, but to greet old ones; not to announce a
new departure in policy, but to follow old and honored lines; and I
should have thought that in coming to South America in answer to the
invitations of the different countries, all down the east and up the
west coast, to have passed by Peru would indeed be to have played
"Hamlet" with Hamlet left out. It is still a more natural and still a
stronger impulse to visit Peru at this time, as a part of a mission of
friendship and good will, when the relations between the two countries
are about to be drawn even closer.
The completion of the canal across the Isthmus of Panama will make us
near neighbors as we have never been before, so that we may take our
staterooms at the wharf at Callao or at New York, and visit each other
without change of quarters during the journey. And no one can tell what
the effect of the canal will be. We do know that nothing of the kind was
ever done before in human history without producing a most powerful
effect upon mankind. The course of civilization, the rise and fall of
nations, the development of mankind, have followed the establishment of
new trade routes. No one can now tell just what the specific effect of
the cutting of the canal across the isthmus may be; but it will be great
and momentous in the affairs of the world. Of this we may be certain,
that for the nations situated immediately to the south and immediately
to the north of the canal, there will be great changes in their
relations with the rest of the world; and it is most gratifying to know
that this great work which the United States of America is now
undertaking--the cost of which she never expects to get back--a work
which she is doing not merely for her own benefit, but because she is
moved by the belief that great things are worth doing, is going to bring
great benefits to the entire world, and to her old and her good friend,
the republic of Peru.
I thank you, Mr. President, for your kind reception, and I beg you to
permit me to ask the gentlemen here to join me in proposing in behalf of
President Roosevelt the health and long life and prosperity of the
President of Peru.