The University of San Marcos of Lima heartily shares in the national
rejoicing consequent on your visit to us, and greets you as the
representative of the great republic which holds so many claims to the
high esteem and consideration of the Spanish-American states of this
continent.
Your country, indeed, furnished valuable cooperation to the Spanish
colonies in the establishment of their independence. With the example of
your own emancipation, forming one of the greatest events of history,
the longing for liberty deepened in their breasts. It gave them courage
in the struggle by frank declarations of friendship and sympathy;
bestowed prestige on their cause by recognizing them as free states at
a time when their emancipation was not entirely accomplished; and
finally added strength to their victory by declaring before the whole
world that the independence and integrity of these republics would be
maintained at all costs.
You, the Americans of the North, were the founders and defenders of the
international and political liberty of these states. Washington, whose
greatness has alone been given worthy expression in the inspired words
of Byron--Washington, "the first, the last, the best of men", and the
glorious group of illustrious citizens who aided him in his work, were
the apostles of democracy and of the republic. The American Constitution
is an admirable structure, built on the immovable foundations of justice
and the national will, which will never be overthrown by social or
political upheavals.
Half a century ago, Laboulaye, the illustrious professor of the College
of France, said:
Washington has founded a wise and well-organized republic
and has bequeathed to history, not the fatal spectacle of
crime triumphant, but a beneficent example of patriotism and
virtue. In less than fifty years, thanks to the powerful
influence of Liberty, an empire has been raised which before
the end of the century will be the greatest state of the
civilized world, and which, if it remain true to the ideals
of its founders, if ambition does not check the era of its
fortune, will furnish the world the spectacle of a republic
of one hundred million men, richer, happier, and more
glorious than the monarchies of the Old World. This is the
work of Washington!
This prophecy has been fulfilled; that half-century has passed by, and
the great republic goes on its career of greatness, and no eye can
discern the ultimate reach of its magnificence.
Today, with the kind name of sister, it sends to us, through you, its
worthy messenger, fresh words of encouragement, and invites us in a
gracious manner to exert ourselves to greater efforts in the work of
peace, of labor, and of the aggrandizement of the American continent.