Although our president, General Porfirio Diaz, with the high
international representation awarded him by our institutions, and by the
personal adherence of all federal and state authorities, as well as by
the love of the Mexican people in general, has already given a cordial
welcome in the name of all of us, allow me, in the name of the state
which I govern, to express to you the kind feelings of sympathy which
exist in all hearts beating within this important section of our
country. Jalisco, Mr. Secretary, has always been a land that loves all
that is great and useful for the country, and as during the time when we
fought for independence and liberty it did not spare its sons, in the
same way we want to join our voice to the voice of the people that from
the _bravo_ to the _usumacinta_ praise and bless you, to take our share
in the work for peace which you initiated during the Third Pan American
Conference in Rio de Janeiro, which you continued by your visit to the
main republics of South America, and which you are carrying to an end
now by tokens of friendship you are giving to Mexico and the people of
the state of Jalisco. The people of this state believe that the best way
to take part in this labor is to tell you through me: "Welcome be the
noble emissary who, like the dove of the ark, brings the symbolic olive
branch which announces that clouds have been dissipated and the sun of
friendship is rising between the peoples of the new continent."
We should have been pleased to have you among us a longer time, to give
you better tokens of our esteem and to show you the high appreciation we
feel for the people of the United States and her great ruler, President
Roosevelt. But inasmuch as this is impossible, owing to your important
and urgent labors at home, allow me, Mr. Secretary, to state that if
our demonstrations of friendship are short, they are made in the land of
traditional frankness and true friendship.
Let us drink, ladies and gentlemen, to the health of his excellency, Mr.
Root, his distinguished wife, and his "simpatica" daughter, and wishing
for all of them all kinds of happiness, let us prove that we have shaken
their hands in the spirit that sons of Jalisco always shake hands--our
heart is our hand.