At a banquet given the Mexican Editorial Excursion, Topeka, June
24th, 1885.
GENTLEMEN: Until within the past five or six years, Mexico was, even to
a well-educated citizen of this country, an unknown and mysterious land.
Its government, its people, its cities, its resources and products, were
regarded very much as are those of India—as matters of historical or
critical interest, perhaps, but of no direct or material concern to the
people of the United States. American journalists are generally as well
informed as any other class of our citizens, and yet I doubt whether,
among them all, there were a dozen who could name half a dozen Mexican
newspapers. Yet here with us to-day, are a large number of Mexican
journalists—men of education, intelligence and character, who have come
to study, in the school of travel, the lessons taught by personal
observations and individual exploration.
The railroad, the modern diplomat, as well as guide and pioneer, has
made the distant and unknown, near and familiar; has introduced
neighbors who were strangers; has broadened the horizon of national
view; has brought the United States and Mexico into more intimate and
friendly relations with each other; and has conveyed you here, to be our
guests and our friends.
It gives me pleasure to meet and to greet you. I welcome you to Kansas.
I hope your brief visit to our State will be to you an enjoyable one,
and that you will carry with you, on your return to your homes, only
pleasant memories of your journey. I greet you as journalists of a
sister Republic; I welcome you as neighbors and as friends. And in thus
saluting you, I am sure that I only give voice to the general sentiment
of the citizens of our Capital city, and those of the State of Kansas.