_Replies by His Majesty to the Hon. D. L. Gregg, Commissioner of the
United States, and to the Hon. James W. Borden, his Successor, upon his
Presentation as the new Commissioner._
His Majesty, turning to Mr. Gregg, replied:
From the renewed assurances of sympathy and good will towards
this Kingdom which, on the part of the President of the United
States of America, you have just expressed, I cannot but
derive the liveliest gratification, reminding me as they do of
the long course of years during which the successive Heads of
your Government have offered, through their Representatives
here, similar professions of amity, without one interruption
having occurred to mar the retrospect. I should be sorry were
the President, or you, to suppose for one instant that I
regard these professions merely as a civil form of words
called for by the occasion.
The Government of the United States has never flattered me or
my Predecessors with expectations of more than it intended to
perform; the action has always followed true to the word, and
we know by experience the value of such assurances as those to
which I have just listened with so much satisfaction.
It is, indeed, a fact worthy of notice and of remembrance,
that the relations existing between the two countries were
never more happy, or more calculated to inspire the smaller
nation with a sense of independence and an appreciation of the
fact that its future is in its own hands, than at this very
moment, when, after having faithfully watched the interests
intrusted to your care for more than four years, you are
resigning that honorable duty into other hands. You have shown
that strength of purpose may be united with courtesy of
manner, and have justified your appointment by proving that
their rights are best guarded, whose representative, being
honest in his own intentions, does not without cause doubt the
faith of the Government to which he is accredited.
Although I am afraid you over-estimate the actual value of the
marks of courtesy and attempts to make agreeable your
residence and that of your family upon these islands, which we
have sought to offer, I thank you for the kind expression of
your acknowledgments, and trust that you will always believe
that my object, and that of every member of my Government, was
but poorly carried out by any manifestations which it has been
in our power to make. But, Mr. Gregg, not to seem to claim
more credit than we deserve, allow me to add that the attempt
was by no means a disinterested one, for in all the relations
of society, those persons are most welcome who ornament it
most and are themselves the most courteous.
I have too much confidence in the good will and sympathy of
the Government of the United States, and faith in the wisdom
of the President, to allow of a single doubt as to the course
which your successor will pursue. It shall be my endeavor, and
that of my Government, to regard him as the honored
Representative of a great nation, and a good Friend. I believe
that his dealings with us will be generous, that he will
pursue the policy which in the hands of his predecessors has
so largely helped to make this nation what it is to-day, and
that if, coming after you, he cannot increase the feelings of
kindness, and on one side of gratitude, which already exist
here and in the United States, he will at least maintain them.
Then addressing himself to Mr. Borden, the King spoke as follows:
In welcoming you as the Representative of the United States,
allow me to say, Mr. Borden, that I anticipate nothing but the
most satisfactory intercourse between you and my Government.
The country from which you are accredited has afforded too
many tokens of good will, and manifested too lively an interest
in all that concerns this archipelago, and that for too long a
succession of years, to leave any question possible as to its
future policy.
So long as such feelings exist on your side, and we retain
gratitude enough to remember with acknowledgments the benefits
we have already received from the Government and people of the
United States, and can appreciate the advantages continually
derived from the friendship and countenance of such a nation,
there is little chance that the harmony now happily existing
will be disturbed. I thank you for the kind terms in which you
have alluded to the birth of the Prince, my son--an event
which has filled me with the greatest pleasure and gives rise
to many hopeful anticipations.