ther times enabled
her to watch over justice, to render assistance to the weak, to fight
oppression, and to defend the rights of America.

For this reason we heartily sympathize with the doctrines you proclaim;
for this reason we extend to you, with sincere regard, the hand of
friendship; for this reason we feel satisfaction and pride when we
behold the marvelous progress of your country.

When nations succeed in reaching the degree of prosperity at which yours
has arrived they do not excite envy, but emulation; they do not inspire
fear, but confidence.

Ere long the vigorous arm of your people will tear away the strip of
land which still keeps us apart; and in the union of the two oceans
surrounding our hemisphere may we hope that the spirits of Washington
and Bolivar will watch the maintenance of peace and justice and follow
the destinies of the republics they created.

Mr. Root, may the days you are about to spend amongst us be happy and
agreeable, and may their memory ever accompany you, as ours will ever
retain the grateful impression of your visit.

REPLY OF MR. ROOT

I beg you to believe that I appreciate most highly your kind welcome and
the friendly terms with which you have greeted me. I did not feel as
though I were coming among strangers when I entered Peru; I do not feel
that I am treading on unknown soil when I set foot upon the streets of
your famous and historic city. I think no city in the world, certainly
no city in the western hemisphere, is better known in the United States
of America then the city of Lima. Almost every schoolboy in the United
States has read in the books of our own historians the story of the
founding of this city. We all know the wonderful and romantic history of
your four centuries of life; we all know the charms, the graces, and the
lovable qualities of your people.

We know that you are the metropolis of a people who carry the art of
agriculture to the highest degree of efficiency, a people frugal,
industrious, and of domestic virtue. We have seen with gratification
that you are becoming also the metropolis of a people capable of winning
from your mountains the inexhaustible wealth they contain, the
metropolis of a great mining people; and within the past few years we
have rejoiced to see that you are also on the road to become the
metropolis of a great manufacturing people.

We have read, too, the story of your struggles--first for independence,
then for liberty, th