of civilization, the
future is to find the people of Argentina in the forefront of human
progress.

And so, from the Hudson to the La Plata, from the plains to the Pampas,
from the Rockies to the Andes, from the old American republic to the
young American republic, from sister to sister, with the same
convictions and hopes and aspirations, we send sincere and hearty
greeting, congratulation and God-speed.

OUR SISTER REPUBLIC--BRAZIL

ADDRESS OF WELCOME TO DR. LAURO MUeLLER, SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN
AFFAIRS OF BRAZIL, AT A BANQUET OF THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE OF THE STATE
OF NEW YORK, JUNE 18, 1913

The republic of Brazil designated its minister for foreign
affairs, Dr. Lauro Mueller, to return officially Mr. Root's
visit to that republic, and the following address was
delivered by Mr. Root at the dinner given by the Chamber of
Commerce of the State of New York to His Excellency, Lauro
Mueller, Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs of the
Republic of Brazil.

When in the various pathways that one treads in a long life one has made
friends, has garnered the wealth of friendship, that is more the
happiness of age than wealth of money or possession, I know of nothing
more delightful than to help bring together distant and separated
friends and complete that circuit of magnetic intercourse which, after
all, above all sordid motives, above all selfish interests, above all
things material, makes up the true value of life.

I cannot express the satisfaction that I feel in having you, my friends,
the Chamber of Commerce, unite in taking the hand, and coming into
personal contact with, my old friend and host of the southern republic.
I feel that you are all paying my debt of gratitude, paying it as
friends should pay it for friends.

Dr. Mueller, you have come to see a people widely known throughout the
world for their great material achievements, a people whose influence
has been very great in the development of civilization and in the
advancement of those standards of living and of action which we believe
make our times better than the times that have gone before; and you see
here about you at these tables, and in the portraits upon these walls,
the men who, for nearly a century and a half have played a great, aye,
the greatest part in the amazing material developments and in the
spiritual life of this republic. Those who are living today under the
inspiration a