Papers Relating to the Foreign Relations of the United States, With the Annual Message of the President Transmitted to Congress December 3, 1912
File No. 812,413 W27.
The American Ambassador to the Secretary of State.
Mexico, February 24, 1912.
Sir: I have the honor to inclose to the Department clippings from the Mexican Herald of yesterday, describing the exercises in connection with the presentation, on February 22, by Americans in this Republic, of a statue of George Washington as a gift to the Mexican people.
I have [etc.].
From the Mexican Herald of February 23, 1912.
Several thousand people assembled yesterday morning at 11 o’clock in Plaza Dinamarca to witness the unveiling of the Washington statue which was presented to Mexico by the American residents in the Republic at the centennial last year.
The statue is of bronze. It is eleven feet high and rests on a base of marble of the same height. The figure, face and pose of the great American are dignified and noble and the statue adds much beauty to the glorieta, which is surrounded by handsome buildings.
A large platform in front of the statue was occupied by President Madero, his staff, the members of the cabinet, the diplomatic corps, and many unofficial Mexicans and Americans, both men and women.
C. R. Hudson, vice president of the monument committee, spoke as follows:
“Many of you will recall that during the celebration held in this city in commemoration of the first centennial of the Independence of Mexico, we met at these grounds and dedicated the site of this glorieta to the statue of Washington, which was to be the gift of the citizens of the United States residing in this Republic, to the Mexican nation and people in honor of the centennial.
“It is with great pride that we meet to-day to fulfill the promise then made, mid to present our gift now to the nation. Owing to unavoidable delays, and our wish to have these ceremonies on the birthday of Washington, we were not able to have the grounds completed and embellished, but that will follow immediately.
“Monuments to Washington exist in many Latin-American republics, and the selection of a statue of this great character as a gift to the Mexican nation [Page 906] seems particularly appropriate. In Latin-American hearts Washington is classed with Bolivar and Hidalgo, two of their own greatest heroes. He is dear to citizens of all countries under an elective form of government. He belongs to them all, and no doubt his career was an inspiration to all leaders in the establishment of American republics.”
address of ambassador henry lane wilson.
“One hundred and eighty years after the birth of George Washington in Westmoreland County, Virginia, the American colony in this Republic offers his plastic portrait carved in Mexican stone and American bronze to the Mexican people as a testimonial of their respect and fraternal affection. On the day when this great patriot first opened his eyes on the world the vast empire now known as the United States of America was a part of the monarchy of Great Britain, and Mexico with its great mineral and agricultural wealth, was still sleeping in the traditions of the Middle Ages under the monarchy of Spain. To-day both are powerful Republics cherishing the memory of the lands from whose loins they sprang, but united in maintaining upon this hemisphere the theory and practice of constitutional democracy.
“These two Republics have been at peace for more than half a century and during all that time the currents of a constantly increasing volume of commerce, immigration, and vast mutual interests have been bringing them more and more into intimate and cordial association. Nor can the eye of the prophet or the vision of the seer see aught in the horizon of the future portending the lessening of those cordial relations which the dictates of sound statesmanship, as well as the imperative considerations of mutual interest teach us are vitally essential to the peaceful progress and development of both countries.
“There is the difference of race; but while race pride and traditions are ennobling and useful, racial unity beyond national frontiers politically counts for little in an intensely utilitarian age, when political alliances and friendships spring from considerations of practical self-interest and the necessities of the hour rather than from the dreams of the past.
“No race is so great or perfect that it may not learn much to its advantage from other races and no race is so enthroned in its own virtues that it may not borrow something of the divine spark from races whose traditions, history and ideals are far asunder. The Mexican and American nations are Christian and republican nations, and while possibly pursuing different roads, are both animated by the same idea of elevating man and the happiness of the people. They should, therefore, be friends, as they are neighbors, putting aside the appeal of the demagogue and the singer of evil songs, and lend themselves unitedly to the peaceful development of this hemisphere.
“No fitter representative of this idea has ever lived than the great American patriot, George Washington. A warrior, he loved peace; an aristocrat, he loved the people; nourished in the lap of luxury, he devoted his life and fortune to the cause of the oppressed and poor; self-centered in his Americanism, the great central idea of his policy as enunciated by Alexander Hamilton was the maintenance and extension of the democratic idea throughout this hemisphere.
“The United States has produced many great men whose names have been written large upon the scrolls of history, but none greater than Washington, none in whom the fires of patriotism burned purer or higher, none who has left a memory more enshrouded in love and admiration among his fellow countrymen, the Latin-Americans of this hemisphere and the people of the world. Therefore, no worthier subject could so eloquently express the purpose of the American colony in Mexico, in presenting this statue of the great commoner who was first in war, first in peace, and first in the hearts of his countrymen, to the Mexican people.
“Mr. President: In the name of the American colony in this Republic and as an offering of peace, good will, and friendship, I present this statue of George Washington, through Your Excellency, to the Mexican people.”
address of president madero.
“Great men should have statues erected to their memory in every land, for these statues serve to recall vividly the virtues of the heroes of nations, and at the same time are a means of paying homage to the services rendered to humanity by the great men of the ages, whose work should never be restricted [Page 907] to the confines of one nation, but should be extended throughout the world to benefit all nations and peoples.
“For this reason men who have distinguished themselves in the fields of science, art, or politics should be considered as citizens of the world. All the world has been benefited by the discoveries of Volta, Edison, Marconi, Fulton and Watts, who gave the world the wonders of steam and electricity.
“So such men as George Washington, who brought freedom to their nations, are known throughout the entire world. The labor of Washington was one of the factors which caused France to seek and claim her freedom, radiating afterwards to all the world, illuminating the minds of our own Hidalgo, Allende, Morelos and other patriots.
“For this reason the American colony resident in Mexico could not, on the occasion of the centennial of our independence, have chosen a gift which would be more highly esteemed, for the noble figure of Washington is loved by all who love liberty and admired by all who regard the grand and the beautiful.
“This admiration for just and great men which is common to both our nations is the best testimony to the similarity of ideas which inspire us, and, for this reason, of the union which should continually strengthen and guide our relations. In the commercial world the interchange of products is beneficial to both nations (for which reason it increases) and the similarity of ideals will lead us toward the same end, that of attaining greatness through liberty and justice.
“The Mexican people appreciate to the highest degree this gift which the American colony on the occasion of the first centennial of Mexican independence has made to Mexico, this beautiful statue which represents in bronze the one who in his own Nation came to be ‘first in war; first in peace, and first in the hearts of his countrymen’—enviable praise which has rarely been accorded even to great men.”