My Friends—I had supposed when we left San Antonio that we were not to be stopped very often between that point and El Paso with such assemblages of our fellow-citizens. We had settled down to an easy way of living on the train, and I had supposed that speech-making would not be taken up until to-morrow. I thank you most cordially for this friendly evidence of your interest, and I assure you that all of these matters to which your spokesman has alluded are having the most careful consideration of the authorities at Washington. The Secretary of Agriculture, who is with me on the train, has been diligent in an effort to open European markets for American meats, and he has succeeded so far that our exportation has very largely increased in the last year. It is our hope that these restrictions may still further be removed, and that American meat products may have a still larger market in Europe than they have had for very many years past. The inspections now provided by law certainly must remove every reasonable objection to the use of American meats; for we shall demonstrate to them that they are perfectly wholesome and pure. I want to say, from the time of my induction into office until this hour I have had before me constantly the need of the American farmer of a larger market for his products. [Cries of "Good! good!" and cheers.] Whatever we can do to accomplish that will be done. I want to thank the public-school children for this address which they have placed in my hands. What a blessed thing it is that the public school system is found with the pioneer! It follows the buffalo very closely. I am glad to find that your children are being trained in intelligence and in those moral restraints which shall make them good citizens. I thank you for your kindly presence.
[EL PASO, TEXAS, APRIL 21.]
The enterprising city of El Paso was reached at 10 o'clock Tuesday morning, and the President was tendered a veritable ovation. The reception at this point partook of an international aspect. President Diaz of Mexico was represented in the person of Governor Carrillo, Chief Executive of the State of Chihuahua, accompanied by a brilliant staff of 20 officers. The War Department of the Mexican Government was represented by Gen. José Maria Ranjel, Chief of the Second Military Zone, accompanied by his staff, a company of artillery, and the Eleventh Battalion Band of 45 instruments. From the City of Mexico came Col. Ricardo Villanueva and Col. Ygnacio J. Monroy, representing the Federal Government, while the neighboring city of Juarez was represented by Colonel Ross, commander of the garrison, Señor Mejia, Señor Urtetiga, and many other prominent citizens. The city of El Paso was represented by Mayor Richard Caples and the members of the City Council. The Citizens' Committee of Reception comprised W. S. Hills, Chairman; E. B. Bronson, M. B. Davis, S. W. Russell, W. F. Payne, Frank P. Clark, C. F. Slack, Geo. L. Stewart, H. S. Beattie, Judge Allen Blacker, A. Solomon, W. B. Merrick, A. Berla, Louis Papin, Geo. E. Bovee, James A. Smith, Hon. S. W. T. Lanham, A. J. Eaton, Z. T. White, W. S. McCutcheon, A. M. Loomis, H. C. Myles, Ben Schuster, A. J. Sampson, D. W. Reckhart, and J. F. Satterthwaite.
Governor Carrillo stood beside President Harrison during the reception. After the distinguished Mexicans had paid their respects and greeted our Chief Magistrate, Gen. A. G. Malloy, on behalf of the citizens of El Paso, in an eloquent address welcomed him to the Gate City of the two republics.
President Harrison responded as follows:
My Fellow-citizens—I have been journeying for several days throughout the great State of Texas. We are now about to leave her territory and receive from you this parting salutation. Our entrance into the State was with every demonstration of respect and enthusiasm. This is a fitting close to the magnificent expression which the people of this State have given to us. I am glad to stand at this gateway of trade with the great republic of Mexico. [Cries of "Hear! hear!" and cheers.] I am glad to know that it is not only a gateway of commerce, but a gateway of friendship [cheers]; that not only do these hurrying vehicles of commerce bear the products of the fields and mines in mutual exchange, but that they have facilitated those personal relations which have promoted and must yet more promote the friendliness of two independent liberty-loving peoples. [Cheers.]
I receive with great satisfaction these tributes of respect which have been brought to me by the Governor of Chihuahua and the representatives of the army of Mexico. [Cheers.] I desire to return to them and through them to the people of Mexico and to that illustrious and progressive statesman who presides over her destinies [cheers] not only my sincere personal regard, but an assurance of the friendliness and respect of the American Government and the American people. I look forward with interest to a larger development of our trade; to the opening of new lines of commerce and new avenues of friendship. We have passed that era in our history, I hope, when we were aggressive and unpleasant neighbors. We do not covet the territory of any other people [cheers], but do covet their friendship and those trade exchanges which are mutually profitable. [Cheers.]
And now to you, my fellow-citizens, I bring congratulations for the rapid development which you are making here, and extend the most cordial good wishes for the realization of every hope you have for El Paso and its neighborhood. [Cheers.] All republics are builded on the respect and confidence of the people. They are enduring and stable as their institutions and their rulers continue to preserve their respect. I rejoice that those influences that tend to soften the asperities of human life—the home, the school, and the church—have kept pace with the enterprises of commerce and are established here among you. All commerce and trade rest upon the foundation of social order. You cannot attract an increased citizenship except as you give to the world a reputation for social order [cheers], in which crime is suppressed, in which the rights of the humble are respected [cheers], and where the courts stand as the safe bulwark of the personal and public rights of every citizen, however poor. [Cheers.] I trust that as your city grows you will see that these foundations are carefully and broadly laid, and then you may hope that the superstructure, magnificent in its dimensions, perfect in its security and grace, shall rise in your midst. [Cheers.]
I am glad to meet my comrades of the Grand Army of the Republic [cheers], the survivors of the grand struggle for the Union. It was one of the few wars in history that brought blessings to the "victors and vanquished," and was followed by no proscriptions, no block, no executions, but by the reception of those who had striven for the destruction of the country into friendly citizenship, laying upon them no yoke that was not borne by the veterans—that of obedience to the law and a due respect for the rights of others. [Cheers.]