[Signed] Porfirio Diaz.
Responding to this friendly international salute, President Harrison said:
Governor Torres—This message from that progressive and intelligent gentleman who presides over the destinies of our sister republic is most grateful to me. I assure you that all our people, that the Government, through all its instituted authorities, entertain for President Diaz and for the chivalrous people over which he presides the most friendly sentiments of respect. [Cheers and applause.] We covet, sir, your good-will and those mutual exchanges which are mutually profitable, and we hope that the two republics may forever dwell in fraternal peace.
As the President sat down Governor Torres remarked: "The Mexican people respond heartily to your kind wishes."
[SANTA ANA, CALIFORNIA, APRIL 23.]
On the return route from San Diego the presidential train stopped at Santa Ana, a thriving town in Orange County, where 5,000 people had assembled to greet the Chief Magistrate. The Committee of Reception was John T. Nourse, C. S. McKelvey, W. S. Taylor, J. A. Crane, John Beatty, Geo. E. Edgar, Geo. T. Insley, Capt. H. T. Matthews, W. H. Drips, and Robert Cummings. Sedgwick Post, G. A. R., H. F. Stone, Commander, was present. Prof. M. Manley delivered the address of welcome, and the Hon. W. H. Spurgeon, founder of the city, introduced the President, who spoke as follows:
My Fellow-citizens—I have already proved your hospitality. It is very, very generous, and it is very graceful. I have but one doubt in regard to it, and that is whether I can stand so much of it. [Laughter and applause.] It has given me great gladness of heart to look into your faces. I have been discharging some public business far remote from you, and I hope with some concern for your interest, for I have tried to take a wide view of public questions and to have in my mind a thought of the people of this great land.
Our politics should be as broad as the territory over which our people have spread. It is a part of the history of the country which has always kept in memory the safety and interests of those who pushed civilization to the Rocky Mountains and over its rugged peaks into these fruitful valleys. I am glad to see here this afternoon these little children. The order in which they have assembled gives me assurance that they have come from the school-houses, those nurseries of knowledge and common interests in our American States.
I am glad that you grow not only the olive-tree in your garden, but that to the olive-trees that are planted in the household and bloom about your table you give your greatest attention. Now, thanking you very kindly and confessing very humbly that I am not able to repay you for your generous welcome, and leaving to all these little ones my best hopes for useful, prosperous, and honorable lives, I bid you all good-by.