REPORT OF THE SECRETARY GENERAL. 8 1 



ment, and if we can not improve any further, let us stay where we are, 

 at least. 



There is a time in which a nation strives for independence. All the 

 American Republics have separated from the mother countries, attained 

 the age of maturity, and asked for a place in the world. President Cleve- 

 land, in the time of his administration, called the attention, not only of 

 England, but of Europe as a whole, to the fact that America was for the 

 Americans, and since then we may say the American Republics became 

 independent. Monroe, of course, is the father of that doctrine; but who 

 is greater, the one who promulgates a doctrine, or the one who establishes 

 it.? Let us honor Monroe, but let us admire and thank Cleveland for hav- 

 ing given us our continental independence and liberty; but, above all, let 

 us work in harmony and cooperate together for the maintenance of that 

 independence. 



Coming now to us, the Latin American Republics, allow me to remind 

 you of a common expression applied to us. I mean the "manana." We 

 are known to leave things for to-morrow. Do we really represent that 

 "manana"? If so, let us make it to-day. In this connection I am 

 reminded of the last words of Columbus. When sick and in need his 

 faithful friend Don Juan requested his permission to go to the court and 

 ask for charity. In spite of Columbus' refusal, he went, nevertheless. 

 When he came back, Columbus asked him, "Well, what is the news?" 

 And Don Juan replied: "Tal vez manana," which means "perhaps 

 to-morrow." 



Manana, esa palabra vana, 

 Se ha interpuesto en mi camino; 

 Yo daros un mundo quiero. 

 En voz alta les gritaba 

 Y manana repetia 

 El viejo mtmdo en que muero. 



i Y hoy que ese mundo les di, 

 Y tu que; fuiste a buscar. 

 Para CoI6n un hogar 

 Me traes una manana a mi ? 

 Raza orgullosa y liviana, 

 Bajo en cuyo ambiente estoy 

 Si no sabeis lo que es hoy 

 Qu6 sabeis lo que es el maiiana? 



I have referred to that poem, gentlemen, because it says, in a few 

 words, if we do not know what is to-day we never can know what will 

 be to-morrow. Of course, to us the beautiful Stars and Stripes, or the 



