Reply of Mr. Knox.
Excellency: In the name of the people of the United States, the President of the United States, for my party, and for myself, I desire to express to you our deep gratitude for the cordiality of this welcome when we have first touched the shore in the Republic of Panama and in the ancient city named for the great discoverer of America. This reception is extremely flattering to me, because it indicates that the people of Panama respond to the sentiment that inspired the President of the United States, and whose inspiration has been cordially and fully indorsed by the people of the United States, to send me hither as a bearer of a message of good feeling, friendship, and kindliness to the people of this Republic and the other peoples of the Caribbean littoral. I have sincerely to thank you all for this manifestation of the sympathy which is thus shown toward us, and I shall repeat to [Page 1243] you only what. I have said before—that is, thanks—which I am sure will find a response in the hearts of the American people.