Legation of
the United States,
Carácas, May 24, 1888.
(Received June 4.)
No. 237.]
[Inclosure in No.
237.—Translation.]
President Lopez to
President Cleveland.
Federal Palace of
the Capitol,
Caracas, May 7, 1886.
Great and good friend: I have, on this
occasion, to perform one of the most pleasing duties of my public life,
namely, to convey to you the expression of my gratitude, together with
that of the Government and people of Venezuela, for the spontaneity with
which your Excellency, the Congress,” and the people of your Republic
united in doing honor to the remains of General José Antonio Paez, who
devoted the best efforts of his life to the cause of freedom, as did the
founders of the great American democracy, and who followed in the
footsteps of George Washington, who was called “first in peace, first in
war, and first in the hearts of his countrymen.” The republican and
civic virtues, of which our hero was a model, found an echo in the bosom
of the Federation of the North, which is so true a friend of real glory
and always so prompt to render to it the homage of its admiration. Thus
it is, most excellent sir, that whenever we shall think of the esteem in
which Paez was held, while alive, in your country, and of the honor that
was shown to his remains, we shall give you fresh evidence of our
gratitude and of our high appreciation of such demonstrations of
sympathy, which are calculated to draw still closer, if this were
possible, the bonds of friendship which unite our two countries.
Accept my best wishes for the uninterrupted prosperity and the progress
of the United States of America, for that of the citizens and
corporations that took part in the solemnities above referred to, and
for your own happiness and welfare.
Great and good friend, your good friend,
[
l. s.]
Hermógenes
Lopez.
Countersigned:
Diego B. Urbaneja,
Minister of Foreign Relations.
