Minister Beaupré to the Secretary of State.
Buenos Aires, May 2, 1905.
Sir: I have the honor to transmit herewith the usual number of copies of the message delivered yesterday by the President of this Republic at the opening of the ordinary session of Congress.
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President Quintana’s inaugural address, delivered on October 12, last, the day of his inauguration as President of the Argentine Republic, was warmly received by the people and press of this country, as it truly deserved to be, for it was tempered with sincerity and serious, honest purpose and abounded in promises for the future; it called up all the most evident needs of the hour and assured the expectant public of the necessary corrective measures. This welcome message was followed up by the inauguration of a vigorous policy with the full immediate prosecution of which the season and the recess of Congress have necessarily interfered, but which, it is expected, will now be carried forward with satisfactory and lasting results.
The present message to Congress begins with a frank subscription to the inaugural message, thus: “Before giving you an account of the general state of the Republic—as prescribed by the constitution—let me ratify in every detail the inaugural programme of my government. I have nothing to modify in its solemn engagements, which I undertook with sincerity and patriotism, which have been strengthened by public verdict.” This is followed up by a bold statement of the President’s honest and progressive intentions: “My government shall be progressive and institutional. * * * I can not forget that I, as the Executive, must be the first guarantee of all rights. * * * My only ambition is the public good.” The courage of the present incumbent of the Presidency is next clearly shown in that he speaks in no evasive terms, but openly and frankly, of the recent subversive movement of February 4–8 last, admitting that he had knowledge of the “conspiracy in the army when” he “assumed power,” speaking with satisfaction of the prompt and thorough manner in which said movement was checked and of the impartiality with which justice was administered in the case of the offenders and offering consoling and sure promises for the future.
The President then proceeds to treat individually of the various departments of the government.
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In the department of foreign affairs the President finds matter for satisfactory comment in the approximate conclusion of the Chilean boundary survey, in the reestablishment or continuation of cordial relations with the republics of Uruguay and Paraguay after their internal difficulties. A consular and diplomatic bill has been framed by this department, reorganizing these services, and will be the first matter presented to Congress. And within the past two weeks this country has entered into an agreement with the Republic of Uruguay to suppress all lotteries in both countries.
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[Page 32]The tone of the message as a whole is most hopeful as regards both the present condition of the country and the outlook for the future. Honest administration and reform legislation along the most necessary lines are the burden of its assurance for the future of this administration. There is much that is in project that will pass through the winnowing process of congressional debate, and emerge, it is to be hoped, the pure grain of good legislation. There are some projects, too, that only the future can test, and it will rest with Congress to prepare them for that test. But the promise of the whole is hopeful.
I am, sir, etc.,