Speech of Mr. Knox at a breakfast given by the Municipal Council at the Bellevue Club, Port au Prince, April 4, 1912, in response to a brief speech of introduction by the Mayor.
Mr. Mayor: I thank you very much, sir, for this additional act of kindness, and we have been the recipients of many acts of kindness since we have been in Port au Prince, in your hospitable country, in your hospitable city, and among your hospitable people. My visit, however, would not, from my point of view, be considered an entire success if it were merely confined to pleasures and the delights of intercourse with the people of this city. I have observed here a thing that makes me very glad, and that is that the Haitians seem to have realized that industry is at the basis of prosperity and that the object of their Government is now undoubtedly to maintain peace at home and peace with her neighbors, so that industrialism, which is the sole foundation of wealth and prosperity, shall proceed uninterrupted. You seem to have discovered, as all nations must discover in their march toward the progress of which they are capable, that the true function of government is not to say to a man, “Work and we will reward you”, but to say to all of its citizens, “Work and the Government will secure to you the results of your labor, that it shall not be taken away from you by violence or by injustice”. You have discovered, further, I believe, that while the true function of government is not what I have just described, it is this: to honestly collect the revenues, as lightly tax the people as the necessities of the government [Page 547] demands, and then to apply these revenues honestly for the best interests of the country. I am satisfied from a conversation with your worthy President that it is not the intention of this administration of affairs in Haiti to spend the substance of the people upon unnecessary military establishments but extend those great public improvements which make the life of every man better.
These are some of the observations I have made since I have been with you, though the time has been very short and has been occupied very largely with the pleasures of the visit, but I shall carry them home to the President of the United States and to the people of the United States, and I am satisfied that they, with me, will rejoice that everything in Haiti seems to be on the upward move. I beg to pledge the health of the President and people of Haiti and their prosperity.