The most progressive epoch in Mexico's history was the thirty years of Díaz's supremacy; and it was in the heyday of that period that Mr. Root made his visit to Mexico and paid to President Díaz the tributes which appear in the following pages. During these thirty years, he was always a firm friend of the United States, and no diplomatic misunderstandings arose which were not peaceably adjusted in a spirit of neighborly friendship. Díaz shares with President Roosevelt the honor of submitting the first international controversy to the Hague Tribunal of Arbitration for determination, in what is known as "The Pious Fund of the Californias." THE VISIT TO MEXICO SAN ANTONIO SPEECH OF MR. ROOT At a Banquet of the International Club in Honor of Mr. Root and the Mexican Envoys, September 28, 1907 Upon his arrival in San Antonio, Texas, on his way to Mexico, Mr. Root was met by a reception committee designated by President Díaz, which had come to San Antonio to welcome him and to escort him to the national capital. While in San Antonio, Mr. Root and the Mexican Reception Committee were the guests of the International Club of that city; and on the evening of the day of their arrival, a banquet was tendered them by that club. At this banquet Mr. Root made what may be called the first address of his Mexican visit. The opening remarks of this speech were not reported in full in the volume entitled _El Señor Root en Mexico_, or elsewhere; nor were the speeches of the members of the Mexican Reception Committee. Mr. Root began by a reference to the ideals adopted by men and by nations, declaring his opinion that a nation has a right to exist only in so far as it shows its ability to care for the welfare of other nations and the relations of every man with his fellowmen. He spoke of the rising tide of American business which is powerfully spreading towards the south by reason of the financial conditions in the east of the United States, every day becoming more stringent through the volume and accumulation of resources. After this introduction, he spoke at some length about the Panama Canal, the construction of which already was in its opening stage. On this subject he said: