Show honoring two famous pan americans k F I W y 1 statue of simon bolivar in central park now york city 0 we wi it publish additional authentic feature articles dealing with the cant person alit es and fundamental in of latin american countries whose newspaper publishers are coi operating with publishers Publish ere program unter by printing Vr inting in their newspapers feature articles back grounding and interpretative of our statue of henry clay in way of we in the united states caracas venezuela by EDWA EDWAD M D C JoHr A few years ago there was unveiled in caracas the capital of the south american republic of venezuela a statue of a great pan american the inscription on it written in So spanish anish reads henry clay 1777 1852 apostle of fraternity between the countries of america ana valiant defender of their independence the united states of america presents to the united states of venezuela this statue of its illustrious statesman speaker of the house of representatives senta tives senator and secretary of state the statue given gien in return for one ne of general simon bolivar the south american champion of in independence and pan americanism which was unveiled in in central park in new york city in 1921 was formally dedicated by a distinguished delegation from the united states and the statue was received by the president of the republic of venezuela this ceremony which honored the man who in the united states has been called the first pan american ani and the father of pan americanism was a significant one in the history of the nations of the new world it was a gesture of friendship on the part of the most powerful of those nations to a smaller nation which has reason to feel grateful to an older sister in in the P pan all american family for to the Venezuela ns the statue erected in the square in their capital to which they have given the name of plaza henry clay means more than a mere memento of a great man to them henry clay was a friend not only a friend in words but a friend in deeds as well and the monument will stand as a constant reminder of that fact and of the international good will which prompted tile the presentation of it to their country As early as 1816 henry clay began his campaign in the con gross gress in support of the colonies of spain then in revolt clay in his capacity as speaker 0 of f the house of representatives reasoning that the united states might have openly to take part with the patriots of south america americ a 1 op posed the reduction of taxes incident to the war of 1812 and a year later likewise opposed a bill intended to stop the fitting out of war vessels in united states ports maintaining that such a bill might be detrimental to the interests of south americans who were still I 1 struggling for their freedom in 1817 he offered a apropo proposal I 1 1 to authorize a salary for a minister to the provinces of the rio de la Is plata in march 1818 clay made the speech which is still gratefully remembered by south Ameil americans cans like all of clays ora Z massing the colors at the statue of simon bolivar in central park new york city during daring the recent celebration of trie annil anal v ebsary ersary of his birth eions it was stirring it was the first plea voiced for recognition of the countries then shaking off the domination of spain alethe ti in congress he thundered and pleaded sympathy for the IS 18 millions of people struggling 1 to be free this speech gained for the united states generally and henry clay in particular in many any friends among the south american coun tries who were destined to increase when in 1820 clay introduced a motion into tile the congress to inaugurate diplomatic intercourse with any of the governments of south america which have established and are maintaining their independence of spain the next year as the result of a resolution lie he supported president morroe monroe sent a special message to congress congi and a resolution to establish intercourse with the south american Ame nian nations when clay became secretary oi of s state late in in 1825 his hii zeal in in promoting friendship between tile the republics of north and south america be came apparent almost immediately he has been hailed as the father of pan americanism in the united states stales because of the steps which lie he took to encourage the success of the congress at panama a in in 1826 which convened at the call of simon bolivar the united states was not in in th the first list of countries but at clays sug this country later was included the invitation gave clay an opportunity to prepare instructions to the united states delegation which in in every feature seems to accord with the principles which have governed the pan american monc movement and the good neighbor policy of rl recent cent years one of the facts about clays influence upon the international policy of the united un bcd states state which is is not com commonly known to most north americans amei leans is in regard to the so called monroe doctrine the principles in that famous document clay forecast in july 1921 lit hi had been pleading the cause of the hie south american patriots with brilliance and fervor in the congress which was more or less les indifferent to it slowly however howe cr public 0 pinion opinion was won over and when finally in 1822 the purchase of florida was ratified president Pies ident monroe began to recognize the new republics the next year the president uttered the words which have been famous as the monroe doctrine although they might more justly be called the clay doctrine for had not henry clay prepared the way for them and contributed ideas to the formulation of the doctrine they might never have been uttered clays last great pan american work as secretary of state in 1825 was to organize european Eui influence particularly ticul arly that of russia to prevail upon spain to discontinue the war against again st her former colonies the story of this man who was so signally honored in the venezuelan capital as a figure of in ter national importance is one of the most romantic in american history closely a associated is s 0 c I 1 a it eid with the names of general simon bolivar and general josa de san martin in the story of parl pan americanism one finds the name of henry clay |