 It was a surprise, yes. Greetings and welcome to the White House, if you don't feel welcome already. Tonight, we mark not only the visit of a friend, but also we celebrate a nation's return to democracy. Historic events, such as the rebirth of Uruguayan democracy, do not just happen. They're the outcome of the hard work, courage, and commitment of extraordinary individuals. Tonight, it's my honor to be hosting such an extraordinary individual, a man who shepherded his country through the rocks and crevasses of military rule and safety back to freedom. Speaking for his fellow countrymen earlier this year, President San Guenetti said, we know we want democracy. We know we want the observance of human rights. We know we want the self-determination of the people. We know we want the enforcement of the principles of international law within our America. We know we want peace. Well, Mr. President, we share those goals, and we also know what we want. We want to be friends with those who love liberty, people like yourself, and your fellow citizens of Uruguay. As I indicated in my welcoming remarks this morning, the love of freedom is an integral part of the national identities of our two countries. One need only think back to the hero whose birthday your country celebrates this week, General Jose Artigus, a romantic and dashing figure if there ever was one. This brave man, along with his army of gauchos, fought a courageous fight for freedom and independence. Once he had won the day, unlike so many other so-called leaders throughout the world, he did not march to the capital. Instead, he lived in the countryside, content with the title Protector of Free Peoples, which his countrymen had affectionately bestowed upon him. Mr. President, as the elected leaders of democratic governments, we too are the protectors of the people. Not just at home, but wherever people struggle for liberty. And if you will pardon me for turning around a quotation from General Artigus, today, for those who live in democracy, the challenge is for us to be as brave as we are enlightened. So I would ask all of you to join me in a toast to a modern day hero of freedom, President San Guenetti, and his good lady, and the people of Uruguay. I'm going to do it improvised. Mr. President, friends, you have spoken of two things that honor the Uruguayan people, friendship and artigues, which is our founding father. Mr. President, dear friends, you have spoken just now of two things which are especially dear to us, Uruguayans, friendship and general artigues. I would like to speak about both of these things because they are both related historically. The friendship between our peoples was born during the time of Artigus' life. Artigus had only the support of the United States. He was received with very great misunderstanding all over the Americas as well as in Europe. All of his political culture and education came from here. He was a man of arms, a man of the country. He had already explained to him what the ideas of freedom were, and he had taken them into his heart. And with incredible tenacity, he stuck to them throughout. I want to remember that in 1815, precisely when the provinces of the River Plate region gave him the title, or the name, Protector, he found himself quite alone. At that time, he was fighting not only against the Spanish Empire but also against the Portuguese, which at that time was very strong. So the Secretary of State of President Monroe, who was James Madison at the time, sent a mission to see General Artigus, and General Artigus asked for American support against the Portuguese. The Americans gave that support in the form of semen from Baltimore. So supported by these naval people, from the United States from Baltimore, Artigus broke the Portuguese blockade. It was from then that the idea of political freedom and freedom of trade appeared in association. The next year, the situation was much more difficult for Artigus, and a very interesting debate took place in the Congress. The next year, the situation got a lot worse for Artigus, and a very interesting debate took place in the U.S. Congress. Fortunately, by that time, James Monroe was President, and he was very well aware of the situation. The Secretary of State then was James Quincy Adams, and Clay, who was a bit ahead of them politically, assumed a position against Artigus. Then came a debate, which would be slightly difficult to reproduce here. But I can tell you that the U.S. Congress debated this in great depth, and in the final analysis, the position of Monroe was very different from that of the U.S. Congress. The U.S. Congress was very different from that of the U.S. Congress. And in the final analysis, the position of Monroe and John Quincy Adams prevailed. And there it was said, that General Artigus was the only real Democrat of the River Plate provinces, and I think if I'm not mistaken, the phrase was this brave and chivalrous Republican... Republican. I could keep talking about this, but I just want to remember now We could continue talking about this longer, but I would just recall that in 1820, the star over Artigas set and he was defeated. Abandoned, he chose the Road of Exile, and he received then a letter from Monroe that fortunately still survived. In this letter, Monroe offered asylum in the United States. This letter said that not only would he be allowed to lead a peaceful life here, but that he would be given also a stipend or a pension in keeping with his condition in life and his rank. At the very saddest moment in his life, the only voice he had nearby was that one. And that man who was defeated militarily triumphed spiritually because he created a country with an idea, an ideal, and that ideal was the ideal of freedom. So you see, Mr. President, how old are the ties which bind us in this friendship? A century and a half have passed. Our nations have prospered, have grown, and have had their history. The important thing is that we continue inspired by the same banner, the same flag, the flag of freedom. I would like to propose a toast that that flag of friendship and of freedom never be struck down. So together with your wife and you and all our friends here present, I would like to propose a toast to that old friendship which is always renewed.