The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1902-06-17
ba is a proposition which stands en-

Llfely alone. Inc TeaSOnS Tor It's grant
ing far outweigh those for granting
reciprocity with any other nation ant
are entirely consistent with ~preseryin.
intact the protective system under
which this country has thriven so mar
velously. The present tariff law wa.
designed to promote the adoption o.
such a reciprocity treaty and express
ly provided for a reduction not to ex
coed 20 per cent upon goods coming
from a particular country, leaving the
tariff rates on the same articles I'm
changed as regards all other coun
tries. Objection has been made to the
granting of the reduction on the
ground that the substantial benefit
would not go to the agricultural pro
Queer of sugar, but would inure to the
American sugar refiners. In my judg.
ment, provision can and should be
made which will guarantee us against
the possibility, without having re.
course to doubtful policy, such as a
bounty in the form Of a rebate.
The question as to which, if any, of
the different schedules of the tariff
ought most properly to be revised,
does not enter into this matter in any
way or shape. We are concerned with
getting a friendly reciprocal agree
ment with Cuba. This agreement ap-
plies to all the articles that Cuba
grows or produces. It is not in our
power to determine what these arti-
cles shall be, and any discussion Of
the tariff as 1T affects special sched-
ules o. countries other than Cuba is
wholly aside from the subject matter
to which | now call your attention.
Some of our citizens oppose the low
ering Of the tariff on Cuban products
just as three years ago they oppos-
ed the admission of the Hawaiian is
lands, lest free trade with them might
ruin certain of our interests here. In
the actual event their fears proved
b%aseless as regards Hawaii, and their
apprehensions as to the damage to
any industry of our wi because of
the proposed measure of reciprocity
with Cuba seems to me equally base
less.
In my judgment no American indus
try will be hurt, and many American
industries will be benefited by the pro-
posed action. 1t is to our advantage
as a nation that the growing Cuban
market should be controlled by Amer
lean producers. The events following
the war with Spain and the prospec-
tive building of the isthmian canal
it certain that we must take in
the future a fare greater interest than
hitherto in what happens throughout
the West Indies, Central America and
the adjacent coasts and waters. We
expect Cuba to treat us on an excep-
tional footing politically, and we
should put her in the same position
economically. The proposed action
is in line with the course we have pur-
sued. as regards all the islands with
which we have been brought into re-
of varying intimacy by the
Spanish war. Porto Rico and Hawaii
have been included within our tariff
lines, to their great benefit as we'll as
ours, and without any of the feared
to our own Industries. The
which stand in a different
relation, have been granted substan-
tial concessions.
A Request Is Preferred.
Cuba is an independent republic but
a republic which has assumed certain
obligations as regards her in
position in compliance
with our request. l ask for her certain
economic concessions in re-
turn; these economic concessions to
benefit us as well as her. There are
Pew brighter pages in American his
tory that the page which tells of our
dealings with Cuba during the past
years. On her behalf we waged
! war of which the handspring was
generous indignation against oppres-
sion, and we have kept faith absolute
y. 1T is earnestly to be hoped that
will complete in the same spirit
he record so well begun and show in
our dealings with Cuba that steady
continuity of policy which it is essen
:ial for out nation to establish in for
sign affairs, if we desire to play well
,ur part as a world power.
An Appeal for Cuba.
We are a wealthy and powerful ma
ion; Cuba is a young republic still
weak, who owe to us her birth, whose
whole future, whose very life must
on our attitude toward her. II