The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1902-06-14

deem it important before the adjourn
ment Of the present session OF congress
to call attention TO the following ex-
pressious in the message which. in the
discharge Of the duty imposed upon me
by the constitution, I sent TO congress
the first Tuesday of December last:
Elsewhere I have discussed the dues-
tlOn Of reciprocity. In the case of
Cuba, however, there were weighty
reasons of morality and Of national in
terest why the policy should be held
to have peculiar application, and
most earnestly ask your attention to
the wisdom. indeed. to the vital need.
Of providing for a substantial reduc-
ton in the tariff duties on Cuban inn
ports into the United States Cuba has
In her constitution affirmed what we
desired that she should stand. in inter-
national matters IN closer and more
friendly relations with us than with
any other power; and we are bound by
every consideration of honor and ex-
pediency 10 pass commercial measures
IN the interest of her well being
Mckinley Favored Reciprocity.
This recommendation was merely
giving practical effect TO President
Mekinley's words when. in his message
OF Dec. ., 1898 and Dec. ;, 1899, he
wrote:
1T is important that our relations
with this people of cuba shall be Of
the most friendly character and our
commercial relations close and
reciprocal
I've have accepted a trust the full
hliment OF which calls for the stern
est integrity Of purpose and exercise
of the highest wisdom. The new Cuba
yet 10 rise from the ashes of the past
10
singular intimacy and strength Of its
enduring welfare is to be assured The
greatest blessing which can come to
Cuba is the restOratio of her agricuI-
tural and industrial prosperity"
Yesterday June 10. I received by
cable from tie American minister i'm
cuba. most earnest appeal from
President Palma for Legislative relief
before il is too late and his country
financially ruined"
Cuba Should Be an Exception.
The granting of reciprocity with
Cuba is a proposition which stands en-
tirely alone. The reasons for il far
outweigh those FOR granting reciproc-
ity with any other nation and are en-
llrely consistent with preserving in
tact the protective system under which
this country has thriven so marvel
ously. The present tariff law was de-
signed TO promote the adoption OF such
reciprocity treaty and expressly pro-
vided for 9 reduction not to exceed %
per cent upon goods coming from
particular country, leaving the tariff
rates on the same articles unchanged
as regards all other countries.
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 refiHers. Ia my iudg-
ment provision can and should be
made which VIII guarantee US against
the possibility, without having re-
course 20 doubtful policy. such as a
bounty IN the form OF a rebate
Tia 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 get
ting a friendly reciprocity agreement
with Cuba. This agreement applies to
all the articles that cuba grows or
produces. tt is not IN our power to de-
termine what these articles shall be.
and any discussion of the tariff as it
affects special schedules. or countries
other than Cuba. is wholly aside from
the subject matter to which I now call
your attention.
Would Not Damage Home Industries.
Some OF our citizens oppose the
lowering Of the tariff on Cubas
products, just as three years ago they
opposed the admission OF the Hawaiian
Islands, lest free trade with them might
ruin certain OF our interests here. IN
the actual event their fears proved
baseless as regards Hawaii and their
apprehensions as to the damage TO any
nNs a r.f
proposed measure Of reciprocitv with
cuba seem to me equally baseIess.
In my Judgment no American indus
try vii be- hurt and many American
Industries win be benefited by the pro-
posed action, 10 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 prospective building of
the isthmiaR canal render it certain
that We must taken I'm the future q
far greater interest than hitherto in
what happens throughout the West In
dies. Central America and the adjacent
coasts and waters. We expect Cuba
90 treat US on an exceptional footing
politically, ard we should put her in
the same exceptional position econom-
ically. The proposed action is in line
regards all the islands with which we
have been brought into relations of
varying intimacy by the Spanish war.
Porto Rico and Hawaii have been in
Guided within our tariff lines 10 their
great benefit as we'll az ours, and with
out any OF the feared detriment TO our
own industries. The Philippines. which
stand in diferent relation. have been
granted substantial tariff concessions.
Should Make Concessions.
Cuba is an independent repub-
lie which has assumed certain
special obligations as regards her in
ternatiOual position in compliance with
oar request. L ask for her certain spe-
CiaI economic concessions in return;
these economic concessions to benefit
us as we'll as her There are few
brighter pages ia American history
than the page which tells Of our deal
iDgs with Cuba during the past four
years. On her behalf we waged a war;
Of which the handspring was generous
Indignation against oppression, and we
have kept faith absolutely.
It is earnestly 10 be hoped that we
viii complete in the same spirit the
record so wei lbegun, and show in our
dealings with Cuba that steady con-
tinuity of policy which il is essential
for our nation TO establish in foreign
affairs if we desire to play well our
part as a world power.
We are a wealthy and powerful ma
ton. Cuba IS a young republic. still
weak. who owes 10 us her birth, whose
whole future. whose very life. must
depend on our attitude toward her. I
ask that we help her as she struggles
upward along the painful and difficult
road Of self government and independ~
ence I ask this aid for her because
she is weak. because she nefds 1t, be-
.-rra- No Har-a afraa.7r- nfHnF