Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1902-06-21


congress yesterday urging tariff
concessions to Cuba. After quoting
extracts from President McKinley's
last message in favor Of such action
and his own message Of last Deoem-
Der reiterating President McKinley's
views, he says:
Yesterday, June II, received by cable
from the American minister In Cuba q
most earnest appeal from President Pal-
ma for Legislative relief before II 10 TOO
late and (his) country financially ruined.
The granting of reciprocity with Cuba Is
q proposition which stands entirely alone.
The reasons for II far outweigh those for
granting reciprocity with any other ma
ton, and are entirely consistent with pre-
serving intact the protective system un-
der which this country has thriven 80
marvelously. The present tariff law was
designed to promote the adoption OF such
q reciprocity treaty and expressly pro-
vided for q reduction not to exceed 70
per cent. upon goods coming from par
ticular country, leaving the tarin rates
on the same articles unchanged as re-
CARDS all other countries. Objection has
been made to the granting Of the rsduc-
ton on the ground that the substantial
benefit would not so to the agricultural
producer Of sugar, but would inure to
the American sugar refiners. In my
Judgment provision can and should be
made which will guarantee as against
this possibility, without having recourse
to doubtful policy. such as q bounty In
the form of a rebate.
The question as to which, IL 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
friendly reciprocal arrangement with
Cuba. This arrangement applies to all
the articles that Cuba grows or pro-
duces. II Is not In our power to deter
mine what these articles shall be; and
any discussion OF the tariff as II aHects
special schedules or countries other than
Cuba, is wholly aside from the subject
matter to which / call your attention.
Some OF our citizens oppose the lower
Ing of the tariff on Cuban products. just
as three years ago they opposed the ad-
mission 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 industry of our ewn
because Of the proposed measure OF reel
procity with Cuba seem TO me equally
baseless. In my judgment no American
Industry will be hurt. and many Ameri-
can industries will be benefited by the
proposed action. 1t is to our advantage
rs q nation that the growing Cuban mar
ket should be controlled by American
producers.
The events following the war with
Spain, and the prospective building or
- t-&t. certain
that we must take in the future far
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 exceptional footing politically,
and we should put her in the same ex-
ceptional position economically. the
proposed action Is In line with the course
we have pursued as regards all the Is
lands with which we have been brought
into relations of varying intimacy by the
Spanish war. Porto Rico and HAWAII
have been included with our tariff lines.
to their great benefit as well as ours,
and without any Of the feared detriment
to our own industries. The Philippines,
which stand in different relation, have
been granted substantial tariff conces-
sions.
Cuba Is an Independent republic, but
republic which has assumed certain spe-
cial obligations as regards her interna-
tional position In compliance with our
request ask for her certain special
economic concessions In return. these
economic concessions to benefit us as
well as her. There are few brighter
pages In American history than the page
which tells Of our dealings with Cuba
during the past four years. On her be-.
half we waged war. OF which the main
spring was generous indignation against
oppression, and we have kept faith abb
solutely. It is earnestly TO be hoped
that we will complete in the same spirit
the record so we'll begun, and show In
our dealings with Cuba that sturdy con-
tinuity of policy which It is essential
for our nation to establish In foreign
affairs IL we desire to play well our part
as a world-power.
We are a wealthy and powerful ma
ton; Cuba Is young republic, still
weak, who owes to us her birth. whose
whole future, whose very life, must de-
pend on our attitude toward her. l ask
that we help her as she struggles up
ward along the painful and difficult road
of self-governing independence. / ask
this aid for her. because she Is weak
because she needs It, because we have
alTodOY alucu HeT. dSh tiiSt OPCh-
handed help of a kind which a self
respecting people can accept, be given
to Cuba, for the very reason that we
have given her such help In the past
Our soldiers fought to give her freedom;
and for three years our representatives,
civil and military, have toiled unceaslpg-
ly, facing disease OF peculiarly sinister
and fatal type with patient and uncom-
planning fortiutde to teach her how to
use Alright her new freedom. Never In
history has any alien country been thus
administered with such high integrity
Of purpose, such wise judgment and such
a single-handed devotion to the country's
interests. Now I ask that the Cubans
be given all possible chance to use to
the best advantage the freedom Of which
Americans have such right to be proud.
and for which so many American lives
have been sacrificed.
Chinese Cannot Enter Cuba.