The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1902-01-20

100000 go 5000 %>@<s 90 GOO
free or at a low tariff. The Journal
says:
Conditions in Cuba call for early and
serious consideration by Congress- Much
of the sugar crop IS already lying idle on
! the hands of producers because they are
shut out from the American market by
a high tariff, and are shut out from
European markets by the system of gov
eminent bounties to native sugar Pres
! ident Roosevelt has clearly pointed out
/ the duty of the American people in this
matter and Secretary Root has, If pos
! s;ble, made both the economic and the
! political issue even more distinct The
/ United States saw fit to intervene in the
relations between Spain and Cuba in
1898. With the motives of that interven-
ton and some of its broader results it
is not necessary at this time to enter
upon any discussion. Those results were
Immensely beneficial to Cuba In a polit-
ical~ sense in liberating her from Spanish
control. But Cuba, by becoming fnde-
pendent of Spain, thereby lost her title
to Determinations in favor Of her prod
ucts in Spanish markets.
WAR MEANT FREE TRADE
ut was probably anticipated by nine
tenths of the American people. and espe-
cially by those VINO were the warmest
advocates of Intervention against Spain,
that the liberation of Cuba meant the
throwing down of the barriers to recip-
rocal trade relations between the island
and this country. The revolt against
Spanish sovereignty which began in 1895
was in itself largely an economic revolt.
in whose origin the United States were
not without responsibility. The reci-
procity which had been extended to Gu
ba up to 1894 was withdrawn by the tar
iff act of that year. The result was to
N md na he
their competition with the bounty paid
sugar of Europe and to cause an indus
trial situation in the island which natu- :
rally bred discomfort and resistance to
Now that Cuba has been cut
off from the Spanish market which was
formerly hers. she looks with reason to
this country to complete the work of po-;
litfcal liberation by afford:ng her the
opportunity which she lost
when she severed her bonds to Spain.
Upon its economic side freedom of trade
between Cuba and the United States Is
The natural result of her geographical
ocation and of our interests. 1t means
n the long run a widening of American
markets and an opening of opportunities
or American investment which are vast
Y more important than the puny special
interests which are standing In the path
# Cuba's future The question is some
hing more, however, than an economic
me- 1t involves moral obligation on
he part of the United States to carry
ut the implied pledge of her policy of
Intervention.
CALLS FOR QUICK ACTION.
Relief for Cuba should be complete
nd speedy. Party leaders in Congress {
annot afford to hide behind shallow
retexts in refusing such relief. 1t is ;
OF necessary TO wait for the creation s
f a Cuban government before taking ,
roposed. The United States are prac- :
cally masters of the future of Cuba. ,
is in their power to prescribe what
oncessions shall be made upon Cuban
entering this country. and what '
oncessions shall be granted by the new
overnment of Cuba upon American /
roducts entering that island These /
n the first day after the reassembling O
: Congress as they can be defined after 6
lie Inauguration of Cuban govern =
ent. Legislation providing that Amer y
an duties on Cuban sugar and tobacco
Mould be reduced fifty per cent from Ii
nd after the date when the Cuban gov J.
-nment should reduce duties on Amer r
an goods entering the island by a Civ g
per cent, would not vest any improp s
discretion in the President and would !,
liable the Cuban government to pass 6
int resolution accepting our mandate +
9
on. Some such program as this should .
adopted without delay unless the still :
ore liberal one is adopted OF reducing q
e duties at once on Cuban sugar and II
bacco. and providing for their restor- o
ion only in case the Cuban government Il
lis to act promptly in making the de- n
red concessions to f,
MAKES SPECIOUS PLEA Il
President Roosevelt has indicated his c.
Union that this matter of reciprocity j
it'll Cuba rises above party and fiscal 81
'estions to the dignity OF a moral issue. it
mere can be no manner of doubt that Ii
Will be sustained in this attitude by G,
lblic opinion when the issue is crystal -
ed. The tempest of criticism upon the "
st Congress which broke out over the :.
~ of duties on goods from Porto Rico -
ii prove but summer zephyr to the II
lirl~ind of popular indignation which fo
II make itself heard If justice is refus- &c
10 Cuba. In the case of Porto Rico III
en- the program which provoked crit N,
SIN involved concessions which far n,
coed those now proposed in the case cc
Cuba. The refusal to make any such a.
1cessions would have created a pol!t-
i issue of the first magnitude which VI
uld have enabled the opposition lead I'd
to play with striking effect upon the or
of the American people is
oh an outbreak Df n1hljc faaIi,g v-o,,l.; in