The Somerset reporter., 1902-06-19
A Special Message.

Jpul VI piCsiub steSlOu VI OOu- |
gress to call attention to the following
expressions in the message which in the
discharge 81 the duty imposed upon me |
by the constitution | sent to Congress on
the first Tuesday of December last:
Elsewhere | have discussed the uues-
ton of reciprocity. In the case of Cuba,
however, there are welghty reasons OF |
morality and of national interest why |
the policy should be held to have a pc |
cullar application, and | most earnestly |
ask your attention to the wisdom, indeed |
to the vital need, OF providing for a sub |
stantial reduction in the tariff rates on |
Cuban imports into the United States. |
Cuba has in her constitution affirmed |
what we desired that she should stand,
in international matters, In closer and
more friendly relations With us than
with any other power and we are bound
by every condition of honor and expe-
diency TO pass commercial measures in
the interest of her material well being"
This recommendation was merely Civ.
ing effect to President McKinley's words,
when, In his messages OF December 3,
1898, and December 5, 1899, he wrote:
ut Is important that our relations
with this people (of Cuba) shall be of
the most friendly character and our COM
mercial relations close and reciprocal.
"We have accepted trust, the fulfil
ment of which calls for the sternest in
tegrity of purpose and the exercise of
the highest wisdom. The new Cuba yet
to arise from the ashes of the past must
| needs be bound to US by ties of singular
intimacy and strength il its enduring
welfare is to be assured. The greatest
blessing which can come to Cuba Is the
restoration of her agricultural and indus
trial prosperity.
Yesterday, June II, | received by
cable from the American minister in Gu
ba most earnest appeal from President
Palma for Legislative relief before it is
too late and (his) country financially
ruined. The granting of reciprocity
with Cuba is proposition which stands
entirely alone. The reasons for it far
| outweigh those for granting reciprocity
with any other nation, and are entirely
consistent with preserving intact the
protective system under which this
country has thriven so marvelousy.
The present tariff law was designed to
| promote the adoption of such recproci-
ty treaty and expressly to provide for
reduction not to exceed 20 per cent, up
on goods coming from a particular
country, leaving the tariff rates on the
same articles unchanged as regards 9TH
er countries. Objection has been made
10 the granting of the reduction on the
ground that the substantial benefit
would not go to the agricultural produc-
er of sugar, but would inure the Ameri
can sugar refiners. In my opinion pro.
vision can, and should be made which
will guarantee US against this possibili-
ty; without having recourse to meas
ure of doubtful policy as much as a
bounty In the form of Il rebate.
The question which as IL any different
schedules of the tariff ought most prop
erly to be revised does not enter into the
matter in any way or shape. We are
concerned with getting friendly recip-
rocal arrangement with Cuba. This ar
rangement applies to all the articles that
Cuba grows or produces. 1t is not in
our power to determine what these arti-
Giles shall be; and any discussion of the
tariff as it affects special schedules, or
| countries other than Cuba, it is wholly
aside from the subject matter to which
call your attention.
| Some OF our friends oppose the lower
ing of the tariff on Cuban products, Just
as three years ago they opposed the ad-
| uIlSSlOu vi Tit 1dHdtldD 1SlhuuS, ltsl
| free trade with them might ruin certain
of our interests here. In the actual
event their fears proved baseess as re-
CARDS Hawaii, and their apprehensions as
| to the damage of any industry of our
own because of the proposed measure
with Cuba seems to me equally baseless.
In my judgment no American industry
will be hurt, and many American indus
i triou mill no hopoGtfoI ht ho
action. 1t is to our advantage as a ma
ton that the growing Cuban market
should be controlled by American pro-
ducers.
The events following the war with
| spain, and the prospective building of
| the sthmian canal, render it certain that
| in the future we must take a far greater
interest than hitherto IN what happens
throughout the West Indies, Central
| America and the adjacent coast and
waters. We expect Cuba to treat US on
an exceptional footing politically, and we
should put her in the same exceptional
position economically The proposed
action is in line with the course we have
pursued with all the islands with which
we have been brought into varying de-
grees of intimacy by the Spanish war.
| Porto Rico and Hawaii have beer nclud-
ed within our tariff lines, to their great
| benefit as well as ours and without any
of the feared detriment to our own in
dustries. The Philippines, which stand
in different relation, have been granted
substantial tariff concessions.
Cuba is an independent republic, but
republic that has assumed certain spec
ial obligations as regards her internation-
al position in compliance with our re-
quest. | ask for her certain special eco
nomic concessions in return; these eco.
nomic concessions to benefit us as we'll
as her.
There are few brighter pages in Amer
lean history than the pages that tell of
our dealings with Cuba during the past
four years. On her behalf we waged
war the handspring of which was gener-
Gus Indignation against oppression; and
we have kept faith absolutely, 1t is
earnestly to be hoped that we will com
plete in the same spirit the record so
well begun and show in our dealings
with Cuba that same continuity OF policy
which 1t is essential for our nation to es-
tablish in foreign affairs if we desire to
play well our part as a world power.
We are wealthy and powerful nation
Cuba is a young republic, still weak,
who owes to us her birth; whose whole
future whose very life must depend on
our attitude towards her. | ask that we
help her as she struggles upwards along
the painful and difficult road OF self gov
erning independence. ask this aid for
her because she is weak, because she
needs 1t, because we have already aided