The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1902-06-23
FOR
THE CUBANS
ROOSEVELT URGES RECIPROCITY
MEASURE AT
ONCE.
SAYS THE CUBAN QUESTION
STANDS ALONE.
Says Every Consideration of Honor and
EXpediency Urge the Relief that
Reciprocity will Give-The Message.

WASHINGTON, June 13.-The Presi-
dent today sent the following message
to the Congress:
"The Senate and the House: / deem
it important, before the adjournment of
the present session of Congress- to can
attention to the following expressions
in the message which, i'm the discharge
of the duty imposed upon me by the
Constitution, l sent to Congress the
first Tuesday of December last:
" Elsewhere 1 have discussed the
question of reciprocity. In the case of
cuba, however, there are weighty rea-
sons of morality and of national interest
why the policy should be held to have
a peculiar application, and l most ear
nestly ask your attention to the wisdom
indeed, to the vital need, of providing
for a substantial reduction in the tariff
duties 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 consideration of
honor and eXpediency to pass CONNER
cial measures in the interest of her well
| being
This recommendation was merely
giving practical effect to President Nc
Kinley's words when, in his message of
December D. 1898, and December 3, 1899
he wrote:
at is important that our relations
with this people (of Cuba) shall be Of
the most friendly character and our
commercial reGtions close and recipro-
cal. We have accepted a trust
the fulflllment of Which calls for the
sternest integrity of purpose and exer-
| else of the highest wisdom The new
! cuba yet to rise from the ashes of the
| past must needs be bound to us by ties
! of singular intimacy and strength il it's
enduring welfare is to be assured. The
greatest blessing which can come t.
/ Cuba is the restoration of her agricul-
| tural and industrial prosperity
| Yesterday, June 18th, | received by
/ cable from the American Minister in
! cuba, most earnest appeal from Pres
/ ident Palma for Legislative relief he
/ fore II Is too late, and his country Cnan-
clally ruined The granting of reci-
! procity with Cuba is a proposition
which stands entirely alone The rea-
sons for it far outweigh those for grant
ing reciprocity with any other nation,
and are entirely consistent with pre-
serving intact the protective system
under which this country has thriven so
marvelously. The present tariff law
was designed to promote the adoption
OF such reciprocity treaty, and ex-
pfessly provided for a reduction not to
exceed 20 per cent upon goods coming
| from particular country, leaving the
tariff rates on the same articles un-
changed as regards all other countries
objection has been made to the grant
ing of the reduction on the ground that
the substantial benefit would not go Ia
the agricultural producer Of sugar, but
would lnure to the American sugar
retners. In my judgment provision
can and should be made which will
guarantee us against this possibility
without having recourse 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 tariff ought
most properly to be revised does not
enter into the matter in any way OF
shape. We are concerned with getting
a friendly reciprocal agreement with
Cuba This arrangement applies to al
the articles that Cuba grows or pro-
duces. 1t is not in our power to de-
termine what these articles shall be
and any discussion of the tariff as it ar.
fects special schedules, or countries
other than Cuba is wholly aside from
the subject matter to which | now cal
your attention.
Some of our citizens oppose the lower,
ing of the tariff on Cuban products
just as three years ago they opposed the
admission of the Hawaiian islands, les
free trade with them might ruin GER.
tain of our interests here. In the actua
event their fears proved baseless as re-
: CARDS Hawaii and their apprehension,
as to the damage to any industry of ou1
own because of the proposed -measur,
Jf reciprocity with Cuba seem to m,
equally baseless. In my Judgment NJ
A Ittrif4 ind rEtf nil