The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1902-01-23
OUR DUTY TO CUBA.

which the United States purged of
Spanish corruption, is grooming under
a heavy load and seeks relief through
the congress Of the country that
espoused her cause. The island is
making fight to have the duties on
tobacco and sugar reduced so that these
two products can find market in this
country. More than half of the people
of the island depend on these two in
dustries for a livelihood, and it would
seem that the United States can afford
to be generous to its Cuban neighbors
who are making an attempt to revive
their trade. Major General Wood in
his annual report says: "Cuba must
now market her principal products in
the United States. New conditions
have changed her old commercial rela-
tions, and if she is to live and prosper,
she must have lower duties on her SUI
gar and tobacco, especially the former.
With such reduction, the development
of the island will be rapid and imme-
diate. 49,. .-z...
President Roosevelt in his message
to congress said: I'm the case of Cuba.
however, there are weighty reasons of
morality and of National interest why
the policy should be held to have a
peculiar application, and I most earn
estly ask your attention to the wisdom
indeed, to the vital need-of provid-
ing for substantial reduction in the
tariff duties on Cuban imports into the
United States. Cuba has in her con-
stitution 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 con-
sideration of honor and expediency to
pass commercial measures in the in
terest of her material well-being."
We as nation, if we are to remain
true to the trust imposed in us have
duty to perform in aiding Cuba in its
commercial development, and it is to
be hoped that congress will do it's duty
in the matter.
1t may be true that the sugar trust
is evincing a fatherly interest in the
Cubans to the extent of asking for free
sugar from that island, and the other
score in the opera of self preservation
is the cry Of the beet sugar interests of
this country that the free raw sugar
from sCuba will place a club in the
hands of the sugar trust that will deal
the beet sugar people death blow.
Charity begins at home and so far as
reason would dictate, let US by all
means protect our home interests. but
let us not forget also that it will paw
the commercial interests of this coun-
try to do all in their power to place
Cuba on good sound trading footing.
We can afford to be generous to her,
as she will offer many of the American
products some very profitable markets.
If as one of the beet sugar officials saws
that anyone with capital can start
beet sugar factory in this country and
operate 1t successfully, there would
seem to be little alarm over the occa-
sion to fear the sugar trust would eat
the beet factories up. That system of
tariff and reciprocity is the best that
offers the greatest good to the greatest
number. The Minnesota sugar plant
was the recipient of the parental care
and bounty of the State of Minnesota
when it first started up, and had it not
been for the bounty the factory prob
ably would not have been built. It is
proving good investment and a good
outlet for the farmers beets that can
IL appears he raised quite successfully
1t is now on its feet and can go it alone
without any bounty for it is doing
prosperous business. Congress need
not let down the bars completely to the
two leading Cuban imports, but it can
make substantial reductions in the
duties and give Cuba half show. The
time has come when it would seem that
there is no occasion to get unduly
scared over the cry of some of our
Ameri lean manufacturers that ''the
wolf is coming"
Under our new era of trade expan-
sion and the new trade factors intro
duced into our commerce by reason of
our new possessions it would seem that
we can no longer consider ourselves in
the kindergarten class and that we