The Tucson citizen., 1902-01-30
A POLICY OF lNFAMY.

The Republican members OF the
Ways and Means Committee OF the
House OF Representatives held meet
ing last night and decided to frame a
bill for the reduction of war revenue
taxes before proceeding further with
the subject of Cuban reciprocity" This
means that the Republicans have sur
rended to the trusts and combines. The
beer brewers combine on one side and
the sugar ring on the other were too
much for the Republicans to with
stand The brewers have demanded a
reduction of 20 cents barrel on the
tax on beer, and the sugar ring has
opposed square dealing with Cuba ever
since the idea of reciprocity was re-
commended in the Presidents mes
sage.
According to .he press report of the
conference of the Republican members
Of the Ways and Means COmmitte last
night "it was the prevailing view that
as Cuba had been the cause for incur
ring the war revenue taxes. the bur-
den should be removed from this coun-
try before considering the extent of re-
lief to be granted Cuba
This is disgraceful attitude to as
sumo to cover up corrupt surrender to
the beer and sugar rings. President
Roosevelt has stated with convincing
emphasis that reciprocity with Cuba
IS an honorable obligation on the
United States. and so thought Presi-
dent Mckinley, Both of these Repub-
lican Presidents have stated their
sentiments so plainly that their words
cannot be misunderstood In fact. the
only effort made to evade the force
of their statements is by the argument
that they must be construed in con-
nectiOn with the .neory thai ''recipro.
city is the handmaid of protection"
We do not see how anybody can
question the weight of the moral obli-
CATION when he recalls the position
that We have maintained toward Cuba.
From the first. President Mckinley
insisted on a policy of guardianship
over the island which took the form
of absolute control by military force. |
We refused to allow the dominant |
Cuban party to establish govern.
nent We not only took control of the |
objection and disbursement of reve- |
lues. but arbitrarily fixed the rates
# taxation both on local property and !
N commerce.
1t will be remembered that Secre-
airy Root visited the island in person. |
md on his return announced that the |
of Cuba would depend |
IN compliance with the wishes of the
United States as to government. Our
were formulated in the |
olatt resolutions, and were made more
specific in the proclamation of Gene
al Wood calling the election for dele
gates to the Cuban constitutional con-
gention and in his opening address
10 the convention. in both of which he
states that the convention must pro
vide for and agree with the govern
ment of the United States upon the re-
lations to exist between that govern
ment and the government of Cuba"
1t will also be remembered that
In pursuance OF this dictatiOn the
matter of trade relations was deferred
to bs arranged by subsequent treaty,
and it can hardly be doubted that the
Cubans were given assurances OF fair
trade relations to induce them to make
the concessions wished by the United
States-assuranC of at least as much
reciprocity as is contained in the treaty
that has been arranged by the Exc
cutive Department. To repudiate those
promises now would place our govern
ment in an attitude that would not ad-
nit of explanation. Plainly the nonor
of the country is at sake. and it ought
to be preserved even if it is necessary
to buy all the beet sugar plants and
bfeweries in the country to do it.
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