The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1902-06-17
ROOSEVELT
Sends y4essage to Congress
Urging Friendliness
A nd RECIPROCITY WITH CUBA.
A Sensible. Patriotic and Philan-
thropic Document

SOIut nfuctccu outtto
States Senators have banded themselves
together TO defeat President Roosevelt's
purpose to secure reciprocal trade rela-
tions with Cuba. We cannot under
of the Senate should stand out against
the majority of the Republicans of the
Senate, against the House and against
the President in q matter that seems so
honorable and fair. The President
makes an earnest appeal, and the Sen
ate will find that the people are over
whelmingly with him. The message is
as follows:
Message Sent to Congress.
"To the Senate and House of Repre-
scntatives
81 deem it important before the ad-
journment OF the present session of
Congress to call attention to the follow
ing expressions in the message which,
in the discharge of the duty imposed
upon me by the constitution, | sent to
Congress on the first Tuesday of De-
cember last:
elsewhere I have discussed the
lquestiOn of reciprocity. In the case OF
lCuba, however, there are Seighty rea-
sons of morality and of national interest
why the policy should be held to have
q peculiar application, and most earn
estly ask your attention TO the wisdom
indeed, to the vital need-of providing
for q substantial reduction in the tariff
duties on Cuban imports into the Uni
ted States. Cuba has in her constitu-
tion affirmed what we desired, that she
should stand in international matters
in closer and more friendly relation:
with us than with any other power
and we are bound by every considera
, tion OF honor and expediency to pass
, commercial measures in the interest o.
: her material well being.
r Quotes McKinIey's Message.
This recommendation was merely
giving practical effect to President Nc
Kinley's words, when, in his messages
of Dec. 5, 1898, and Dec. 5, 1899, ht
wrote 1t is important that our rela
: tions with this people (Cuba) shall be o
the most friendly character and Ou
9 commercial relations close and recipro
cal. We have accepted a trust the full
lfiIment of which calls for the sternes
Q integrity of purpose and for the exer
: else of the highest wisdom. The new
4 T,,h uof a,.iss tho ashaS of thl
past must needs be bound to US by tie
|, of singular intimacy and strength if it
enduring welfare is TO be assured. Tn
lgreatest blessing which can come I
j Cuba is the restoration of her agri
cultural and Industrial prosperity
e YESTERDAY 12-I received b
. cable from the American Minister il
Cuba a most earnest appeal from Presi
e dent Palma for legislative relief befor
it is TOO late and (his) country fnanciall
lruined.
Recon- mends the Reciprocity Plan.
;, 1.-The reasons for granting recipro
city with Cuba far outweigh those fo
n granting reciprocity with anv othe
nation, and are entirely consistent wit
preserving intact the protective sy'
Item under which this country hs
Ithriven so marvelously. The preser
: tariff law was designed to promote th
adoption of such a reciprocity treat,
- and expressly provided for reductio
:. not to exceed 20 per cent upon gooG
coming from q particular country, lea
ing tariff rates on the same articles vi
changed as regards all other countrie
! ing of the reduction on the ground tina
the substantial benefit would not go
the agricultural producer of sugar. bl
would enure to the American sugs
refners. In my judgment, provisio
can and should be made which woul
qua rantee us against this possibilit.
without having recourse to measur
of doubtful policy, such as bounty
the form of q rebate.
1.-THE question as TO which, il any,
the different schedules of the tari
ou ght most properly to be revised doe
not enter into this matter in any wa
or shape. We are concerned with ge
ting a friendly reciprocal arrangemer
" with Cuba. This arrangement apple
to all the articles that Cuba grows c
produces. 1t is not in our power to d,
termine what these articles shall b,
and any discussion of the tariff as
affects special schedules. or countrie
other than Cuba, is wholly aside frol
the subject matter to which l call you
70 attention.
-eI Won't Hurt Our Industries.
Ia,