The Minneapolis journal., 1902-06-14
THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE

Now I ask that the Cubans be given all
possible chance to to the best advantage
the freedom of which Americans have such
right to be proud, and for which so many
American lives have been sacrificed.
With those words President Roosevelt
yesterday concluded a special message to
congress that clearly points the path OF
national duty and honor.
The message is bountifully reassuring
to those admirers of the president who
have wondered If in the first great test
OF his moral and political courage since he
has been president he would stand with
out fiinching.
The message is all that the most enthu-
siastic supporter of the president expected.
It swerves not by hairs breadth from
the position in favor of Cuban reciprocity
80 frankly and emphatically taken in his
first annual message.
Indeed, that he may make it clear that
he stands now, after the months of pres
sure from the beet-sugarites. just where
he stood in December he incorporates in
his special message what he said in the
other and backs it up with strong argu-
ment and persuasive plea
A salient feature Of the message Is Its
reserved power. No passion Is torn to
tatters. The president states his position
firmly and without the faintest hint of
ambiguity, but he does not gratuitously
provoke those who differ with him. 1t
Is our duty to grant Cuba reciprocity, he
says in effect: therefore let us do it.
This is no time to consider arguments
against reciprocity as business PROPOSE
tion; we must grant reciprocity anyway.
At the same time, he sensibly points out
that reciprocity will not hurt American
interest and that some of them will be
helped; that the rebate scheme is a bounty
plan of doubtful policy and that it Is pos
sible to frame reciprocity measure that
will certainly inure to the advantage OF
the Cuban planter instead of the Ameri-
can sugar reiner. .e
We are not sanguine that the presi-
dents special message will bring about
reciprocity with Cuba. The insurgents
are likely to stand firm. They have
known ever since last December that they
were diametrically opposed to the presi-
dent. They have entered the fight coolly
But the insurgents must understand
that President Roosevelt is eyena more
popular to-day than he was: vest erday
\ and that as they value their political
lives they must not undertake to revenge
themselves upon him. They cannot make
headway against the Gibraltar of his hon
orable stand with the bird shot of petty
calculations about an ver-prot ected in
dustrial infant. The president sees the
situation with clear and unclouded Wis
ion. They see it through the mists of the
supposed selfish interests OF some of theil
constituents. The president sees thu
question as the nation sees it. The in
surgents see it as a county sees it.
81 1t is a grand tonic for a nation to have
president like Roosevelt. We are al
better in our citizenship and on highe:
moral plane because we have a presiden
who fearlessly speaks for the right as b,
sees it, who puts aside considerations o
personal policy and does his duty ant
points the way to national duty.
. And the American people will see to i
that that sort of president has no neet
of self-seeking. -. . -