The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-06-14
PLEA FOR CUBA
BY PRESIDENT
Continued from First Page.)

Laughter.)
Mr.. Allison, who was sitting directly
in front of Mr. 1,aiIey on the Democratic
side, turned to the Texan. and smiling
with the utmost good nature, oo"eo
tremendously to 1.Ar. Bailey.
..T,he Chair is not aware" replied Mr.. |
.Kean, that any such committee exists.
Qaughter)
Text of the Message.
TIE Presidents message to Congress
was as follows:
TO the Senate and House of Representa-
tives:
I deem it important before the adjourn
nent of the present session of Congress
to call attention to the following ex-
pressions in the message which IN the
discharge of duty imposed upon me by
the Constitution I sent to congress
on the first Tuesday of December last:
elsewhere have discussed the ques-
ZION of reciprocity In the case of Cuba.
however. there are weighty reasons OF
morality and of national interest why
the policy should be held to nave pc
culiar application and | most eari'eS.ls
ask your attention to the WlsdoHl. ~
deed, to the vital need of providing ior q
substantial reduction in the tarill uu..es
on Cuban imports into the United STATES.
Cuba has in her Constitution affirmed
what we desired, that she could STAND,
in Internal ionaI matters, In closer anu
more friendly reIa tions with us IMAM Will
any power; and we are bound oy every
consideration of honor and eApeaiencs
to pass commercial measures III .he III
terest of her material well bel.is-
This recommendation was merely CIV
inc nra ctical effect to President Mchln-
lev's words, when in his messages OF
december 5. 1898. and December ., 1899,
he wrote:
eft is important that our relations with
this people (of Cubal shall be OF the
most friendly character and our COM
mercial relations close and reciprocal.
We have accepted trust.
the fulfIlnent of which calls for the
sternest integrity of purpose and the
exercise of the highest wisdom Inc
new Cuba yet to rise from the ashes OF
the past must needs be bound to us by
ties of singular intimacy and strength
if its enduring welfare is to be assured
The greatest blessing which
can come to Cuba is the restoration OF
her AGRICULTURAL and industrial prosperi-
ay''
Yesterday. June 18th. received by
| cable from the American minister In
| Cuba, most earnest appeal from Presi-
| dent Palma for legislative relief oe1ore IL
| is too late and his country financially
| ruined.
REASONS FOR RECIPROCITY:
| The ganting of reciprocity with Cuba
| is a proposition which stands entirely
| alone. The reasons for it far outweigh
| those for granting reciprocity win any
| other ma ton and are entirely cons lsteh'
| with preserving intact the rre'7cuNe
| system under which this country has
.h,iv.n so marvelously. The present
| tariff law was designed to promote the
| abortion of such reciprocity treaty ana
| expressly provides for reduction not 10
| exceed twenty per cent. upon sooos
| coming from a particular country. leaving
! the tariff rates on the same articles IN
changed as regards all other countries
| Objection has been made to granting
| tbe reduction on the ground that the
| substantial benefit would not be TO the as-
| ,.cult,1ral producer of sugar. but Woulo!
innure to the American sugar rehners. IN
| nv Judgment provision can, ana siloolu.
| he made which will guarantee us against
| This possibility: without having recourse
| to a measure of doubtful policy. such sis
| n bounty in the form OF rebate
Tho question as to which if any, of the
| different schedules of the tariff ought
| most nroperly to be revised does not en-
| FER into this matter in any way or shape.
We are concerned with getting frlendly
recinrocal arrangement with CUBA. inns
| arrangement applies to all the articles
| mat Cuba grows or produces II IS not
| in orr power TO determine what these
articIes shall be; and any discussion Of
| tho tariff as it affects special schedules,
! or countries other than Cuba. is wholly
| from, the subject matter to which l !cal
| your attention.
FEARS PROVED BASELESS.
Some of our citizens oppose the low
| ering of the tariff on Cuban products.
inst as three years ago they opposed
| Of a
lest free trade with them might Iuin
certain of our interests here. In the
| actual event their fears proved baselesS
as regarded Hawaii. and their appIE-
| tensions as to the damage to any INDUS
trv of our own because of the proposed
| measure of reciprocity with Cuba sceT.
to me equally baseless. In my juds-
ment no American industry will be hurt,
and many American industries will be
benefited by the proposed action. 1t is
to our advantage as a nation that the
| growing Cuban market should be con-
trolled by American producers. The
events following the war with Spain.
and prospective building of the Isthmian
| Canal render it certain that we must
take in the future a greater interest
than hitherto in what happens through
out the West Indies, Central Americas
and the adjacent coast and waters We
! expect Cuba to treat us on a n exceptional
footing politically, and we should put
her in the same exceptional position
| economically. The proposed action is in
line with the course we have pursued as
regards all the islands with which we
have been brought into relations Of
| varyin. intimacy by the Spanish war.
Porto Rico and Hawaii have been included
| within our tariff lines. to their great
| benefit. as we'll as ours. and without
any of us feared detriment to our own
industries. The Philippines. which stand
| in different relation, have been
granted substantial concessions
An INDEPENDENT REPUBLIC.
Cuba is an independent Republic but
Republic which has assumed certain OBJ
legations as regards her interna tional
position in compliance with our request.
ask for her certain special economic
concessions in return; these economic
concessions to benefit us as we'll as her
There are few brighter pages in Amert-
can history than the page which tells
of our dealings with Cuba during the
past four years. On her behalf we wa god
war of which the handspring was gen
| erous Indignation against oppression.
| and have fai