Richmond planet., 1902-06-21
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
President Sends Message to Con-
gress Asking Aid For Cuba.
QUOTES PRESIDENT MCKINLEY


Colonel Roosevelt Says That 1t Is the
Moral Duty Of This Country to Grant
Cuba Reciprocal Relations, and Low
erIng Duties Won't Hurt Protection.
Washington, June 14-President
Roosevelt sent special message to
congress yesterday afternoon reiterat-
ing his former recommendation for the
passage Of law creating reciprocity
with Cuba. and presenting additional
arguments thereon. The text of the
message is as follows:
To the senate and house of represen-
tatives-Elsewhere 1 have discussed
case of Cuba, however. there are
weighty reasons of morality and Of ma
tional interest why the policy should
be held to have a peculiar application,
and most earnestly ask your attention
to the wisdom, indeed, to the vital need,
OF providing for substantial reduction
in the tariff duties on Cuban imports
into the United States. Cuba has IN
her constitution affirmed what we de-
sired that she should stand. in interna-
tienal matters, in closer and more
friendly relations with us than with
any other powers, and we are bound
by every consideration OF honor and
expedieney to pass commercial meas
,,rac fp fha fu4aracf of har x-alt
being.
This recommendation was merely
gixtna praetieal= =effeet-to President Nc
Kinley's words In his message of De-
cember is. 1898, and December 5, 1899,
when he wrote:
"It is important that our relations
with this people (of Cuba) shall be Of
the most friendly character and our
commercial relations close and recipro-
CAL"
The granting of reciprocity with Gu
ba is a proposition which stands en-
tirely alone. The reasons for it far
outweigh those for granting reciprocity
with any other nation, and are entirely
consistent with preserving intact the
protective system under which this
country has thriven so marvellously.
The present tariff law was designed to
lpromote the adoption OF such a reci-
procity treaty, and expressly PROVIDE
for a reduction not to exceed 20 per
cent upon goods coming from a par
ticular country. leaving the tariff rates
on the same articles unchanged as re-
CARDS all other countries. Objection
has been made to the granting of the
reduction on the ground that the sub
stantial benefit would not go to the
agricultural producer OF sugar, but
would ihure to the American sugar re-
finers. In my judgment, provision can
and should be made which will guar
antee us against this possibility with
out having recourse to a measure OF
doubtful policy, such as a bounty in
the form OF rebate.
The question as to which, If any, OF
the different schedules of the tariff
ought most properly to be revised does
not enter into this matter In any way
or shape. We are concerned with get
ting friendly reciprocal arrangement
with Cuba. This arrangement applies
to all the articles that Cuba grows or
'PAONuOCOs ~ 10 AAOb III our pONtI 10 uc-
termine what these articles shall be:
and any discussion OF the tariff as ii
affects special schedules, or countries
other than Cuba, is wholly aside from
the subject matter TO which l call your
attention.
Some Of our citizens oppose the low
ering OF the tariff en- Cuban products.
just as three years ago they opposed
the admission OF the Hawaiian Islands
lest free trade with them might ruin
certain OF our interests here. In nv
Judgment, no American industries will
be hurt and many industries will be
benefited by the proposed action. 1t is
to orr advantage as nation that the
egrowing Cuban market should be con-
'trolled by American producers.
Cuba is an independent republic, but
a republic which has assumed certain
special obligations as regards her in
ternationsl position in compliance with
our request. ask for her certain spe-
cial economic concessions in return.
these economic concessions to benefit
US as wen as her. There are few
brighter pages in American history
than the page which tells of our deal
dnes with Cuba during the past four
years. On her behalf we waged a war
OF which the handspring was generous
indignation against oppression; and
we have kept faith absolutely. 1t is
earnestly to be hoped that we will
complete In the same spirit the record
so well begun and show IN our dealings
with Cuba that steady continuity of
policy whAch tits essential for our ma
ton to establish in foreign affairs. Il
we desire TO play we'll our part as a
world pOwer