New-York tribune., 1902-03-16
THE CUBAN DILEMMA.
RETURN TO THE RECIPROCITY AND
BOUNTY SYSTEM OF 1890 PROPOSED.
- The Editor Of The Tribune.

Sir Il seems as II the Republicans in Con-
rrsss (or some Of them) were devising ways
end means for destroying the Republican party
.rs turning the country over 70 the tender
rnercies of the Democrats anti-innperialists and
.-ee ira ders. Those who oppose the President
: b3s Dol!cy 10 treat Cuba honestly and in full
s1r,enr Of cur pledges do not seem TO appreci-
.+s that q violation Of our solemn obligations 70
ruha z failure 70 open our markets TO her prod
,cts. will as certainly send a strong Democratic
congress 10 Washington next November as the
-, Is sure 10 rise tomorrow. The people Of
,bis nation have deep sense of honor in this
matter ard woe he 70 the party that undertakes
N sacrifice the good name and the sense OF
.ustce OF this people
The Republican party has never vet failed in
,ts duty either 70 the nation or TO its own
rlsdges. but il certain class Of politicians have
their way there Is great danger that the party
vn1 take 4 fatal step at this crucial moment.
On the other hand. the Republican party has
meyer deserted the interests of American labor
and industries our sugar industries are among
me most important that now require the na-
+,ons fostering care. The beet fields especially
demand protection. There can be no sacrifice
~ these great ard widespread interests no
abandonment 0f the protection essential 70
building tne-1 I'D, without immense injury 10
,,ssred irterests-labor and capital To sacri-
vould ALLEVIATE the Republican voters Of the
Middle an6 Western States. and would surely
,b-ov the next Congress into the hands Of the
democratic party. with all its disorganizns and
paralyzing policies.
So we are confronted with a complex condi-
Tim We are between ScylIa and Charybdis-
nVe 90 not deal honestly with Cuba the Repuh-
ucan party gees 10 pieces; If We DO not protect
vast American industries and interests the
Marty goes 10 pieces. There is no lodging these
Conclusions The people cannot be deceived,
mr. ca1oled nor hoodwinked. There viii be a
-ush Of Republican voters TO the Democrats if
We dishoror our pledges to Cuba. There will be
rush of Republican voters 10 the Democrats
five dishoror our record Of protection TO Amer
icau industries. We must deal squarely with
all. be fair ard honest and keep our pledges
both 10 our own people and TO Cuba How can
this be done?
In 1890 the Republican party took the entire
duty of sugar As compensation TO American
sugar raisers Congress gave them a bounty Of
two cents pound on al sugar testing not less
than 80 degrees and one and three-quarter
cents on all sugars testing not less than so de-
grees. Dutch standard. n 1892. 1888. 1894 and
1885 the United States Treasury paid more than
S36000OO0 n bountes tc the sugar producers
OF the United States-caae, beet. sorghum and
maple. During this time, under the Harrison
administration, the country enjoyed magnificent
prosperity and the bounty tax was never a
burden. These millions went out TO pay Aner1-
can labor through vast areas from Louisiana 70
California, and percolared through every indus
trial channel throughout our broad land. Il
was q grand success. and gave tremendous i'm
pecus 20 our sugar industries IN spite Of free
sugar from al the world.
The same door opens 70 the Republican party
to-day. and by 1t the party can escape perdition.
Let Congress reduce the tariff o. Cuban sugar 10
80 Per cent of the Ding.ey rate (rot a paltry 20
Per cent, as contemplated). and require recip-
rocaI reduction Of 80 per cent on all American
goods going 70 Cuba. The result would be the
cheapening OF sugar IN the United States TO
every family, and instant impetus to the
prosperity and purchasing capacity Of Cuba.
The money which our Treasury would lose by a
reduced tariff would come home 70 our people
from Cuba hundredfold by their increased
orders. Make Cuba rich and prosperous, and
their wealth would overflow into our laps. We
should make them happy and prosperous, and
they, in turn. would help make and keep US
rich, and the nation would be respected and
hCnC-ed We should keep Republican faIth and
The Republican votes that we shall certainly lose
II we 1a- II our sacred obligations TO our lnsular
neighb0rs
Then what? Give to our sugar producers a
bounty Of. say, one cent pound on all sugar
Of Tot less than 80 degrees. and three-quarters
grees, Dutch standard, and We shall nave pre-
served and fOs1ered our immense and 10 be IN
valuable sugar interests; shall have kept our
Republican pTotecIOllsts N Lhe rams, aS-
sUr!ng Z Republican Congress to follow the pres
ent one sac Republican President elected IN
1904
How much would such bountes draw from the
Treasury Of the United States? In 1901 the
total sugar crop Qtnown and estimated), cane
and beet aggregated S42l94, 400 pounds. AT one
cent q pound (naking no deduction TOT the
three-quarter cent grade) the annual bounty
would be s. T21 94+. which would be sinai! sum
10 pay for the continuance OF republican RUE II
this nation. Republican prosperity, RepuDLcan
honor and good faith and Republican admins
trsri0n in the Philippines Porto Rico and else
where Il would be a small sum 10 pay for
Republican harmony, which for the next rev
years viii be absolutely essential TO the wei
being not only Of our outlying dependenciiefs DuL
70 the very nation Itself Better lei an river
ard ha-1gr appropriations and all public build
ings appropriations go TO the dogs, II need BE-
ans provide bOunties for sugar, Falher tFlah SUI
Ger the evils which would inevitab bly, noW from
e disruption OF the Republican party.
Our duty 10 Cuba rises paramount 10 every
can industries and American labor IS an lrreF-
ocsbe obligation which cannot honoraDly De
waived Harmony and protecton are re 70 l4t
nation. Tre destruction Of the RepuDlcah party
would Be q national calamity, well nigh as ap-
paIling and ruInoUs as the late civil War.
The restoration of the Democratic party 70
poy-er means 4 recrldeScenCe Of the Philippine
rebellion and the expenditure OF additional mill
ions for lls suppression II means tne uhaplIs
of al the progress that has been made IN those
Islands IN education, civilization and social
order u means the paralysis OF trade ana
commerce at home and abroad II means re-
production OF The horrors and relIodctloi4dFy
policies 4 the last Cleveland administration
The cost Of the mistake ot returning IN.
Democratic party 70 power would a huncredtoId
exceed the SS 100000 a year required lot sugar
bounties VIII The present Congress De 50 ap-
pslingly Unwise as to fail Of its tuA duty u
Cuba and 70 American Iqdqslr1es I14s v7r>-CHE1I.
J. RICE WINCFhI-L'
Eew-Haven. Conn. March IA, l9o2