Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1902-09-23
TRADE RECIPROCITY WITH CUBA.

ernns-BrilIinnt Banquet = Hobson
Present, and is Given Enthusias-
tic Reception.
DETROIT, MICH, September 22.-Pres-
ident Roosevelts two-day visit to Detroit
| came to an end this evening at the con-
| clusion of a banquet rendered him in the
Light Guard Armory by the Spanish war
veterans, the opening of whose third an
nual reunion he attended this morning.
It was a brilliant event. Nearly 800 men
sat at the tables on the floor of the big
armory, and the galleries were crowded
to their utmost capacity with brilliantly
gowned women and their escorts.
When the President arose to begin his
address, he received an ovation. The men
! on the floor stood up and cheered again
and again, while the capping of hands
| from the gallery was like the cracking Of
musketry.
Coming to the question of reciprocity
with Cuba, the President said:
Presidents Address.
1--WE pledged ourselves solemnly at the
outbreak of the war with Spain to give
Cuba Independence. The world at large
sneered at the pledge, and even some Of
our own people scoffed at the thought
that we intended to keep it, but We have
kept it in good faith, and with keen
regard for the welfare of the Cubans. We
rot+ +,,r1 bo n sink info a
welter of anarchy. We first administered
the affairs of the island, until order had
been brought out of chaos; until the cities
had been cleaned, and the courts purified.
an educational system started, and a
just and efficient government introduced.
Then we turned the new republic over
to the hands of those whom its people had
elected as its servants, and badee 1t Cod
speed on it's journey Of independence.
but neither our duty to, nor our interest
in, the island has come to an end with
the establishments of independence. Cuba,s 8
immediate proximity to the United States
rendered it's well-being Of such interest to
us that we were forced to interference in
it's interest by force. of arms. For the
same reason its future welfare cannot
but be a ma tier of great concern to us.
..Wes do not desire Cuba to stand toward
any other nation in the same relation of
intimate friendship and alliance that We
desire to see it adopt toward us. It
must therefore, be in certain sense a
part of our international and political
systems, and it occupied this position
when it accepted the Platt amendment.
But it is out of the question for us to ask
that it will assume such position toward
us with regard to international policies,
without at the same time sharing some
what in the benefits of our economic SyS-
tenn. It was for this reason that Pres-
dent Mckinley urged, and that have
since urged, and shall continue to urge,
the need of establishing closer relations
with Cuba by reciprocity. We urge reci-
procity because it is for our interest to
control the Cuban market, because we are
bound to place the Cubans on a peculiar
standing economically, when they consent
in our interest as we'll as their own, to
assume a peculiar status Internationally,
and because it is fitting for a great and
generous republic to stretch out helping
hand toward her feebIer sister just start
ing to tread the path of independence.
Case Stands by Itself.
'The case stands by ITSELF and there
can be no other like it. Porto Rico. Ha-5
waii and the Philippines have relations of
varying intimacy with us, and they have
either been admitted within our economic
system, or been given some of the bene
fits thereof. Cuba, though independent
stands in a peculiar position towards u.s.
and should receive in similar fashion a
measure of benefit. and partial exclusion
within our system.
THE questions that ordinarily concern
US as of prime weight IN a tariff matter,
do not come in here as of primary import
ance. We cannot choose what articles
which Cuba shall export Doubtless very
many Of us would prefer for reasons
connected with our own tariff policy that
her inhabitants were engaged in differ
ent industries from those which they as
a matter Of fact now follow. Just as doubt
less others of our people would prefer
that the market offered by Cuba was one
for other things than those which she
actually demands.
But We can neither determine thu
wants nor the productions Of Cuba. We
must accept them as they are, and we
must rem ember that in dealing with this
island. especially now that we are about
to build the Isthmian canal, and our in
terests will have become SO great. we
must shape our policy with far-sighted
regard for the future, and for the interest
and honor of the nation as a whole.
No Harm to Any Interest.
g! do not believe particle OF harm
will come to any American interest from
the adoption of a reasonable measure of
reciprocity OF CUBA. / am certain that
the adoption Of such a measure viii! be
in the interest of our people as whole.
"Above all, while fully acknowledging
the hish-mirdedness and moral sincerity
of those Of my ass ociates with whom or
this point differ, yet feel most strongly
that by the consideration of generous
and far-sighted public policy. we are
bound to prove to Cuba that our friend
ship with her is Of continuing char
ter, that we intend to aid her in her
struggle for the material well-being which
must underlie healthy national develop
me-t.'
The Banquet.
The banquet wa S the cuImination of an
extremely busy day for. the President.
At II o'clock he drove to the Light Guard
Armory. and TENDED the opening ses-
sion Of the third reunion OF the Spanish
war veterans. He was given a tumuItu-
Gus welcome by the soldiers, and his
speechswas enthusiastically received He
eulogized the veterans of the Spanish war
for their deeds, and declared he had no
apologies to make for the war In Cuba
or the Philippines AS "a result of the
latter, he said. we Will give the Filipinos
liberty and happiness such as they never
knew under a cruel oligarchy.
President Roosevelt drove from the ar
mbry to the steamer Tashmoo, on board