The Tucson citizen., 1902-01-22
EDITORIAL DEPA RTMENT

obtain q reduction on the import duties
of Cuban products into the United
States, and strong efforts are being
made in this direction. All far-seeing
business men realize that Cuba's pro-
sperity and advancement depend abb
somtely upon her commercial relations
with the United States. where her two
main products have their principal
market High duties against Cuban
products mean that the development
will be slow. If at all The importation
of United States products into Cuba,
while it is increasing. is yet consider
ably below the total importation from
other countries. The establishment of
reciprocity in commercial relations be-
tween Cuba and the United States
means everything to Cuba. for If she
can obtain favorable duties OH her
| tobacco, an1 especially on her sugar,
her development will be immediate.
The same opinion was held and ex-
pressed by President Mckinley and
Secretary Root In his report for 1901,
the Secretary of War urged an i'm
mediate arrangement for reciprocity
in these words:
| Our present duty to Cuba can be
performed by the making of such a
reciprocal tariff arrangement with her
as President Mckinley urged in his last
words to his countrymen at Buffalo on
! the 5th of September. A reasonable re-
duction in our duties upon Cuban
sugar and tobacco. in exchange for
fairly compensatory reductions of
Cuban duties upon American products.
will answer the purpose, and | strong v
urge that such an arrangement Le
promptly made. 1t would invo Va no
sacrifice, but would be as advantageous
/ to us as 1t would be to Cuba The Il1r-
ket for American products III n country
with such a population, such wealth
and purchasing power. as Cuba with
prosperity would speedily acquire,
made certain by the advantage Of pre-
ferential duties, would contr;lat" Tar
more to our prosperity than the portion
OF our present duties which We would
be required to concede.
No less forcible expression was made
by President Roosevelt in his message
to Congress. After commenting on the
expectation that CUBA would soon be
under Independent government. he
said:
! Elsewhere have discussed the ques-
ton of reciprocity. IE the case of Cuba.
however. there are weighty reasons of
morality and of national interest why
the policy should be held to have a
peculiar application. and | most earn
estly ask your attention to the wisdom
indeed. TO the vital need-of provid-
ing for substantial reduction in the
tariff duties on Cuban imports into the
United States Cuba has In her consti-
tuition affirmed what We desired that
she should stand. in International mat
ters. in closer and more friendly rela-
tions with lis than with any other
power; and we are bound by every
consideration of honor and expediency
to pass commercial measures In the
interest OF her material well-beln2,
1t is astonishing that there shonId
be any hesitancy about the wisdom and
propriety of reciprocity. on the part
of the Republican majority in Congress
after such expressions as these. ara the
more so because they are founded ON
the clearest reasons of justice. We
have assumed control of Cuba pro-
fessedly for her good as we'll as for our
own. Our duties on Cuban products,
sugar and tobacco. are about lun pcr
cent. as against an average OF ~ per
cent on all dutiable products imported
into the United States from ,:hcr
countries; while the Cuban duties on
our products entering Cuba average
less than % per cent These Cuban
duties on our products were fixed bv
our own War Department. ami the
Cuban tariff raises only the amount
absolutely Necessary for her present
expenditures, which will necessarily
increase as the island develops. 1t is
simply piratical to take advantage
over other countries in Cuban trade
without allowing cuba some advantage
in this country.
A KANSAS lS\IlE