Fort Mill times. [volume] (Fort Mill, S.C.) 1892-current, 1902-06-04
PA[MA'S FIRST MESSAGE
He Expresses Cuba's Gratitude to the
United States.
ISLANDS ECONOMIC SITUATION

Should Always Exist Between tho Two
N~tions-He Asks For Divine Aid in
Establishing n Stable Governments
The Sugar Ouestion-His Suggestions.
Havana, Cuba.-President Palma's
message has been delivered to the Cuban
Senate. The message opens by giving
thanks to the Almighty for His assist
ance in carrying out the work Of OBJ
.taining Cuban independence, and asks
Divine aid in the establishment of
firm and stable Government Never
did people fight with more perse-
verance." says President Palma In the
message. land sacrifice more for lib
erty than have the Cubans. No peo-
ple therefore, are more entitled to see
their just efforts crowned with sue
cess.
Together with our own heroism is the
attitude of the great people who were
impelled by their own love of liberty
to put themselves on our side in our
tenacious fight for the independence
OF generous sentiment. pure and disin-
terested in origin. Impelled by this
sentiment, tie powerful Republic of
the North recognizes. through its il
lustrious President, the Republic OF
Cuba
The promise formally made has
been carried out. In this moment.
when we feel our right as an indie
pendent nation, II Is impossible to sup
press our gratitude to the United
States. To recognize this debt of graf
ttude TO the great Nation is an act
which exalts us and which makes us
worthy of the consideration ana re-
spect of the other nations of the world.
1T Is necessary now to dictate all
the laws laid down in the Constitution.
We are capable of fulfilling all the OBJ
legations and promises which have been
contracted, and we should prepare the
budget with the greatest care"
Continuing. President Palma recon-
mends the encouragement of the agri-
cultural industries of the island, the
raising of cattle, the establishment of
agricultural stations 10 improve the
culture of sugar cane and tobacco
and the introduction of varied ayri-
cultural industries.
while the question of reciprocity is
still pending" he goes ON. lit is i'm
possible to state now what measures
should be adopted to meet the pending
crisis. This crisis is due to the ruinous
! price OF sugar caused by excess produc-
ton of beet sugar in Europe. An i'm
mediate remedy would be the reduction
or the American tariff on sugar, to OBJ
tain which the Executive viii Mt once
devote his efforts and will negotiate
treaty In order to obtain benefits for
the Cuban sugar producers"
PRESIDENT Palma declares ii is the
purpose of the Government to devote
Its attention to education, and especial.
ty to primary schools. He says the
| Government of Intervention deserves
great credit for the educational system
1t established, but that there Is a need
| Tor still more schools, rs the future
or the Republic depends upon educa-
ton. 1t will be the duty OF the Gov
ernment to encourage the construction
Of railroads In the island, and to pro-
tect the capital already invested in
railroad enterprises.
| Discussing the bad economic situa-
ton OF the country, President Palma
Gays he does not yet know how the or
dinary expenses Of administration are
to be met
Touching foreign relations, lie says:
we must cultivate cordial relations
with all nations, and make treaties of
amity and commerce favorable to
Cuba. We must also take especial
care that the relations between Cuba
ana the United States be most friendly.
| Ul order that there be no difficulty in
arranging the political and commercial
questions which affect both countries
1t is also of extreme Importance that
here should exist uninterrupted concord
between all the people of Cuba. and
that they should resolve to preserve
the Cuban nationality"