Fort Mill times. [volume] (Fort Mill, S.C.) 1892-current, 1902-06-18
THE PRESIDENT ON CUBA
He Favors Reciprocity in a Message
to Congress.
PRESENTS A PLEA FROM PALMA

No Revision of the Tariff Is Involved
"A Pleading Dispatch From President
Palma-McKinIey's Words Re called.
Washington. ID. C.-Prcsident Roose-
welt has sent the following message
TO Congress urging the granting of re-
lief TO Cuba through reciprocity:
''To the Senate and House OF Rep
resertatives: l deem it important be-
fore the adjournment of the present
session of Congress TO call attention
TO the following expressions in the
message which in the discharge of the
duty imposed upon me by the c9nstitu-
tion l sent to Congress on the first
Tuesday of December last:
Elsewhere l have discussed the
question of reciprocity. In the 9ase OF
Cuba, however, there are weighty rea-
sons of morality and of national in
terest why the policy should be held
10 have Il peculiar application, and 1
most earnestly ask your attention to
the wisdom, indeed to the vital need
of providing for substantial lreduc-
ton in the tariff duties on Cuban i'm
ports into the United States. Cuba
has in her constitution affirmed what
we desired, tnat she should stand, In
international matters, in closer and
more friendly relations with us than
with any other power; and VIE are
bound by every consideration OF Ihonor
ana eXpediency 10 pass COMMERCIAL
measures III the interest or her Innate
rial well being
This recommendation was merely
giving nrnrfispl nfTnpt tn cs1a,Lt
NinIeys words, when, in his messages
OF December =. 1898 and December 8.
1899. he wrote:
1t Is important that our relations
with this people (of Cuba shall ibe of
the most friendly character and our
commercial relations close and re&ipro-
cal We have accepted trust.
the fulfilmcnt of which calls foh. the
stcrnest integrity of purpose and the
exercise of the highest wisdom. The
new Cuba yet 10 arise from the hshes
OF the past must needs he bound to us
by ties of singular intimacy l and
strength If its enduring welfare lis to
DE assured. The greatest blessing
Whlch can come To Cuba is the reStora-
tloh OF her agricultural ana industrial
prosperity
yesterday, June -. / receiveh by
cable from the American Minister in
Cuba most earnest appeal from
President Palma for Legislative Itelief
before 1t is too late and (his) COUNTRY
financially ruined
The granting of reciprocity with
Cuba is n proposition which standk en-
tirely alone. The reasons for It'll far
outweigh those for granting recibroc-
1ty with any other nation and ard en-
tirely consistent with preserving intact
The protective system under which this
country has thriven so marvellodlsly
The present tariff law was designed to
promote the adoption of such n I.eci-
procity treaty, and expressly provi ides
Tor n reduction not to exceed twenty
per cent. upon goods coming frol N a
particular country, leaving the teariff
rates on the same articles unchanged
rs regards all other countries. OEiec-
lion has been made to the granting of
The reduction on the ground that the
substantial benefit would not go to the
agricultural producer of sugar. but
would inure to the American su gar
retners. In my judgment provision
can and should be made which xviii
guarantee us against this possibih ity.
without having recourse to a measure
of doubtful policy. such as n bounty
in the form of II rebate.
- ne putSlIOu us 10 w men, III any of
the different schedules of the tn riff
ought most properly to be revised does
not enter into this matter in any W.ay
or shape. We are concerned with l.et-
ting friendly reciprocal arrangem ent
with Cuba. This arrangement applies
10 all the articles that Cuba grows or
produces. 1t is not in our power to
determine what these articles sh all
be. and any discussion of the tariff as
1t affects special schedules or countr les
other than Cuba is wholly aside from
the subject matter to which | call yCur
attention.
Some of our citizens oppose the 10 w
ering of the tariff on Cuban products
just rs three years ago they opposed
the admission OF the Hawaiian Islands
lest free trade with them might ruin cl,r-
tam OF our interests here. In the actual
event their fears proved bascless as he
CARDS Hawaii. and their apprehensohs
as To the damage To any industry lof
our own because of the proposed meas
ure of reciprocity with Cuba seeIhs
10 me equally baSeleSS In my iudo.
ment, no American industry viii he
hurt, and many American industries
VIII be benefited 10y the proposed alc-
ton. Ii Is TO our advantage as Ia
nation that the growing Cuban marker
should be controlled by American prh-
ducerS.
THE events following the war with
Spain. and the prospective building Of
the Isthmian Canal. render it certain
that we must take in the future far
greater interest than hitherto in wbat
happens throughout the West Indies.
Central America and the adjacent coasts
and waters. We expect Cuba to treat us
on an exceptional footing politically.
and we should mt her in tho co,oa a.,