The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-05-03
THE cueAN TARIFF QUESTION.
From the Topeka Capital.


the beet sugar industry which sufficiently protected am
growing rapidly pales into insgnifcance by comparison
with the advantages to be gained by reciprocity with Cuba
Congressman Long enumerated the articles from which
large trade with Cuba anticipated with reciprocity
operation We call attention Kansas readers to tbs
opportunity for greatly increased commerce with the Gu
ban people as shown in Nh. Longs speech He said OF
this point
year under the present military tariff we prac
ucaly had all OF the trade of Cuba in corn wheat
and other breadstufs but Cuba also imported cattle and
ANIMALS TO the amount OF SS4f6509 CT which only 1891
2lS from the United States. Cuba imported dairy
products to the amount OF S10711 Of which only s491
Sl6 came from the United States Cuba imported meats
and meat products to the amount OF $S91G8 of which
only S666,2l1 came from the United States Cuba in
ported oils and paIan to the amount of s. 59S 9S
Of which only S13 737 from United States Cuba
imported cotton and manufactures of the
S606S 241 Of which only S464S16 came from the United
States. Cuba imported iron and steel aud manufactures
OF TO the of $479926 Of which only $34O3 607
came from the United States Cuba imported of boots
the United States.
OF the articles that distinctly those last year were
$43SOS, OF which only $21377oS came from the United
The total imports of Cuba for the last fiscal year
amounted 10 S65090141 of which only S2SG7S702 came
All the witnesses before the committee on ways and
means stated that with prosperity in Cuba the mpora-
ons Of that island would $4,000 to $780,
100000 annually This is the trade that Cuba offers
the United States in return for concessions her pro
ducts
home industries This object the modern TWEEN
eth century evolution of the protective system along
the line Of reciprocal trade
Reciprocity with Cuba will give to the industries Of
the United States such as those of corn wheat flour
breadstus meats and other various manufactured goods
market amounting to than a hundred million
dollars year which is tantamount to the creation of
industry that extent American trade with Porto
Rico is 400 per greater than the average for
five years preceding 1901.
In fairness to President Roosevelt and to the Repub
icans who stand by him congress it may be claimed
that the first and insistent argument in behalf OF
reciprocity with Cuba is moral is an appeal to the
friendly sympathy for nation hampered with debt
the legacy ruinous previous trade conditions and long
continued war
TIL plea that have done enough for Cuba that this
rich nation nothing its and bankrupt neigh
bor that cannot afford to let the tariff bars to
help the Cubans viii have more effect upon public
sentiment than the argument against original
intervention in behalf Of the CUbans struggling for their
Independence II could said then with better grace
than now that owed nothing to Cuba. The PROPOSE
ton to with friendly power behalf of one
Of its independences more radical departure from
the ordinary custom of nations than merely to adopt
friendly trade relations with dependency after
through edorts it had secured its Independence If
this nation owed it humanity interfere between Cuba
and Spain four years it is under the Same obligation
to help Cuba stand that has been placed on its
feet Having started On the humane policy of
seeing Cuba through its great difficulties Congress can
we'll afford go forward and negotiate such trade ar
engagements as VIII give prosperity to the new republic
and at the same time take long step forward toward
Republican reciprocity