The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1902-09-24
R0lsEVELT's CUBAN POLICY.

President Makes a SPeecn ln Ue-
troit Before Spanish War
Veterans.
Detroit, Mich, September %. Pres
ident RooseVelt's two days visit to De-
troit came to an end this evening at
the conclusion Of a banquet rendered
him In Light Guard Armory by the
Spanish War Veterans, the opening Of
whose third annual Reunion he at
tended this morning. 1t was a bril-
liant event. Nearly 800 men sat at
tables on the floor Of the big armory,
AMI the galleries were crowded to their
utmost capacity by brilliantly gowned
women and their escorts. When the
President arose to begin his address,
which WAS the first Of the evening, he
received an ovation.
The President addressed himself
largely to the issues growing out Of
the war with Spain. Coming to the
question of reciprocity with Cuba the
President said:
G We pledged ourselves solemnly at
the outbreak of the war with Spain to
give to Cuba independence. The
world at large sneered at the pledge
and even some OF our own people
scoffed at the thought that we intend
ed to keep it. But we have kept it IN
good faith and with a keen regard for
the welfare of ssthe Cubans. We did
not turn Cuba loose to sink into a
welter of anarchy. We first admins
tered the affairs of the island until
order had been brought out of chaos,
until the cities qad been cleaned, the
Courts purified, an educational system
started and just and efficient govern
ment introduced. Then we turned the
new Republic over to the hands Of
those whom its people had elected as
its servants, and bade it Gop-speed on
its journey of independence. But
neither our duty to nor our interest
in the island have come to an end
with the establishment Of its indepen-
dsRce. Cuba s Immediate proximity to
the United States rendered its well-be-
ing of such interest to us that we we're
forced to interfere in its interest by
the course of affairs.
For this reason its future welfare
cannot but be "a matter of grave con-
cern to us. We do not desire Cuba to
stand toward any other nation in the
same relations of intimate friendship
and allinace that we desire to see it
adopt toward us.
.sIt must, therefore, be ia certain
sense part of our international polite
al system, sand it accepted this position
when it accepted the Platt amend
ment. But it is out Of the question
for us to expect that it will assume
such position towards US with regard
to international politics without at the
same time sharing somewhat In the
benefits of our economic system. 1t
was this reason that President McKin-
ley 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 Pc
culiar status internationally, and be-
cause it is fitting for a great and
generous republic to stretch out a
helping hand toward her feebler Sis
ter, just starting to tread the path of
independence. The case stands by
itself and there can be no other like
it. Porto Rico, Hawaii and the Phil
ippines have relations of varying in
timacy to US, and they have either
been admitted within or economic
system or have been given some Of
the benefits thereof. Cuba, though
independent, also stands in a pc
culiar position towards US and should
receive in similar fashion measure
| of benefit from the partial inclusion
| within our system. The questions
that ordinarily concern us as of prime
weight in tariff matter do not come
in here as of primary Importance.
We cannot choose what the articles
are which Cuba shall export. Doubt
less very many of rs would prefer, for
reasons connected with our own tariff
| policy, that her inhabitants were en-
gagged in different industries from those
which they, as a matter of fact, now
follow: just as doubtless 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 deter
mine the wants nor the productions
of Cuba. We must accept them as
they are, and we must remember that
in dealing with this island, especially
now that we are about to build the
isthmian canal, and our interests in
the West Indian waters have become
so great, we must shape our policy
with far-sighted regard for the future
and forSthe interest and honor of the
nation as whole. | do not believe
PARTICLE of harm will come to ANY
American interest from the adoption