The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1902-09-26

N--+N N~SS FNAN = 49, N-- - $500
troit came to an end this evening at the
conclusion of a banquet rendered him
in the Light Guard ArmOry by the
Spanish war veterans, tire opening of
whose third annual Reunion he attend
ed his morning. II vas a brilliant
event. Nearly eight hundred men sat
at tables on the Aoor OF the big armory.
and the galleries uere crowded to their
utmost capacity by brilliantly gowned
women and their sCOTts.
When he rose 1, begin his address,
which was the firs of the evening, he
received IN ovation The men on the
floor stood UP and cheCred again and
again, while the ~oiappiug hands from
the gallery was like the crackle of mus
kerry. The president addressed himself
largely 10 the issues growing out of the
war with Spain. Coming to the ques-
ton Of reciprocity with Cuba, the pres
ident said.
We pledged ourselves soIemnly at
the outbreak of the war with Spain 10
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 intended to Keep il.
IuL W. IdhS hcpL II BOOu 1dlln anu
with a keen regard for the welfare of
the Cubans. We did not turn Cuba
loose To- sink into a weller of anarchy.
We first administered the affairs of the
island until ord-r had been brought
out OF chaos, until the cities had been
cleaned, the courts purified, an eGUca-
tiOnal system started and L just and
efficient government introduced. Then
we turned the new republic Over to the
hands of those whom it's people had
elected as its servants and bade. it
God speed on its journey of indepen-
denCe. But neither our duty to, nor
our interest in, the island have come TO
an end with the establishment of it's
independence. Cuba's immediate prox-
unity TO the United States rendered it's
we'll being of SUI interest to us that
we were forced II interfere in its in
terest by force of arms. For the same
SkSOns its future welfare cannot be
tbU a matter of grave concern to US.
We do not desire Cuba toward any
other nation in the same relations of in
innate friendship and alliance that we
desire TO see l. adopt toward us.
1t must, therefore, be in a certain
sense a part of our international po-
litical system anG it accepted this po-
SitiOn when it accepted the Plat
amendment. But it is out of the ques-
ton for us TO eXDect that it will as
sumo such a position toward US, with
regard to internG tional politics, with
out at the same time sharing some
what IN the be,.eits of our economic
system. 1t was for this reason hat
President McKil 'ey urged and that /
have since urged and shall continue to
urge the need # establishing closer
relations with Cuba by reciprocity. We
urge reciprocity, it is for u
interests to ii the Cuban market,
a we are bound to place the
ms on n DHclliar Sta6lnp poOn-
omically, when they consent in our in
tereStS as well A. their own to assume
a peculiar s-atus internationally, and
because it is Itttins for a great and gen.
erOus republic to stretch out a helping
hand toward her feeble sister. but
starting to treaC the path of indepen-
dence.
The case stan by itself and t1ere
can be no othe! like it. Porto Rico,
Hawaii and the Philippines have rela-
tiOns of varying intimacy to US; and
they have either been admitted within
our economic system or have been
given some of the benefits thereof.
Cuba. though independent, also stands
in a peculiar position towards us and
should receive in some position a meas
ure of enefits from the partial in
CIusiOn within our system
The questions that ordinarily concern
US as of prime weight in a tariff mat
ter. do not come in here as of primary
importance. We cannot choose what
the articles arr which Cuba shall eX-
port. Doubles very many of us would
prefer for reasons connected with our
wv tariff policy, that her inhabitants
were engaged in different industries
from those which they as a matter OF
fact now follow; just as doubtless 9TH
ers of our people would prefer that the
market offered by Cuba was one for
other things than those which she &C
tually demands. But we cal neither
determine the wants nor the produc-
tiOnS of Cuba. We must accept them
as they are and we must remember,
that in dealing with this island, es-
peCially now that we are TO build
the isthmian canal and our interests
in h West Indian waters have become
so great. We must shape our policy
with a far s -hted regard for the flu
ture and for re interest and honor OF
the nation as L whole. 1 do not believe
a particle = harm will come to n
American ] crest from adoption of a
reasonable : assure of reciprocity with
Cuba. / ar certain that the adoption
of such q assure will be il the in
terest Of G.: people as a Whole. Above
all. while Gully acknowleC Sing the
high-minde- ness and moral Sincerity of
this point differ, l yet feel most
strongly, that by every conslderatlon
of a generous and far sighted publ g
policy, We are bound to prove to CuOa
that our friendship with her is OF a
continuing character and that we IN
tend to aid her in her struggle for the
material well being which must under
lie healthy national development.
The banquet was the elimination of
an extremely busy day FOR the presi-
dent. At IL o'clock he drove to the ar
mory and attended the opening session
of the third annual reunion Of Spanish
war veterans. He was given a tumul-
tuous welcome by the soldiers and his
speech was enthusiastically received. He
eulogized the veterans Of the Spanish
wal for their deeds and declared that
We have no apologies 10 make for the
war in cuba or h Philippines. AS a
result Of the latter, he said, we will
give the Filipinos life, liberty and the
pursuit OF happiness such ds they never