The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-02-11
SMALL HOPE FOR CUBA
NOT MORE THAN 25 PER CENT
 TARIFF REDUCTION.
Republicans Think the Time Propi' tious for Beginning of Movement to Force tho Island to Seek
 Statehood.

representatives from the Cuban Planters Association have declared that reduc- ton of 50 per cent in the American tar- iff on Cuban products Is the minimum which will serve to avert the industrial and financial disaster now pending in the island, it Is generally believed that reduction of not more than 25 per cent. will be made by this Congress. A cam vass of the Southern Representatives. made yesterday, disclosed this situation.
 It appears that the Southern Demo- crats will not favor a greater reduction than 25 per cent, because a larger reduc- tion would be injurious to American. and especially Southern, industries and prod ucts. A reduction of 50 per cent, they maintain, would be to let down the bars so that Cuban sugar and tobacco might come into this country and push our own sugar and tobacco out of the markets.
 Republicans from the North and East are against the proposed sweeping r~euc- ton or reciprocity; not only to protect American industries, but to force Cuba to come to Washington with outstretched arms and beg for annexation.
 The attitude of Southern Congressmen in general towards Cuba is outlined clearly in the following interview with one of the Democratic leaders from the South:
 Reciprocity" he said. lis another name for a low tariff. The Democratic party, of course, is in favor of a low tariff. but in making tariff rate for the benefit of Cuba, natu. ally we do not wish, if possible to avoid It, to do anything which would be inju.i ious to American industries and interests.
 -"Our relations with Cuba are peculiar. We went to war with Spain for the pur- pose of breaking the grasp of her ruthless despotism over the Pearl of the Antilles Congress expr essly declared that the | United States harbored no thought of ter ritorial aggrandiZement, and guaranteed by a special act, that Cuba should have free, stable and independent form of government, an act unparalleled in his- tory for generosity and friendship. Our military forces. on land and sea, did all the fighting, and our Government paid all the expenses of that conflict.
 But what was the result? The politi- | cal firebrands of Cuba abused us for com- | ing to their rescue in the hour of national disaster and for having taken the Span | ish yoke from their necks. Because of | this, 1t is true today that many of the | former friends of Cuba, generous pa. | triotic. liberty-loving men, do not now l cherish any enthus iastic sentiment o | sympathy for the Cubans. as a national | ity It is all on account of the ingrati
 tude they have shown towards us. as
 manifested by the conduct and utterances
 of Cuba's prominent leaders, who. after having permitted us to do all the fight
 ing and receiving the benefit of our losse.
 in blood and treasure, have persistentl, endeavored to make the world believ, | that We are their political enemies in
 stead of their friends.
 "The class of Congressman whose ar
 dor In the interest of Cuba has so cooled | and they arc numerous, are the ones who gre suying: We have already done fol Cuba more than We ought to have done. They say they have been disillusioned They are opposed to any further legisla. tion for the special benefit of Cuba. They claim thet reciprocity treaties between | the United States and Cuba, in view oi | the peculiar relations existing between them. would be unconstitutional and un- wise. They think We are not under any | obligation. legal or moral. through the l instrumentality of such treaties, to take | any further care of the Cuban people, tc | set them more firmly on their feet or tc | inaugurate & new national policy for the | enrichment of the island at the expense or to the disadvantage of any section ol | territorial division of the United States.
 ''Sugar and tobacco being Cuba's chic | products. 1t Is argued that the sugar in | dustry in Louisiana. the beet trade il the West. and the tobacco trade in Vir
 ginia and both Carolinas will be severel, | hurt by a reduction of the Cuban tariff
 These gentlemen it may be argued, ar,
 pessimists; but they have votes; an,
 they are fast reaching the conclusion
 that Cuba must either stand alone o
 else become annexed to the United State
 in order thereby to acquire our further
 protection and assistance
 T do not believe that any reduction ii
 the tariff greater than 25 per cent will
 ever be made by this Congress, and I an
 not alone in this belief Ask any of tn,
 members you may meet. They will tel
 you, if they speak frankly, that this re
 duction is all Cuba is likely to get"
 MiIt Saul