Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1902-06-19

dustry of our own because ofsthe pro-
posed measure Of reciprocity with Cuba
seem TO me equally baseless. In my
Judgment no american industry will
be hurt, and many Amerscan industries
will be benefited, by the proposed
action. 1t is to our advantage as
nation that the growing Cuban market
should be controlled by American pro
ducers.
The events following tho 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 what
happens throughout the West Indies,
Central America and the adjacent
coasts and waters. We expect Cuba
treat us on an exceptional footing
politically. and we should put her in
the same exceptional position economi-
cally.
The proposed action is in limo with
the course we have pursued as regards
all tho islands with which we have
been brought into relations of varying
intimacy by the Spanish War. Porto
Rico and Hawaii have been included
within our tariff lines, to their great
benefit as we'll as ours, and without
any of tho feared detrimcnt to our own
industries. The Philippines, which
stand in different relation, have been
granted substantial tariff concessions.
Cuba is an independent republic, but
republic which has assumed certain
special obligations Us regards her in
ternational position in compliance with
our request. | ask for her certain
special economic conce ssions in return,
THESE economic concessions to benellt
us as we'll Us her. There are few
brighter pages in American history
| than the page which lells of our deal
inga with Cuba during the past four
years. On her behalf we waged Il war
Of which the handspring was generous
1 indignation against oppression, and we
| have kept faith absolutely. 1t is earn
e8tly to be hoped that we will complete
in the same spirit the record SO well
begun and show in our dealings with
! Cuba that steady continuity of policy
which il is essential for our nation tC
establish i'll foreign affairs ii we de
sire TO play we'll our part us a world
power.
We are u wealthy and powerful
nation; Cuba is Il young republic, still
weak, who owes us to her birth, whost
whole future, whose very life, must
depend on our attitude toward her.
ask that wp help her as she struggles
upward along the painful and difficult
road Of self governing Independence.
ask this aid for her because she i:
weak, because she needs it, because VI
have already aided her. ! ask tina
open handed help, of kind which ;
self-rcspecting people can accept, b.
given to Cuba, for the worry reaso,
that We have given her such help il
the past. Our solIiers fought to Civ,
her freedom, and for three years ou
representatives, civil and military
have toiled increasingly, facing diseas
of II peculiarly sinister and fatal typ
with patient and uncomplaining forti
tude, to teach her how to Use arigh
her new freedom. Never in history ha
,, any alien country heen thus admins
tered with such high integrity Of pur
pose, such wise judgment and such
single handed devotion TO the country,
interests. Now ask that tho Cuban
be given all possible chance to use t
the best advantage the freedom Q
which Americans have such right t
be proud and for which SO many Ameri
can lives have been sacrificed.
Theodore Roosevelt.
a