The Birmingham age-herald., 1902-08-23
Congressman Eddy Says Ne
 Owe the Island Nothing
PUBLIC SENTIMENT WRONG
Representative From Minnesota Says Annexation Will Be Final Outcome of the Agitation for Reciprocity.
 Explains His Position.
BY PATTERSON sTEALEY.

Washington, August 22.-(SpeeiaL)-- There is no question but that . very large majority of the people favor Cuban reciprocity as proposed by the majority Of the ways and means committee, and erroneousy termed the Presidents pol- icy, said Representative Eddy of Min nesota, today. Although I do not agree with the public in this matter. any other statement would be perversion of fact. The public are of the opinion that VIC owe something to cuba that this propo- sition would benefit the Cuban planter, that 1t is inimioal to the interests of the rugar trust and that it originated with the President. Holding these opinions, the people. following the lead of certain papers, have dubbed those who opposed the scheme insurgents and think their opposition is based either upon corrupt motives or through ignorance.
 Public opinion is generally right, and as rule 1t is safer for legislator to follow the weli-eonsidered opinion of a majority of his fellow-citizens than that of the wIsest statesman
 Sentiment Sometimes.
 Sometimes, however, such opinion is based on passion, mistake or sentiment- and when such is the case it goes wrong, and awfully wrong end when legis- lator believes this to be true and bows to the blast instead of resolutely per- forming what he believes to be his duty and earnestly endeavoring to correctly point out the errors on which such opin- ion is formed and patiently waiting for time to vindicate him, he is unworthy to rerresent any constituency.
 T am one of those who do not think wo owe Cuba anything, morally, politi- eally or financially. We spent hundreds of millions of dollars and drenched her soil with our best and bravest blood to give her independence, and she is now independent. Her people possess the most favorable natural resources in the world. Why should we now contribute to her finances? Cuba owes us a moral and financial debt she can never pay. and we are generous enough to never ask or expect such payment. but the idea that we are Cuba's debtor is absurd No advocate of this proposition has been able to show how the people of Cuba, of the United States, outside of a few interested parties, would ever re- ceive a dollars benefit. The sugar trust would be relieved of six million dollars duty on their imports of raw sugar, but that they would donate this to the Cu- ban planter or Ameican consumer unless compelled to is a palpable absurdity and that such compuision is impossible is self evident.
 A Ridiculous Idea.
 Members of the sugar trust testified in favor of the proposition. They con- tributed literally to bring public senti- ment to bear in favor of its passage. Sugar stock went up when the prospects of the measure being passed were favor able and went down as failure became apparent. In view of these facts the theory that Cuban reciprocity was de- feated at the behest of the sugar trust is too ridiculous for consideration.
 "The President unquestionably fayors reciprocity with cuba-but the plan of the much discussed measure is the crea- ton of a majority of the ways and means committee and If any 0Tie believes they would originate legislation inimical to the sugar trust or any other, or formulate any scheme of tariff revision unless forced to do so by public sentiment. he is sh liberty to do so.
 The almost universal impression iz that the ultimate settlement of the Cuban question will be it's annexation and thAk this will be eventually brought about by the request of the Cubans themselves Is generally believed"