New-York tribune., 1902-03-20
ZOE HoNOR AND FOE PRoFIT.

FOE HONOR AND FOR PROFIT.
The caucus did well. It might have done
better. 1t might have voted for honor and for
profit weeks or months ago. 1t might have done
so by unanimous vote instead of merely by an
overwhelming majority. It might have made
the terms of reciprocity more liberal Neverthe-
less, what it did on Tuesday night will serve
The door was opened. The Republican party
was put upon record. The administration was
sustained. These were the general features OF
the caucus action. Minor details and circum-
stances we may afford largely TO overlook
Some Of them can be amended or atoned for
hereafter The rest may be endured as the in
evitable evil intermiXed with all earthly good
For today the dominant ard paramount con
sideration is that the representatives Of the ma
ton are aligned in strong majority in favor Of
vindicating the nations honor and of promoting
the nations interests.
Honor first. That consideration is supreme.
It should surely be patent TO every intelligent
perception that the honor of this nation is in
voved in the industrial and commercial vel
fare of Cuba. The war in which inter
vened was pre-eminently an economical war
provoked by commercial and industrial Oppres
sion and aiming at economical as much as po-
litical emancipation. Cuba was fighting for
markets and for freedom from burdensOme tax
alton. The United States interviewed TO help
her. By every consideration of reason and
honor therefore, this country bound itself TO
respect and to secure for Cuba the ends sought
by Cuba in that war. What a monstrous trav-
esty upon benefcence it would be for one coun-
try 10 intervene in another's behalf and then
itself fix upon that other the very evils it had
been striving to escape. When the United
States intervened TO aid Cuba in her fight for
or,5 al
ted itself to the cause of securing such freedom
for Cuba. When It destroyed the commercial
relations hitherto existing between Cuba and
Spain it obligated itself to provide for Cuba
other commercial relations at least equally
good When it required Cuba to annex a codicil
to her constitution giving this country para
mount rights and influence in Cuba, it assumed
a moral obligation to extend to Cuba CORE
spending advantages By vote of s. to 81 the
Republican representatives in Congress have
recognized these facts.
Profit also. That is a secondary considera-
ton. Yet it is particularly potent 10 many
minds. and it is in any event one not to be
ignored. The action OF the caucus means that
the farmers Of the United States are no longer
to have their products shut out of one of the
nearest and most profitable markets. Millions
of dollars worth of their goods have hitherto
been excluded from the Cuban market in favor
Of similar goods from other lands. Our farm
ers. cattle raisers, fOresters, gardeners. manu-
facturers. and indeed nearly all our Industrial
lists, have thus for years suffered the loss of Il
market lying almost within sight OF our shores
and actually. for the time under our flag. They
have seen European and other merchants pour
irg in millions of dollars worth OF good each
year which should and under a reasonable TAR
if system would. have been furnished from the
United States. The action of the caucus means
that this anomalous, unreasonable and dscred-
liable state OF affairs is to stop Our farmers
and manufacturers are to have access to the
Cuban market. Thirty millions or more q wear
now paid by Cuba to Europe will hencoforth
come to the United States Instead Of Euro
pean trade with Cuba increasing and United
States trade with Cuba decreasing, as at pres
ent. the reverse order is to prevail until-as the
British Consul General at Havana reported was
the case a dozen years ago-"the United States
practically supplies all the wants Of the island"
1t was a good nights work. good for what il
did and for what il refused to do. The approval
of straight reciprocity scheme was admirable
Equally admirable was the rejection and rcpu-
diation of the various vicious aims and bounty
schemes, like the one which was so finely cast
into the rubbish basket by the Republican Club
of NeW-YOrk a few evenings ago We shall now
look TO see the House follow the lead of the
majority caucus, and the Senate perfect the
work. Before this Congress adiourns the long
delayed duty must be discharged in accordance
with what the President has well described as
every consideration of honor and expediency."