The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1902-02-25
THOSE CUBAN OBLIGATIONS.
Come from Congress Regarding
Tariff Relations.

|
| A number of newspapers, especially
those devoted to free trade, have much
to say of obligations to Cuba" and
| promises to Cuba" When search is
made for the text or specific descrip-
tlon OF these so-called contracts and
pledges none can be found, and the con-
fession comes out that they are only
implied. 1t is evident that no promises
| OF legislation exist, for congress alone
has the power to fulfill them, and if
any had been extended by congress
they would be part of the official rec
ord. No officer of the government, no
matter what his rank, can tender prom
Uses binding congress to any particular
| course, says the ST. Louis Globe-Demo-
GRAFT No president can do more than
recommend the passage of law by
congress. 1t would be futile and pre-
sumptuous on his part to pledge the
future action of the legislative and CO.
ordinate branch of the government.
Congress itself formally resolved that
Cuba should be allowed to form an in
dependent government, and has steadi
ly maintained that position. Not an.
other promise of any kind can be at.
| trlbuted to congress. The Platt
amendment defined that one promise,
with certain restrictions as to Cuba's
international relations, the limitation
of its public debt, the maintenance of.
an adequate government, proper san
itary measures, future adjustment, by
treaty, of the ownership of the Isle of
Pines and the sale or lease-to the Unit
ed States of lands necessary for coal
/ ing or naval stations.
Not one word, promised or obliga-
ton has ever come from the congress
of the United States in regard to tar
ltf relations with the republic of
Cuba. Nothing in the Platt amend
ment touches the tariff. Cuba is left
is the United States. All that the
free trade raiders who are pushing
tariff concessions to Cuba can plead
is that somewhere between the lines
! of our transactions with the island
are certain shadowy moral obliga-
lions to make a protective tariff in
consistent with itself. There are no
promises to Cuba unredeemed, and
no obligation except such myths as
free traders can manufacture in their
inner consciousness. On Monday next
the electors chosen throughout the
i island in the election of December 81
last will meet to confirm the choice
of president, vice president and SEN
ators. The lower house and provin-
cial governors have already been
named by the direct vote of the peo-
pie. The republic of Cuba is perfect
| ly free to pass a tariff law of is
own. 1t has made no promises to us
on that score, nor is it likely to rec
ognize any obligations in that re-
! spect save to consult its own inter-
ests.
The United States has had some
little experience with other countries
in reciprocity treaties, but never yet
has it singled out particular for
eign nation as a special tariff favor
lite. Is the republic of Cuba to be
foreign country? Such, assuredly, is
it's own and our understanding. 1t
will have it's own executive, legis-
lature and judicial government, it's
own diplomatic representatives and
absolute legal power over it's tariff
laws. No governmental obligations
affect tariff policies on either side.
AS for commercial considerations,
Cuba can only settle them adequate
ly by asking for annexation. If we
cut the duty on imports from Cuba
as particular gift to Cuba, we de-
part from all national precedent in
dealing with a foreign country, and
admit to a protective tariff a variant
idea that will be used, and is intend
ed to be used, to discredit the prin-
ciple of protecting American indus
tries. Free traders know the value
of this entering wedge, and are eN-
erting themselves day and night to
destroy the consistency of the Ding
ley law by tearing a free trade hole
through it by means of wholly ex-
ceptional tariff concessions to Cuba.