Waterbury Democrat., 1902-06-14
THE PRESIDENT ACTS
Cuban Reciprocity Urged Tn
 Special Message.
SAYS REBATE WILL NOT ANSWER.
Congress Is Strongly Asked to Aid Cuba-Duty and Self Interest De- mand Speedy LeEisIation--Mrs
 Mckinley Is Quoted.

l
 i'll congress regarding Cuban reciproc
 ity President Roosevelt yesterday sen1
 message to congress reaf1irming his
 attitude on the subject. The president ] has earnestly considered the matter fol
 several days.
 The reciprocity message has given
 senators q live topic of conversation
 but so far as is yet apparent there is nc | change in the situation. There is a dis l position on the part of the leaders on
 both sides of the controversy to claim I when speaking publicly some advan- l tage from the message. The straight
 reciprocity men urge that the effect | will be to cause at least some of the
 beet sugar Republicans to abandon
 their opposition.
 | The beet sugar leaders declare that | the message has caused no loss what | ever to them and that all those sena- | tors who have hitherto stood with them
 are still with them. They also assert
 that the presidents Interpretation in the matter had had the effect of causing to hesitate some senators who heretofore had not taken positive stand against reduction because of the feeling that
 the president should leave congress to
 deal with the subject in it's present 1 stage.
 The presidents message is as fol lows:
 ment of the present session of congress to
 call attention to the following expressions in the message which, in the discharge of the duty imposed upon me by the consti-
 luton, l sent to congress on the first Tuesday of December last:
 Elsewhere I have discussed the ques-
 ton of reciprocity. In the case of Cuba,
 however, there are weighty reasons of
 morality and of national interest why the policy should be held to have a peculiar
 application, and most earnestly ask your
 attention to the wisdon-indeed, to the vital need-of providing for a substantial reduction in the tariff duties on Cuban imports into the United States Cuba has in her constitution affirmed what we de- sired-that she should stand in interna- tional matters in closer and more friendly relations with us than with any other poWer-and we are bound by every con- sideration of honor and expediency to pass commercial measures in the interest of her material well being.
 This recommendation was merely giv- 5, 1898. and Dec. 5 1889. he wrote:
 Tt is important that our relations with this people (of Cuba) shall be of the most friendly Character and our commercial
 relations close and reciprocal. We have calls for the sternest integrity of purpose and the exercise of the highest wisdom.
 The new Cuba yet to arise from the ashes of the past must needs be bound to
 us by ties of singular intimacy and strength if it's enduring welfare is to be come to Cuba is the restoration of her
 agricultural and industrial prosperity American minister in Cuba a most earnest appeal from President Palma for .'legis-
 lative relief before it is too late and (his) The granting of reciprocity with Cuba
 Is a proposition which stands entirely ! alone. The reasons for it far outweigh those for granting reciprocity with any with preserving intact the protective sys- so marvelously. The present tariff law
 was designed to promote the adoption of
 such a reciprocity treaty and expressly provided for a reduction not to exceed 20 per cent upon goods coming from a par
 on the same articles unchanged as re- gardS all other countries. Objection has
 on dn ad dse 10 tns fdf fbe f dhe
 producer of sugar, but would inure to the ne American sugar refiners. In my judg- ment provision can and should be made which will guarantee us against this pos
 measure of doubtful policy, such as a bounty in the form of a rebate.
 The question as to which, fln, if any, of the
 most properly to be revised does not enter
 into this matter in any way or shape. We l reciprocal arrangement with Cuba This
 arrangement applies to all the articles
 in our power to determine what these articles shall be, and any discussion of
 the tarltI as It affeets cts, special S schedules
 aside from the subject matter to which i call your attention.
 Some of our citizens oppose the lowering of the tarlfT on Cuban products, just as three years ago they opposed the adnis- sion of the Hawaiian Islands, lest free
 trade with them might ruin certain of our interests here. In the actual event
 their fears proved baseless as regards Hawai-, and their apprehensions as to
 the damage to any industry of our own
 because Of the proposed measure of reel
 baseless. In my Judgment no American industry will be hurt. and many American
 ed action. It is to our advantage asa as a
 nation that the growing Cuban market should be controlled by American pro- ducers.
 The events following the war with Spain and the prospective building. of the
 must take in the future a far greater in
 tsrest than hitherto in what happens
 America and the adjacent coasts and wa
 ters. We expect Cuba to treat us on an exceptional footing politically, and we
 position econonicaliy.' The proposed tto(.l ac- tion is in line with the course we have which we have been brought into rela-
 tions of varying intimacy by the Spa -1ish Wdf. fOi tO IlicO anu fldWcdl1 nave been included within our tariff lines to their
 great benefit as well as ours and without
 any. of the feared dstriment to our own l industries. The Philippines, which stand !, in a different relation, have been granted l substantial tariff concessions.
 l Cuba is an independent republic. but republic which has assumed certain spe- cial obligations as regards her interna-
 tional position in compliance with our re- homie concessions in return. these eco l homie concessions to benefit us as well as her. There are few brighter pages in | American history. than the page which | tells of our dealiIEs with Cuba during the | past four years. On her behalf we waged
 a war of which the handspring was gen- erous indignation against oppression. a.ad we have kept faith absolutely, It is I earnestly. to be hoped that we -yill com
 plete In the same spirit the record so well l begun and show In our dealings with 1 Cuba that steady continuity of policy | which 1t Is essential for our ation to es- l tabl1sh In foreign affairs if we desire to
 play we'll our part as world power. We are a wealthy and powerful nation. l Cuba IS young republic, still weak who
 owes to us her birth. whose whole future tude toward heNN ask that we help her l as she struggles upward along the painful l and difficult road of self governing inde- | pendence. l ask this aid for her because | she Is weak, because she needs it. because we have already aided her. I ask that l open handed help of kind which a self
 respecting people can accept be given to | given her such help in the past. Our soi- I diers fought to give her freedom, and for l three years our representatives, civil and
 ha f~f1 1a1 10e rjTrplx f,< .fy,<r