The Independent. [volume] (Honolulu, H.I.) 1895-1905, 1902-06-25
The Presidents Message on Cuba.
CONTINUED from Ist paGe.)

the different schedules of tariff ought
most properly to be revised does not
enter into this matter in any way or
shape. We are concerned with get
ting a friendly reciprocal agreement
with Cuba. This arrangement applies
to all the articles that Cuba grows
or produces. 1t Is not in our power
to determine what these articles shall
be, and any discussion of the tariff as
it affects special schedules, or coun-
tries other than Cuba, is wholly aside
from the subject matter to which |
now call your attention. Some of our
citizens oppose the lowering of the
tariff products, just as three years
ago they opposed the admission 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
Hawaii, and their apprehensions as to
the damage to any industry of our
own because of the proposed measure
of reciprocity with Cuba seem to me
equally baseless. In my judgment
no American industry will be hurt,
and many industries will be benefited
by the proposed action. 1t Is to our
advantage as a nation that the grow
ing Cuban market should be control-
ed by American producers.
The events following the 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
to treat us on an exceptional footing
politically, and we should put her in
the same exceptional position eco
nomically. The proposed action is in
line with the course we have pursued
rs regards all the 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 well as ours,
and without any of the feared detri-
ment to our own industries. The
Philippines, which stand in differ.
ent relation, have been granted sub
stantial tariff concessions.
Cuba is an Independent republic,
but republic which has assumed
certain special obligations as regards
certain special obligations as regards
her international position In compli-
ance with our request. ask for her
certain special economic concessions
to benefit us as well as her. There
are few brighter pages in American
history than the page which tells of
our dealings with Cuba during the last
four years. On her behalf we waged
a war, of which the handspring was
generous indignation against oppres-
sion, and we have kept faith abso.
lutely 1t is earnestly 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 it
is essential in foreign affairs If we
desire to play we'll our part as world
power.
We are a wealthy and powerful ma.
ton; Cuba is young republic. still
weak, who owes to us her birth. whose
whole future, whose very life must
depend on our attitude toward her
| ask that we help her as she strug-
giles upward along the painful and
difficult road of self-government and
independence. | ask this aid for her
because she is weak, because she
needs it, because we have already
aided her. ask that open-handed
help, of a kind which self-respect.
Ing people can accept, be given to
Cuba, for the very reason that we
have given her such help in the past.
Our soldiers fought to give her free.
dom, and for three years our repre-.
sentatives, civil and military, have
toiled INCREASINGLY, facing disease of
peculiarly sinister and fatal type
with patient and accomplishing fort
itude, to teach her how to use Alright