Mexico weekly ledger., 1902-03-06
CLEVELAND ON CUBAN ISSUES.
Believes Agitation on Behalf OF Cuba
Should Not be Allowed to
Subside.

New York, March b. Former
President Grover Cleveland has ex-
pressed himself on the Cuban qres-
ton. 1t is his firm belief that the
agitation in behalf Of the Cubans
should not be allowed to subsIde, but
should be encouraged and continued.
Replying at first that, Inasmuch as
his position with reference to these
matters wal well known, IL would be
useless, or worse, to make another
statement, whether by writing or In
the form Of an interview, be neverthe-
less, spoke with great ~earnestness
and force about our obligations as a
nation to satisfy the reasonable ex.
pectations of the Cubans.
CuBANs JUSTIFIED.
Evidently there was not the slight
est doubt In his mind that the Cnbans
were fully Justified In calling upon the
United States now to make such con-
cessions In their favor as were appro-
pirate to their present necessity. He
did not question the reality of their
need; evidence enough to warrant the
conclusion that action on our part
and prompt action, to0-was impera-
lively required, had been already fur
nished In the published statement Of
the American authoritiesin the island
and the dispatches Of reliable Cubans.
These deductions from MI. Cleye-
lands statements, scattered through
a conversation which he very consider
ately prolonged thus proving the
anxiety which he expressed to do all
in his power to aid so good a cause
come to be particularly important.
CAUSE SHOULD BE AGIrATED.
First-The agitation on the behalf
Of the Cubans and their causes ought
not to be allowed to s1bside, but on
the contrary, should be encouraged
and continued, in order that Congress
may be convinced that the public is
not growing indifferent to the issue.
The only way to bring about the de
sired result is to coerce Congress BY
the force of public opinion.
Second As for the amount Of re
duetion Of present tariff rates on i'm
ports from Cuba. Mr.. Cleyeland's ex
preston was that the United State
should be generous; we should con
cede whatever reductions In the Ding
ley tariff charges on sugar and tobacc'
may be required TO enable the peopl'
Of Cuba TO regain their lost property
} He did not specify the concession
which to him seemed appropriate, bu
! when considering the subject mention
} ed no figures lower than 40 per cent
or twice the amount Of generosity
, recently proposed by the RepubllcaI
5 members Of the Ways and Means Con
mittee.
DIsHoNoRABLE CONCLUSION.
Thlrd-Mr. Cleveland evidently bt
: lieves that the people OF the Unite
: States can be trusted; they can b
: trusted TO reach a Just conclusion u
tlmately, and perhaps also to insis
: that Congress shall give effect to th
! peoples conclusion as TO what is righ
: 10 a matter Of highest Importance
though the danger that may oom
through long delay has alread
been pointed out. Replying to the d
rect question, "In the whole history {
! the United States have we eve d.
= bated a subject in which the nationl
, honor was plainly involved and final
: reached a dl~sbonorahle conclusion?"
e said:
II 81 don't know of any instance, d
you? Certainly never in a matter
Important as this"