The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1902-06-22

/ tNcSedGNt tRtNl Nu' dtth SbtAS ~ '"N
| poan. After recalling his words q
December last, in which he pointed
out 10 Congress that the United States
Is bound by every consideration ot
honor and expetliency to pass COM
merciai measures in the interest oi
Cuba's material well being" and ne
linforcng his own declaration by some
Quotations from President McKinleys
messages to Congress in 1885 and 1892,
Mr, Roosevelt communicates the fact
that he has just received an earnest
appeal from President Palma for
Legislative relief before IL is too hate
and his country financially ruined, -
and then proceeds 10 state the reasons
far reciprocity with cuba with vigor
and cogenry that, to an unprejudiced
or iisinterested listener. would be
speedily convincing. He first Of all
declares away irrevant issues, While
reciprocity may be more or less good
/ in other instances in the case of Gu
ia "it is proposition which stands
entirely alone" Ii has nothing what
ever to do wilh general tariff revision
the hugbear Of the high protectiauists
mo. with any other country. Then
he takes Up the obj"ction probably
false hut certainly hypocri;ical in the
month of the Beet Sugar Trust that
the benefit Of the proposed reduction
would not so to the agricultural pro-
ducer. but would insure to Ameri-
can sugar refiners. and, like the SEN
sihle. honest man he is he effectnally
iisposes Of this by asking, Why not
make provision against such possihili-
tiese In my Judgement says Mr.
Roosevelt. provisions can ana should
be made which viii guarantee us
against this possibility, without having
recourse to measure OF doubtful
policy, such as : bounty in the form
of rebate" This completely answers
the only valid or plausible argumen;
against reciprocity.
Ii Is not necessary To go into fuyth-
er details. The President makes
final appeal for justice to Cuba, for
the fulfillment Of implied promises
and national obligations. for the
obvious proposition that, having de-
prived the Cubans of their old mar
ket and shut them out from commerci-
al trea ties with the rest Of the world
it is our duty TO open up to them a
new market in the United States. He
also shows that reciprocity will benefit
American commerce as well as Cuba's,
and sites the instance of Hawaii to
prove it. as we'll as TO diSpel the
groundIess fear that any Of our own
industries will be hurt In my Judge
ment." says the President, no Ameri-
can industry will be benefited by the
proposed action. 1t is to our advantage
as Nation that the growing Cuban
market should be controlled by Ameri-
can producers" Thus it is an ap-
peal for the United States as we'll as
for Cuba that the President makes.
The question now is. will Congress
heed it? The answer is by no means
certain, and is interpreted differently
according to the points Of view. The
Presidents action tends to make Gu
ban reciprocity party measure, but
II viii require majority vote in
caucus to make that fact clear and
officially binding. There are signs Of
a break in the beet sugar ranks,
though some Of the greedy selfish gang
are apparently as defiant as ever. If
the insurgents continue in rebellion and
divide the party, with the probable
consequent result Of losing the House
Of Representatives, the responsibility
will be entirely theirs. Theodore
Roosevelt has bravely performed his
part. 1t is now up to" Congress and
the people The former may perhaps
fail in its duty, but the latter can be
trusted to speak with no uncertain
voice on next election day.