New-York tribune., 1902-02-24
CUBAN TOBACCO MEMS. APPEAL.
THEY ASK CONGRESS TO SAVE THE IsLANI
FROM RUIN.

THEY ASK CONGRESS TO SAVE THE ISLAND
FROM RUIN,
Washington Feb % (speciaD.-The President has
! received from the Military Governor cf Cuba
petition signed by the officers ar assembly Of
| tobacco growers and workers which met in Ha-
/ the 9th instant which will he sent to Con
! Eress tomorrow General Leonard Wood. forward
! ing the petition in an Endorsement setting forth
/ his approval and emphasizing the urgency of the
case. says: LAS I have already repeatedly stated
these reductions Of vital importance, and such
granted should Re granted with as little
delay practicable"
THE people of Cuba according to Tire petition.
are at present the verge Of bankruptcy. and.
being thus face to face with the ruin which threat
ems Is necessary for all classes Of society in this
country to employ every influence 10 inform the
authorities Of the United States as 10 the true
sentiments OF those who live hero; and In request
ing the United States that it save us we are
guided by instinct of sef-prcservation. and with
the hope. which still have. that the generosity
Of the American people has not been exhausted.
The special circumstances In which the Cuban peo-
pie now find themselves, economically hound 10 the
United States by the Plat amendments now an
appendix TO constitution forbid us from going
beyond the narrow limits ~ said amendments, to
try TO threatened production.
The government cannot and should not forget,
do forget, the promises made to our
constitutional convention Of tariff reforms for the
products OF the Antilles in exchange for the ac-
that occur. and ridiculinE good faith and Gre
dulity I'm said promises. the American nation. show
ing Itself indifferent the just petitions Of this
impoverished people will only secure universal
criticism in the final decree Of history.
THE tobacco industry. Of the chief resources
Of wealth of this island has for some time been
passing through sharp crisis caused bv the pro-
hlhittve tariff imposed upon its products upon
try into North American ports But the prohibtive
tariff rates which still obtain were defensble he
fore the intervention of the United States in Cuban
affairs. but cannot he defended now. since both
battIefelds i'm defence Of liberty. and since they
have come together in harmonious action founded
the Plat amendments the source OF future
treaties. and which insure for the future firm a
basis Of reciprocity between the great republic Of
the north and the small republic Of the Gulf Of
Mexico.
''If England. Germany and other European ma
tons, Notwithstanding they have not the ohliga-
tions toward the Cuban people contracted by the
Platt amendments by the government Of the United
States. have tariff rates much lower for prod
than the nation last named IS IL not logical 20
believe that when the government Of cuba is nstah
shed there viii be nauEUTated tariff wars by said
European nations, with which the Platt amend /
rnents forbid treat. and yet at the same time
the injustice OF the United States Will throw us
into bankruptcy?
men. who hear hunger calling at their doors this
commission hy the express direction Of ts repre-
sentatives indorses in all OF its parts the petition
which the commission Of the economic corpora |
tions Of Cuba has made 70 the government Of the /
United States OF which you ar" the President, and
trust that result Of the investigation will
this country from the ruin which chrea tens tt