The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-08-05
CUBA's CLAIM UPON Us.

CUBA'S CLAIM UPON Us.
Senator Platt, of Connecticut, who is
chairman of the committee on relations
with Cuba, author Of the Plat amendment,
which Congress required the Cuban con-
stitutional convention to adopt, and which
contains guarantees which forever place
the new republic in a position of intimate
relation to the United States, has an
article in the North American Review en-
titled "Cuba's Claim Upon the United
States.' which IS a timely contribution.
Senator Plat has given special attention TO
our relations with Cuba, and is, therefore,
in position to speak with authority be-
cause he is familiar with every phase Of
the subject. He takes the ground that the
United States became responsible for Cuba
when we went to war to deliver its people
out of the power Of Spain. When we set up
military authority in the island the act
was based upon an acknowledgment of
assumed responsibility. Senator Plat says
that when Congress required the consti-
tutional convention of Cuba to incorporate
into the constitution guarantees which
would practically compel the new republic
/ TO put itself I'm closer relations with us
| than with any other nation the representa-
tives of the convention visiting Washing
ton were given to understand in the plain
est terms that for such guarantees mutual
trade relations would be given which
would be of the greatest value to Cuba.
| When the convention asked for pledge it
| mn toll hot
| officially declared, and that the good faith
of the United States must be accepted.
1t was accepted. and until the opening
| of Congress there was no other sentiment
in the country. Consequently, in the con-
| ditions under which the provision was put
into Cuba's constitution, an obligation was
| involved
"All at once" says Senator Plat, land
without reason, the cry was raised that
any reduction of duty on sugar coming
from Cuba would injure. strike down and
destroy the beet and cane-sugar industry
in the United States" AS time went on
"all facts were ignored, fears magnifed
prejudice invoked, until reason and cool
judgment seemed to have entirely depart
ed from a small minority of senators and
| representatives. mostly representing the
States having beet-sugar industries. Two
assertions, neither of which could be sus-
tanned by proof. formed the controlling
basis of the opponents of reciprocity. These
two assertions. while stated many times
and as often refuted. Senator Plat puts
clearly and briefly. as follows:
First, the assertion that to reduce the
| tariff on Cuban sugar bv q or even 20
per cent, would take away the protection
| enjoyed by beet and cane sugar pro-
/ ducers I'm the United States-an assertion
which is absolutely groundless, as is shown
by the fact that we take into our country.
| free of duty, 10000 tons of sugar from
/ Hawaii and Porto Rico, while maintaining
the duty against all other countries. with
out in any way interfering with the pro-
/ lection of our own sugar producers. Sec
/ Ond. the assertion that the So-called sugar
from any reduction OF the duty on Cuban
Sugar-an assertion which is equally
groundless. as is shown by the fact that
/ Hawaiian sugar and Porto Rican sugar
though duty free. have brought the same
price in American markets as sugars from
Cuba or Germany.
The most effective of these two as
sumptions was that the so-called sugar
trust would be benefited, which leads the
senator to remark that while there is a
popular belief that combinations and trusts
control legislation in Congress, it is never
theless true that the most effective means
of preventing legislation is to assert that
a combination or trust desires it,
Senator Plat ventures the prediction
that when Congress assemblies we shall
do our plain duty to Cuba The friends
of Cuba have appealed from the mistaken
sentiment of a few legislators to the
American people" The action Of Repub-
lican conventions shows that 1.-THE heart
of the people is right" He notes that
whenever our "true-hearted and courageous
President speaks for justice to Cuba and
the performance of a national obligation
the people respond as to no other senti-
ment which he utters."