The Aberdeen Democrat. (Aberdeen, South Dakota) 1???-1909, 1903-11-20

President Roosevelt on thssNeed of
Legislation for the Cuban V
Republic.

-. - \:
~ - !;
Says Propossd Reciprocal Arranse-;
ments VIA Be to our *Assnptase,
A1so-TheYH whole People. of the
United states. WIN. he
Sees Danger In Failure. ~. Il
Washington, Nov. 1.-THE following
is Presidents,ReoseSelt'g message to the
extraordinary session of congress:
To the Senate and House of Represent
atives: have convened the congress
that it may consider the legislation nee
essary to put into operation the com
mercial treaty with Cuba, which was
ratified blythe senate at its last session,
and subsequently by the Cuban govern
ment. l deem such legislation.demand-
ed, not only by our interest, '~butzby.our.
honor. We cannot with propriety aban-
don the course upon which we have SO
wisely embarked: When the accept.
ance of the Platt amendment was re-
CURED from Cuba by the action of con-
gress of the United States, this govern
ment thereby definitely committed
itself to the policy of treating Cuba as
occupying a unique position as regards
this country. TWAS provided that when
the island became a free and i%ndepend-
ent republic she should standtini such
close relations with us Jas in certain re-
spects sto,. come within our Ssystemg of
international policy; and it necessarily
followed that she must also to a'certain
degree become included within the lines
of our economic policy. Situated as
Cuba is ittwould not be possible forHthis
country to permit the strategic abuse Of
the plan by any foreign military power,
1t issfor this reason that certain linn
itations have been imposed upon her
financial policy and that naval. stations
h%avesbeen conceded'b by her2to theunited
States. The negotiations,as to the de-
tails of these naval stations are onathe
eveE of completion. They are SO sit
uated as to prevent any idea thatthere
is the intention yer to use them against
Cuba, or otherwise than forthe protec-,
ton of Cuba from the assaults of for
eign foes, and for: the bettsrtsafeguard-
ing of American interests in'the&waters
south ofSus. & = 4
Good Faith Of Cuba shown.
These interests have been largely in
creased by the consequences Of the wal
with Spain, and will be still further in
creased by the building of the Isthmian
canal. They are both military and
economic. The granting to u s,by Cuba
of the naval stations above alluded to
rs Of the ufmostimportance from a mil
itary standpoint and is proofso OF the
good faith with which Cuba is treating
us. Cuba has made great progress since
her independence was established. She
has advanced steadily in every way.
She already stands high among her sis
ter republics of the new world. She is
Loyalty observing her obligations to us;
and she is entitled to like treatment
by us.
The treaty submitted to you for ap-
prevail secures to the United States
economic advantages as great as these
given to Cuba. Not an American in
terestis sacrificed. BY the treaty a large
Cuban market is secured to our pro-
ducers. 1t is a market which lies at
our doors, which is already large,.swhich
is capable of great expansion and which
is especially important to the develop
ment of u export trade. It2would be
indeed sh~ort-sighted for us to refuse to
take advantage of such, opportunity and
to force Cuba into making arrangements
with other countries to our disadyan-
tage. 5&s
Treaty Stands Alone.
This reciprocity treaty stands by
itself. 1t is demanded on consideration
of broad national policy as well as by
our economic interest. It will do harm.
to no industry. 1t will benefit many
Industries. 1t is in the interest of our
people as a whole, both because of it's
Importance from the broad standpoint
Of International policy and because
economically it intimately concerns us
to develop and secure the rich Cuban
market for our farmers, artisans, mer-
chants and manufactures. Finally, it
is desirable as q guaranty of the good
faith of our nation towards her young
sister republic to the south. whose well
fare must ever be closely bound with.
ours. We gave her liberty. We are
knit to her by the memories of the blood
and the courage of our soldiers who
fought for her in war; by the memories
of the wisdom and integrity of our adj
ministrators VINO saved her in peace
and who started her SO well on the diff
fcult path of self-government. We
must help her onward andupward; and
In helping her we shall help ourselves.
The foregoing considerations caused
the negotiation Of the treaty with Cuba
and its ratification by the senate. They
now with equal force support the Iegis-
lation by the congress which by the
terms of the treaty is necessary to req
dersit operative. A failure to enact such
legislation would come perilously near
a reputation Of the pledged faith OF the
nation.
transmit herewith the treaty, as
amended by the senate and ratified BY
the Cuban government.
White House, Nov. 10, 1908.
THEODORE ROOSEVELT.
Breaks Pacing Record
Birmingham, Ala, Nov. l1.2Dan
FaTcn pacsas 9 :..lIe On y half-mils track
Ee.12@sHlE3gg