The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1903-11-11
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
The President Transmits Special
Message to Congress Relative
to Cuban Reciprocity T,,aaty.
Saws the United States Should Keep
Faith With Cuba.

sion was devoted exclusively to the
reading Of the presidents message in
support of reciprocity with Cuba and
to the routine incident to the receipt OF
the message, and again, as on yester-
day, continued for only about Is
minutes.
The message received the careful
attention of the senators and when its
reading had been concluded Mr.. Cul-
lom (Ills) was recognized to move the
reference to the committee On foreign
relations of the messge and the Cuban
treaty, the text Of which has been
transmitted with the message, and the
senate adjourned until tomorrow.
The message was as follows;
To the Senate. and House Of Repre-
sentatives:
I have convened the congress that
it may consider the, legislation neces-
sary to put into operation the CONNER
cial treaty with Cuba, which was
ratified by the senate at it's last ses-
sion, and subsequently by the Cuban
government. deem such legislation
demanded not only by our interest but
by our honor. We cannot with pro-
priety abandon the course upon which
we have so wisely embarked. When
the acceptance of the n'att amendment
was required from Cuba by the action
of the congress of the United States,
this government thereby definitely
committed itself to the policy of treat
ing Cuba as occupying an unique
position as regards this country. 1t
was provided that when the island be-
came free and independent republic
she should stand in such close relations
with US as in certain respects to come
within our system Of international
policy and it necessarily followed that
she must also to certain degree be-
come included within the lines of our
economic policy. Situated as Cuba is.
it would not be possible for this
country to permit the strategic abuse
of the island by any foreign military
power. It is for this reason that GER
tain limitations have been imposed
upon her financial policy and chat naval
stations have been conceded by her to
the United States. The negotiations
as to the detail of these naval stations
are on the eve of completion. They
are so situated as to prevent any idea
that there is the intention ever to use
them against Cuba, or otherwise than
for the protection of Cuba from the
assaults of foreign foes, and for the
better safeguarding of American inter
ests In the waters south Of Us.
These interests have been largely
increased by the consequences of the
war with Spain, and will be still
further increased by the building OF
the isthmian canal. They are both
military and economic. The granting
to Us by Cuba of the naval stations
above alluded to is of the utmost i'm
portance from a military standpoint,
and is proof of the good faith with
which Cuba is treating US. Cuba has
made great progress since her In
was esta blished. She has
advanced steadily in every way. She
already stands high among her sister
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-
proyal secures to the United States
economic advantages as great as those
given to Cuba. Not an American In
terest is sacrificed. By the treaty,
large Cuban market is secured to our
producers. It is market which lies
at our doors, which is already large,
which is capable of great expansion,
and which is especially important to
the development of our export trade.
It would be indeed short. sighted for
US to refuse to take advantage OF such
an opportunity: and to force Cuba into
making arrangements with other coun-
tries to our disadvantage.
This reciprocity treaty stands by
itself. It is demanded on considera-
tion of broad national policy as
we'll as by our economic interest.
It viii: do harm to no industry. 1t
will benefit many industries. 1t
is in the interest of our people as
whole, both because of its Importance
from the broad standpoint of inter
national policy, and because economi-
cally it intimately concerns US to
develop and secure the rich Cuban
market for our farmers, artisans, mer-
chants and manufacturers. Finally, it
is desirable as guaranty of the good
faith of our nation towards her young
sister republic to the south, whose
welfare 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 administrators who served her
in peace and who started her so we'll
on the difficult path of self-govern--
ment. We must help her onward and
upward; and in helping her we shall
help ourselves.
The foregoing considerations caused
the negotiation of the treaty with Cuba