Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1903-04-09
THE PRESIDENTS SPEECH.
My fellow-citizens:

My fellow-citizens
At the special session of the Senate held
in March the Cuban reciprocity treaty was
ratified. When this treaty goes into eff
feet, it will confer substantial economic
benefits alike upon cuba. because of the
widening of her market in the United
States, and upon the United States, be-
cause of the equal widening and the pro-
grossive control it will give to our people
in tho Cuban market. This treaty is bene-
fetal tn both parties and iuStities itself on
several grounds. In the first place we offer
to Cuba her natural market. We can con-
fer upon her a benefit which no other ma
ton can confer: and for the very reason
that we have started her as an indepen-
dent republic and that we are rich pros
porous and powerful. il behooves us to
stretch out a helping hand to our feebler
younger sister. In the next place it wdens
the market for our products. both the
products Of the farm and certain of our
manufactures; and it is therefore in the
interests of our farmers, manufacturers
merchants, and wage-workcrs. Finally,
the treaty was not merely warranted but
demanded. apart from all other considera-
tons. by the enlightened consideration of
our foreign policy. More and more in the
future we must occupy preponderant
position in the waters and along the coasts
in the region south of us. not "A position
of control over the republics of the South,
but OF control of the military situation so
as to avoid any possible complications in
the future. Under the Plat amendment
Cuba agreed to give us certain naval sta
tiunS ON her coast. The navy department
decided that we needed but two, and we
have specified where these two are 10 be.
President Palma has concluded. an agree
mcnt giving them to us-an agreement
which the Cuban Legislative body will
doubtless soon ratify. In other words the
Republic of cuba has assumed a special
relation to our international political sys-
tenn. under which she gives us outposts
of defence. and we are morally bound to
extend to her in "A degree the benefit of
our own economic system. From every
standpoint of wise and enlightened home
and foreign policy the ratification of the
Cuban treaty marked a step of substantial
progress in the growth of our nation to-
ward greatness at home and abroad.
THE PHILIPPINE TARIFF.
Equally important was the action on the
tariff upon products of the Philippines,
We gave them II reduction of twenty-five
per cent. and would have given them "A
reduction of twenty-five per cent. more
had it not been for the opposition, in the
hurried closing days of the last session, Ct
certain gentlemen who, by the way, have
been representing themselves both as pc
culiarly soliCitous for the interests of the
Philippine people and as special cham
pions of tho lowering of tariff duties.
There is n distinctly humorous side to the
fact that the reduction of duties which
would benefit Cuba and the Philippines
ne we'll as ourselves was antagonized
chiefly by those who in theory have been
fond of proclaiminG themselves the ad-
vanced guardians of the oppressed ma
tionalities in the Islands affected and the
ardent advocates of the reduction of du-
ties generally. but who instantly took
violent ground against the practical steps
to accomplish either purpose,
Moreover, a law was enacted putting
anthracite Oh the free list and complete
| ly removing the duties on all other kinds
of coal for one year.
We are now In Il condition of prosperity
unparalleled not merely in our own his
tory hut in the history of any other ma
| ton. This prosperity Is deep rooted and
| stands on "A firm basis because it is due
| to the fact that the average American has
| in him the stun out of which Victors are
| made in the great Industrial contests of
the present day, just as in the great mill
tary contests of the past; and because
| he is now able to use and develop his
| qualities to best advantage under our WELL
| established economic system. We are
winning headship among the nations of the
| world because our people are able to keen
| their high average OF Individual citizen
| ship and TO show their mastery In the
| hard, complex, pushing life OF the age
| There will he fluctuations from time Ia
| time in our prosperity, but 1t Will con-
| tmue to grow Just SO long as we keep ny
this high average of individual citizenship
and permit II TO work out ITS own saliva