The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-04-05
The Question as President
Roosevelt Sees 1t.
VIEWS ON RECIPROCITY
He Threshes Over Old Straw in Agui e That
any Radical Changes in the Tariff Would
Prove Runous 10 Business
Interests.
(By the Associated Press.)

(By the Associated Press)
indianapolis. Ind, April 1.-The Pres-
dent spoke to an immense gathering here
to-day on the subject of "The Tariff "
He said:
AT the special session of the Senate
held in March the Cuban reciprocity
treaty was ratified. When this treaty
goes into effect it will confer substantial
economic benefits alike upon Cuba. be-
cause of the widening of her market in
the United States. and upon the United
States, because of the equal widening
and the progressive control it will give
to our people in the Cuban market. This
treaty is beneficial TO both parties and
justifies itself aon several grounds In
the first place we offer to Cuba her nat
ural market. We can confer upon her a
benefit which no other nation can con-
fer; and for the very reason that we
have started her as an independent re-
public and that we are rich, prosperous
and powerful, it behooves us to stretch
out helping hand to our feebler. young
er sister. In the next place it widcns
the market for our products, both the
products of the farm and certain of our
manufactures; and 1t Is therefore in
the interests of our farmers, manufac-
turers, merchants and wage workers.
Finally, the treaty was not merely war
ranted. but demanded apart from all
other considerations, by the enlightened
consideration of our foreign policy
More and more in the future we must
occupy a 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 avoird any possible complications in
the future. Under the Platt amendment
Cuba agreed to give us certain naval
stations on her coast. The Navy De-
partment decided that we needed but
two, and we have specified where these
two are to be. President Palma has con-
cluded an agreement giving them to us
an agreement which the Cuban legisIa-
tive body will doubtless soon ratify. III
other words, the Republic of Cuba has
assumed a special relation to our in
ternational political system. under which
she gives us outposts of defense, and
we are morally bound to extend to her
in a degree the benefit of our owr,
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 toward great
ness at home and abroad
Equally important was the action on
the tariff upon products fthe Philip
pines. We gave them a reduction OF
twenty-five per cent, and would have
given them reduction of twenty-five per
cent more had it not been for the oppo-
sition, in the hurried closing days of
the last session, of certain gentlemen
who. by the way, have been representing
themselves both as peculiarly solicitous
for the interests OF the Philippine peoplc
and as special champions of the lowering
of tariff duties. There Is a distinctly
humorous side to the fact that the re-
duction OF duties, which would benefit
Cuba and the Philippines as well as our
serves was antagoniZed chiefly by those
who, in theory have been fond of mo-
claiming themselves the advanced guard
ians of the oppressed nationalities in the
Islands affected and the ardent adyocataz
or the reduction of duties generally bu,
who instantly took violent ground against
the practical steps to accomplish either
purpose.
Moreover, law was enacted putting
anthracite on the free list and completely
removing the duties on all other kinds
OF coal for one year
we are now in a condition of pros-
Terity unparalleled not merely in our
own history but in the history of any
other nation. This prosperity is deem
rooted and stands on a firm basis be-
cause it is due to the fact tha tthe aver
age American has in him the stuff out
OF which victors are made in the great
Industrial contests of the present day
Just as in the great military contests of
the past; and because he is now able to
use and develop his qualities TO best ad-
vantage under our ll-established eco
homle system We are winning headship
among the nations of the world because
our people are able to keep their high
average of individual citizenship and to
snow their mastery in the hard, somplex.
luShing life of the age. There will be
fluctuations from time to time in our
prosperity, but it will continue OF grow
Just so long as we keep up this high
average or individual citizenship and per
mt 1t TO work out its own salvation
under proper economic legislation.
The present phenomenal prosperity
has been won under a tariff which was
made in accordance with certain fixed
and definite principles. the most import
ant of which is an avowed determine
tion to protect the interests of the Amer
ican producer. business man. wage-work-
er. and farmer alike. The general tariff
policy. to which. without regard to
changes in detail. 1 believe this country
is irrevocably committed, is fundamen-