New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-10-04
IVY REcLPRncLTY FAELED.

As our commerce with Cuba dwindles end
the folly OF our failure to accept the trade con-
cessious offered US by the Cuban Republic be-
comes more glaring. there seems 70 be q dis
position IN some quarters to throw the blame
FOR our neglected opportunities on the shoulders
Of a Republican administration and a Republic
can Congress In Democratic newspaper so
conspicuous and representative as The At
lanta Constitution" we read this vehement az
raignment Of our commercial policy toward
Cuba:
Il sounds uncommon strange to hear our
seves-less than a year and half quit Of our
absolute hold on Cuba-urged to recover our
supremacy in her markets from our rivals
across seas What sort Of statesn1auship has
81 been that few In the face OF our own inter
ests, repudiated the moral pledges OF McKin-
ley defeated liberal opening Of our ports 10
Cuban imports. and so lost the friendship and
trade Of the Cuban merchants and people?
Republican craftsmanship is. inferentially. the
craftsmanship 50 pontedly criticised; for. as
the casual reader viii conclude, closer CONNER
cial relations with Cuba have been contemptu-
cusly declined under a Republican admin!stra-
ton and with she House of Representa- tives
and Senate both Republican. But The Con-
stftuuoD' goes even further in charging our
repulse Of Cuba's offers 10 the perversity Of the
party now in power at Washington when It
argues:
10 more Grass blundering IN coIl.--ercial d.
picnacy could have been possible and il is up
70 Congress 70 take hold upon this extra ordinsry
situation and Go about il what the public seati-
merit Of the country has always demanded. We
owe Il 70 ourselves. 70 say nothing OF our obli-
Ssuons 70 cuba. TO 50 adjust our tariff laws
with respect 70 the island that can Fay il
Tor us sugar and tobacco, mostly marketed in
this country, in own products, rather than
y cash 10 De turned over 10 European n9er-
chants
We have not hesitated to denounce the blind
ness and narrowness of the factional.Sm at
whose door must be laid the failure Of Cuban
reciprocity leg s.atiOn in the LVIItb Congress
The grOundless tears and obstinate objections
Of certain Republican leaders il the two houses
did contribute materially 10 hold our Dorts
closed against Cuban products. But an equal
share OF resi- onsibility for the defeat Of the
Administrations reciprocity project must fail
Oh Democratic shoulders. II was the Demo
cratic minority in both House and Senate which
by votes and counsel made effective the protest
of the Republican insurgents" The fun Dem.
ocrat.c strength in both branches was exerted
10 pullify the moral pledges OF Mckinley" and
10 defeat a reciprocal trade agreement Of any
sort with Cuba So far es The CONSTITUTIONS"
own State Georgia was concerned. It's solid
vote was given 70 reinforce and sustain the Re-
publican minority. whose aim was TO discredit
any and every scheme OF reciprocity The Dem
ocratic party in Congress must accept liberal
share Of respons bility for the denial 10 our
products and manufactures OF freer entry 70 the
Cuban market
Il is 10 re hoped that the Georgia delegation
in the LVlIIth Congress viii take % heart The
CONSTITUTIONS" lecture. There remains no pos
sibe pretext for Democratic obstruction of the
execution Of the BIss-Zaldo treaty but petty
partisan expediency: and with the collapse OF
the Republican opposition TO the adniIistla-