The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1903-04-17
THE MINNEAPOLIS SPEECH.
Tariff and Reciprocity His Subject
Most Demonstrative Welcome.

b"SSs Nv
Minneapolis, Mimi, April T. The
biggest, most tremendous, most en-
thusiastic reception ever rendered any
maj in the Twin cities was that to
President Roosevelt Saturday. From
the time he arrived until his departure
from Minneapolis at II O'Clock Satur-
day night for the west he was the re-
cipient Of a continual ovation, the
streets through which he passed in both
cities being a solid Of people, and
armory hall at the University Of Min
nesota being crowded to it's capacity.
The party left the hotel at S:45 for a
short parade and drive to the armory
where the address of the evening was de-
livered. An enormous crowd surrounded
the armory, which was crowded to Its ut
most limit.
The speech, which was OF the tariff
and reciprocity, brought u much en-
thusiasm. Thousands OF persons lined
the route of the private electric cars
that brought the distinguished guest
n party from st. Paul.
The weather was ideal. Business houses
and residences all along the line Of march
were profusely decorated, and In the even
ing colored lights were burned at all W
town street corners
The trip from st. Paul in the afternoon
was made In slightly more than forty
minutes, there being no stop until the
Nicollet hotel was reached. A large crowd
had gathered, and there was cheer after
cheer for the president as he passed into
the hotel through the ladies' entrance and
was shown to his apartments.
The banquet was served in the great
dining hall. and the party was seated at
7:3O. Time was limited, and as the menu
was simple the feast was comps ted in
slightly more than an hour. There were
225 plates. Gov. Van SAINT and other state
officials, congressman and many promi-
nent citizens comprised the guests.
Tariff and Reciprocity.
President Roosevelt was introduced by
President Northrup, Of the University Of
Minnesota, and spoke as follows:
At the special session Of the senate in March
the Cuban reciprocity treaty was ratified. This
treaty will confer benefits upon Cuba. widen
ing of her market, and upon the United States,
widening the control 1t will give in Cuban
markets. The treaty is beneficial to both par
ties. We offer Cuba her natural market. We
can confer a benefit no OF er nation can; it
behooves us to stretch GU, helping hand.
1t widens the market for oar products, both
of farm and manufactures. Finally, the ire
atty was not merely warranted, but demanded
by an enlightened foreign policy. More and
more we must preponderate in the region south
of us; not control the republics, but control
the situation SO as to avoid complications in
future. Under the Platt amendment Cuba
4 gave us naval stations. The navy department
decided we needed but two. and we have spe-
Gifted where these are to be. President Palma
has concluded an agreement giving them to us,
which the Cuban legislature will doubtless
ratify. Cuba has assumed q relation to our
system which gives US %outposts Of defense. and
we are bound to extend her the benefit of our
economic system. From every standpoint the
ratification of the Cuban treaty marked prog
ress toward greatness at home and abroad.
Equally important was the action on the
Philippine tariff. We gave a reduction of 20
per cent, and would have given them a re-
duction of rs per cent. more had 1t not been
for the opposition, in the closing days of the
session, of certain gentlemen who. by the way,
have been representing themselves both as
peculiarly solicitous for the interests of the
Philippine people, and as special champions
of lower duties. There is a distinctly humorous
side to the fact that the reduction of duties
which would benefit Cuba, the Philippines and
ourselves, was antagonized chiefly by those
who in theory have been proclaiming them
selves the guardians Of the islands and the
ardent advocates OF reduction Of duties.
A law was enacted putting anthracite on the
free list and removing duties on all other coal
for one year.
our own history or the history Of any other
nation. We are winning headship among the
nations because our people are able to keep
their high average Of citizenship and to show
their mastery in the hard, complex life Of the
age. There Will be fluctuations in prosperity,
but It Will continue SO long as we keep UP
this high individual citizenship.
The present prosperity has been won under
q tariff to protect the American producer, bus
mess man. and farmer. The
general tariff policy. to which, without regard
to changes in detail, I believe this country is
committed, is based upon recognition OF the
difference between cost Of production-that is,
the cost of labor-here and abroad, and OF the
need that our laws shall afford no advantage
in our own market to foreign Industries over
American industries. to foreign capital over
American capital, to foreign labor over our
own labor. This country has and needs better
paid. educated, fed and clothed workingmen
than any foreign country. It has and needs a
higher type Of tlllers of the soil. The last few
! years have SHOWN how skiiiruliy the leaders
of American industry use the mighty indus.
trial weapons forged for them by the resources
Of our country, the laws. the skill, the In.
ventive genius. and the administrative cana.
city Of our people.
We need to treat the tariff as a business
proposition, not with reference to the tenn
porary needs of any political party. It is al.
most as necessary that our policy be stable as
that It be wise. Sweeping and violent changes
in q tariff touching agriculture, labor, manu-
features and commerce would be fatal to our
present well-being II the principle Of protection
was to be abandoned. The American world
cannot afford to consider abandoning the sys.
Il tenn.
Yet where Industrial conditions frequently
: change, it is important that we be able from