New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-05-21
[. S. NOT LAND HUNGRY.
PRESIDENT TELLS POLICY
Brutal Wrongdoing and Impotence
Night Require Intervention.

The second anniversary of the independence
of Cuba wasaelebrated last night by the Cubans
in this city al a dinner at the Waldorf Astoria.
Everything the tables had been imported
from cuba for the occasion. Even the ices mad
been prepared in Havana and brought to this
city in the refrigerator of steamer.
The feature of the dinner was the reading by
Elihu Root of the following striking letter from
President Roosevelt after the health of the
chief magistrate was drunk standing:
Mr. Dear Mr. Root: Through you want to
send my heartieSt greetings TO those gathered
TO celebrate the second anniversary of the Re-
public of Cuba l wish that it were possible to
be present with you in person / rejoice In what
CubG has done. and especially in the way in
which for the last two years her people have
shown their desire and ability TO accept in
serious spirit the responsibilities that accom-
pany freedom. such determine tfon Is vital, for
those unable unwilling to shoulder the re-
spouslnility of using their liberty Alright can
never IN the long ran preserve such liberty.
AS for he United States, il must ever be
source Of 10Y and qualification % good American
citizens that they were enabled TO play the part
they did as regards Cupa. We freed Cuba from
tyranny; we then stayed in the island until we
had established civil order and laid the founda-
tious for self-governmeut and prosperity; we
then made the island independent, ana nave
since benefited her inhabitants by making
closer the commercial relations between us
hail what has been done In Cuba nat merely for its
sake but showing the purpose anu desire OF
this nation toward aII the nations south of 1t is
not United states has land hunger.
entertIius projects as regards other nations
save such are their welfare.
All desire Is 10 see all neghborius countries
stable. orderly and prosperous Any country whose
people conduct themselves well can count our
hearty friendliness. " nation shows that II knows
how net with decency in industrial and political
matters. il it keeps order and Its obligations.
then il need fear Interference frcm the United
states. Brutal onsdong. impotence which
,f he Of civ
society. finally require Intervention hy civil
nation. and the Western Hemisphere the United
States ignore this duty; It remains true
that interests, and those Of our southern neigh
bor. in reality identical. All that ask Is
they govern themselves well. and be prosperous
and orderly Where this is the case they will find only
helpfulness from
Tonight you are gathered together 10 greet q
young nation which has shown hitherto just
these needed qualities; and l congratulate not
only Cuba, but also the United states, upon the
showing which Cuba has made.
Sincerely yours.
THEODORE ROOSEVELT.
Hon. Elthu Root.
The dinner was held in the Astor Gallery.
which was connected with the Palace in Havana
by direct wire. Congratulations TO President
Palma and his responses passed this wire.
The flags of the United States and Cuba
entwined all over the room and speeches We're
made both in English and Spanish. Elihu Root
was the postmaster. and with him at the
guests table were DIR. J. f. Alvarez. the per-
sonal representative OF President Palma; Mon
signor Mooney. Senator Orville IL. Platt Cen
eral Tasker II Bliss. O. a. Zayas. the cuban
Consul in New-York; I. NJ. de Varona, Sir Will
lam c. Van Horne General H. c. Corbin and
Nicholas Murray Butler president of Columbia
University.
When the cigars had been lighted Juan NJ. Ce-
ballos who planned the dinner. read the fol-
lowing message from President Palma, which
had come over the wire:
Il consider the best omen for the future pros
perity of Cuba to be the assembly of distin-
guished gentlemen gathered at the banquet
night at the Waldorf Astoria in honor of the
second anniversary of the Republic of Cuoa"
Secretary Root said in part:
During the years of military occupancy. when
our army was building up the personnel of civil
organization for the new republic. thousands of
Americans learned to love and admire the people
of C,,,bo nv intimate contact. / should feel false
to my duty if did not bear witness to the ohedi-
encc of Cuban people to the law and their compli-
ance with tire duties of contract
The United States has only three interests in
cub, one is of a commercial nature. the second is
a military interest fer cuba must be an outpost of
attack or outpost oi deiehee OF the United
States With Cuba friendly and guarding the path
way 20 the .sthmus, there can be 10 danger of
foreign app~ession. with Cuba unfriendly. the
United States is robbed of her isolation.
The recent discussion of the reciprocity with
Cuba concerned commercial advantage. but back of
that there was Il greater policy involved The rect-
procity treaty In the large view of the statesmen.
looked forward to the years and the centuries to
come when the sthmus will become the pathway
Of the world Then the question of the relations
between the United States and Cuba shall be the
controlling question in determining the peace and
prosneritv Of mankind. not alone 10 Cuba and the
United States. but to the world.
President Palmas message to the Cubans in
Continued fourth page.