The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1904-04-15
Lovely Outcome.

From the Saginaw Courier Herald.
The esteemed Cadillac News and Elk
press has also discovered that Cuban
reciprocity isn't working out at all as
its advocates fattered themselves it
would, except perhaps as to the sugar
trust, which isn't filing any protests
that we have heard. The Cadillac con-
temporary is moved to remark:
If there are those in this coun-
try who have hoped or expected that
gratitude would influence the Cubans
in their relations with this country they
should begin to undeceive themselves as
soon as possible The Spanish nature,
possessed in full by the Cubans and most
of the people of Central America and
South America, is craftily selfish and
dishonest. Loyalty and gratitude are
words that have little meaning to them.
The average Cuban possesses every un-
desirable characteristic noted in the
verage Spaniard and further lacks the
latter pride and self-respect. 1t was
for the benefit of such people the policy
of our country was recently departed
from in order to fully dispose of "our
debt to Cuba" debt which had no
more real existence than has the basis
for hope and expectation that Cuba will
regard the United States and its people
| with favor and gratitude because of
what has been done for that island and
its inhabitants.
We are disposed to cordially agree
with our contemporary, and we are re-
inforced in this determination by the
logic of events as illustrated in the work
ings of the Cuban reciprocity business,
the advocates of which asserted that
aside from the obligation imposed to do
our plain duty" to Cuba, it would
greatly increase our commerce with the
island. 1t is interesting to note the re-
suit
We had a monopoly of the trade in
meats with Cuba before the reciprocity
convention was ratified, and we export
ed to the island meats lard, eggs, oats
and fodder to the amount of So, 800, 600,
composing one-fifth of our total exports
to Cuba. Under the reciprocity treaty
we are entitled to 20 per cent reduction
in duties on the commodities enumerat-
ed Cuba took the duty off, but under
the authorization of the Cuban congress
President Palma has increased the Gu
ban tariff on all products 30 per cent.
In other words Cuba took of, 20 per
cent and put back 30 per cent. Our ex-
porters are paying 10 per cent more duty
on the farm products mentioned which
go to Cuba than they did before the
Cuban treaty was, ratified.
Here is one instance of good faith the
Cubans are keeping with the country
that saved and nursed them until they
were able to walk. 1t is an exemplif-
cation of gratitude that has few paral-
lels in the dealings of nations
Before the Cuban treaty was ratified
the United States had a monopoly of the
Cuban trade in corn and wheat flour.
The treaty gives us 30 per cent reduc
ton in duties on these commodities,
but the Cuban president put back 30 per
cent, so that there is no benefit what
ever derived from the treaty in this par
ticular. The treaty gave 40 per cent
reduction on cattle exported to Cuba,
but 30 per cent has been put back.
This is the practical workings of the
reciprocity treaty with Cuba. The only |
interest benefited is the Sugar and To- |
bacco trusts, and we somehow have |
never been able to get away from the |
conclusion that the interests referred to |
had more influence in converting the |
congress to reciprocity than all other |
agencies combined
Bodily pain loses its terror If you've a |