Speech #570045175

After three .months of investigation. agitation. and political strife we have presented for consideration a measure entitled "A bill to provide" for reciprocal trade relations with Cuba." That title might imply thht the purpose of the bill was to establish reciprocity. I find. however. that it does not embrace the first principle of reciprocity. This bill proposes a horizontal reduction of 20 per cent of our tariff on Cuban products in consideration of the adoption of the immigration. exclusion. and contractlabor laws of the United States. This is not the promulgation of the principles of reciprocity. but rather the imposition upon a republic not yet formed of laws enacted for the protection of American labor and the preservation of the character of American citizenship. We entered into the contest with Spain upon the broad principle of humanity. and expressly declared in the declaration of war that the intervention of the United States was for the express purpose of giving to the people of Cuba their liberty and independence.