The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-12-08
The. Presidents Message
Continued from 1st page.)

5os;ros nothing so much as to live IN
onitv with all the world. It's own ample
and diversified domains satisfy all posi-
bile longings for territory, preclude iii
dreams of conquest and prevent any
casting Of covetous eyes upon nelgnporihs
regions. however attractive. mat our
conduct towards Spain and her donln-
dons has constituted no exception TO TINS
national disposition is made manifest by
the course of our government, not only
Tins far during the present instruction,
Int during the ten years that followed
the rising at Yara in 1868. No other
great mower. it may safely be said, under
circumstances OF similar perplexlty would
have manifested the same restraint and
the same patient endurance. 1t may also
he said that this persistent attitude or
the United States towards Spain In con-
nection with Cuba, unquestionably eYlnces
no slight respect and regard for Spain on
the part of the American people They
in truth do not forget her connection
with the discovery of the western hemls-
phere. nor do they underestimate the
great qualities of the Spanish people,
nor fail to fully recognize their splendid
wonder and admiration the cheerful res
patriotism and their chivalrous devotion
toi the national honor. They view with
olution with which vast bodies of men
are sent across thousands of miles of
ocean. and an enormous debt accumu-
lated. that the costly possession or the
the gem OF the Antilles may still hold its
place in the Spanish crown. And yet
neither the government nor the people
of the United States have shut their eyes
to the course of events in Cuba, or have
failed to realize the existence of conceded
grievances, which have led to the pre-
sent revolt from the authority Of Spain
grievances recognized by the Queen
Regent and by the Cortes, voiced by the
most patriotic and enlightened of Span
ish statesmen, without regard to party
and demonstrated by reforms proposed
by the executive and approved by the leg
isIative branch of the Spanish govern
ment. 1t is In the assumed temper and
disposition OF the Spanish government
to remedy these grievances, fortified by
indications OF influential public opinion
In Spain, that this government has hoped
to discover the most promising and eff
fective means of composing the present
strife with honor and advantage to Spain
and with the achievement of all the rea-
would seem that il Spain should offer to
Cuba genuine antonomy-a measure Of
home rule which, while preserving the
sovereignty Of Spain would satisfy all
rational requirements of her Spanish
'subjects-there should be no just reason
why the pacifcatien of the island might
not be effected on that basis. Such re-
suit would appear to be in the true inter
y 4
stop the conflict which is now consum-
ing the resources OF the island and maxi
fng it worthless for which every party
may ultimately prevail. 1t would keep
intact the possessions of Spain without
touching her honor, which viii be con-
suited rather than impugned by the ade-
quate redress of admitted grievances. 1t
would put the property Of the island and
the fortunes of its inhabitants within
their own control, without severing the
natural and ancient ties which bind them
to the mother country, and would yet en-
able them to test their capacity for self
government under the most favorable
conditions. 1t has been objected on the
one side that Spain should not promise
@autonomy until her insnrgent subjects
lay down their arms; on the other side.
that promised autonomy, however, liber-
al, is insufficient, because without assur-
ance of the promise being fulfilled But
the reasonableness OF q requirement by
Spain, or unconditional surrender on the
part Of the insurgent Cubans before their
autonomy is conceded, is not altogether
apparent. 1t ignores important features
Of the situation-the stability two years
duration has given to the insurrection;
the feasibility of its indefinite prolonga-
tion in the nature Of things, and as
shown by past experience; the utter and
imminent ruin of the island, unless the
present &c is speedily composed; above
all, the rdlM abuses which all parties in
Spain, all branches her government,
and all her leading public men concede
to exist and profess desire to remove.
Facing such circumstances, to with
hold the proffer of needed reforms until
the parties demanding them put them
selves at mercy by throwing down their
arms, has the appearance of neglecting
the grayest of perils and inviting sus-
picion as to the sincerity OF any pro-
Iessed willingness to grant reforms. The
objection on behalf OF the insurgents
that promised reforms can not be relied
upon-must of course be considered,
though we have no right to assume, and
no reason for assuming, that anything
Spain undertakes to do for the relief
of Cuba will not be done according to
both the spirit and the letter Of the I'M
dertaking,
Nevertheless, realizing that suspicious
and precautions on the part of the weaker
Of two combatants are always natural
and not always notwithstanding sim
cerely DESTROYS in the interest of both
as well as on its own account that the
Cuban problem should be solved with
the least possible delayit was intima
ted by this government to the govern
ment Of Spain some months ago that, if
a satisfactory measure of home rule
were rendered the Cuban insurgents, and
r-n1,la be acnnntnd hw thnln llnnn o gnar-