The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1896-12-08
MR.. CLEVELANDS LAST MESSAGE

this government has hoped 10 discover
the most promising and effective means
Of composing the present strife with
honor and advantage TO Spain and with
the achievement Of all the responsible
objects Of the fnsurrection. II would
seem that II Spain should offer to Cuba
genuine autonOmy-a measure OF home
rule which. while preserving the SOW
ereignty Of Spain, would satisfy all
rational requirements Of her Spanish
subjects-there should be no just reason
why the pacifcation Of the island
might not be effected on that basis. Such
result would appear TO be in the true in
terest OF all concerned. II would stop
at once the conflict which is now con-
suming the resources Of the island and
making It worthless for whichever par
ty may ultimately prevail. It would
keep intact the possession OF Spain
without touching her honor, which viii
be consulted rather than impugned by
the adequate redress Of admitted griev-
ances. II would put property Of the
island and the fortunes Of Its inhab-
itants within their own control with
out severing the natural and ancient
ties which bind them to the mother
country. ard would yet enable them to
test their capacity for self-government
under the most favorable conditions. 1t
has been objected on the one side that
Spain would not promise autonomy un-
til her insurgent subjects lay down
their arms; on the other side. that prom
ised autonomy however liberal. Is un-
sufficient, because without assurance
Of the promise being fulfilled. But the
reasonableness OF the requirement by
Spain OF unconditional surrender on
the part Of the insurgent Cubans before
their autonomy is conceded. is not al
together apparent 1t ignores import
ant features OF the situation: The sta
bility two years duration has given to
the insurrection: the feasibility OF its
indefinite prolongation in the nature Of
things as shown by past experience;
the utter and imminent ruin Of the is
land unless the present strife is speed
lily composed. and above all, the rank
abuses which all parties in Spain. all
branches OF her government and all her
leading public men concede to exist and
profess a desire TO remove. facing such
circumstances to withould the proffer
of needed reforms until the parties de-
manding them put themselves at mercy
by throwing down their arms has the
appearance Of neglecting the gravest
of all perils and inviting suspicion as
to the sincerity Of any professed will
lingness to grant reforms. The ohjec-
tion on the part Of the insurgents
that promised reforms cannot be relied
upon-must, Of course, be considered
thodgh we have no right to assume and
no reason for assuming that anything
Spain undertakes to do for the relief
of Cuba viii not be done according to
both the spirit and letter Of the under
taking. Nevertheless, realizing that
suspicion on the part Of the weaker
Of the two combatants is always nat.
ural and not always unjustifable, being
sincerely deslrous in the interest of
both as well as on its own account
that the Cuban problem should be solv-
ed with the least possible delay, 1t was
intimated by this government to the
government Of Spain some months ago
that IL satisfactory measure Of home
rule were rendered the Cuban insur-
gents, and would be accepted by them
upon a guarantee of its execution. the
United States would endeavor to find a
way not Objectionable to Spain of furn-
ishing such guaranty. While no definite
response to this intimation has yet
been received from the Spanish govern
ment II is believed TO be not altogether
unwelcomed. while. as already suggest
ed, no reason is perceived why it should
not be approved by the insurgents.
Neither party can fail to see the import
anoe of early action and both must
realize that to prolong the present state
of things for even a short period, will
add enoromusly to the time and labor
and expenditure necessary to bring
about the Industrial recuperation Of the
island. 1t is therefore fervently hoped
on all grounds that earnest efforts for
healing the breach between Spain and
the insurgent Cubans upon the lines
above indicated may be at once inaugu-
rated and pushed to an immediate and
successful issue. The friendly offices
of the United States either in the man
ner above outlined or in any other way
consistent with our constitution and
laws will always be at the disposal Of
either party. Whatever circumstances
may arise our policy and our interest
would constrain us to object to the ac-
QUESTION of the island or an interfer-
ence with its control by any other pow
er. 1t should be added that it can
not be reasonably assumed that the
hitherto expectant attitude Of the Unit
ed States win be indefinitely maintain
ed. While we are anxious to accord all
due respect to the sovereignty of Spain,
we cannot view the pending conflict in
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