President Cleveland's last Message, delivered on Decem- ber 7th, was
not so sensational as it was expected to be. He scarcely alludes to Venezuela, saying only that the provisions of the Treaty are so just that the assent of Venezuela may be confidently expected; and his references to Cuba, though haughty in tone, as of one with whom the ultimate decision must necessarily rest, are by no means hostile. The President, feeling that the insurrection injures trade and inflicts much trouble on the United States Government in the way of pre- venting filibustering, wishes Spain to grant autonomy to the island, and offers, if that is done, to be the mediator and to place the new arrangement under some kind of " guaranty." He is ready, too, to consider any offer for a sale of the colony to the United States, though he will not permit a sale or cession of the island to any foreign Power. He acknovr- ledges that the insurgents have not created a Government, and therefore cannot be recognised as belligerents ; but he warns Spain that the quarrel must be speedily brought to an end. If not, when the struggle has degenerated into a mere useless sacrifice of human life " our obligations to the sovereignty of Spain will be superseded by higher obligations which we can hardly hesitate to recognise and discharge." Spain, in fact, obtains a reprieve which she must utilise or she will be attacked.
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