Gulf Coast breeze. [volume] (Crawfordville, Fla.) 1897-19??, 1898-04-01
GREAT EXCITEMENT PREVAILS AT
THE NATIONAL CAPITAL.
MAINE REPORT DOCUMENTS ARRIVE
Senate IL Moved to Tears BY an Impas-
stoned Speech on Cuba by Mr..
Thurston.


speeches in history ON Cuba, advocat-
ing war at once. He criticised the
president for non.aotion, and laid
stress upon the plank in the st. Louis
platform.
The address was given the closest
attention and created and impression
as no speech yet delivered on the sub.
ject, and during its delivery q pin
could have been heard to drop. In
beginning, Mr.. Thurston said:
81 am here by command OF silent
lips to speak once and for all upon the
Cuban agitation. I trust that no one
has expected anything sensational
from me. God forbid that the bitter.
ness of personal loss should induce
me to color in the slightest degree the
statement that I feel il my duty to
make. / shall endeavor to be honest,
conservative and just. have no pur.
pose to stir the public passion in any
action not necessary and imperative
to meet the duties and necessities CT
American responsibilities, Christian
humanity and national honor. I
would shirk this task If 1 could, but
daie not cannot satisfy my con-
science except by speaking and speak
ing now"
The announcement that Senator
Thurston would make q speech on the
conditions in Cuba had the result Of
drawing to the capitol the biggest
crowd which has been there since
President McKinley's Inauguration.
The galleries were filed to overfowing
and hundreds Of people stood in the
halls outside hoping for chance Of
admission or that they might catch q
word OF what was said. Members Of
the house and others entitled TO the
privilege crowded in upon the floor Of
the senate until every foot Of available
space was occupied.
The melancholy circumstances at
tending Senator Thurstons trip to
Cuba, when his wife died on the island,
undoubtedly added to the interest in
what he might have to say; and 1t Is
not exaggeration to state that not in
the history of the American senate has
speech been more closely followed
or more attentively listened to.
Thurston's speech Is most signifi.
cant, and makes war almost certain.
His statement that the republican
party was not mortgaged to the ma.
tional campaign fund finds no resent.
ment among republicans, but only a
feeling sympathy, and fixed de-
termination to rid the party Of this
charge.
The conclusion of Thurston's speech
was even more dramatic than at the
beginning. As the final word fell
from his lips, his voice choked, his
head fell between his hands, and he
wept. Leaning on his desk. he SEEM
ed clasping coffin, while his tears |
continued to flow.
There was not dry eye on the floor
OF the senate, and women wept audi
bly, in the gallery. No effort was made
to stop the cheering or cease the flow
OF tears. The crowd dispersed as
silently as from o funeral. Sorrow
and hatred intermingled on every
heart.
Maine Report Reaches Washington,
The report of the naval beard of in.
quiry into the Maine disaster was re-
ceived in Washington at 9:35 Thurs
day night.
The four naval officers who had
guarded and watched the package
since its departure from Key West
were hustled at once into q carriage by
nm attache of the navy department and
driven to the Ebbitt house, where they
tried to catch little much needed sleep
and at the same time withstand the
crowd of newspaper men who thronged
the lobby in hopes Of some stray bit
Of information which had escaped the
scrutiny Of numerous correspondents
along the route.
The party consisted of Lieutenant
Commander Mark, Lieutenant John
Hood, Lieutenant Carl Junger, Past
Assistant Engineer Bowers, A. T.
Mark, nephew of the Judge advo.
cate, and Ship Carpenter Helms, OF
The Names Inflated crew. There was
nm immense crowd waiting at the depot
when the train pulled in.
The party was met at the steps OF
he car by Lieutenant Ward, Of the
navy department, who was the sole
of Secretary Long. He
informed Commander Mark that the
secretary would not receive the report
1t that late hour, and gathering the
tired travellers under his protecting
wing, made for the hack stand through
he rapidly thickening crowd, which
'warmed the pavement to get glimpse
If the outside of the much heralded
'eport. Lieutenant Hood, as the