Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1898-03-31
ANOTHER SAD STORY.

y Misery in Cuba as Seen by Senator
Thurston, of Nebrnska-Demands
Immediate Action.
Washington, March PA scene dramatic
IN the intensity of it's interest was pre-
scented in the senate Thursday during the
delivery by Senator Thurston (Neb.) of a
speech on the Cuban situation. Not since
the inauguration OF President Mckinley
have so many people been on the senate
side of the capitol as were there Thursday.
Within a few minutes after tho senate
convened every member who could be pres
ent was IN his seat, and by the time Sen
ator Thurston had begun his speech dozens
of members of the house were either stand
ing or occupying chairs in the area without
the semicrcle of seats. His first sentence,
in Which ne said he spoke by coIomand of
silent lps-a delicate and touching refer
ence to the loss of his wife on his memoir
able trip to Cuba-commanded Instant at
tention. A hush fell over the great audi
ence which hung with almost breath
attention and interest upon avery word
Senator Thurston said that he had gone
to Cuba firmly believing that the condi-
ton of affairs on the island had been great
ly exaggerated, and that he had directed
his efforts IN the first instance to the ex-
posture OF the supposed eXaggerations. He
had concluded, however. that an over
statement Of the horrors of the situation
onS to M d. he
careful, concise and specific statement of
the senator from Vermont (Senator, Proc
tOC but he was even convinced that he
had understated the facts.
Senator ThurstOn then terSely summar-
ized his observations and conclusions
After three years of warfare and the
use of 225, 900 Spanish troops, Spain has lost
control of every foot Of Cuba not surround
ed by an actual intrenchment and protect
ed bV fortified nic<at line
She holds possession with her armies of
the fortified seaboard towns, because they
Warships, with which the revolutionists
.'The revolutionists are in absolute and
half of the island. including the eastern
provinces Of Santiago De Cuba and Puerto
Principe.
less than 100000 self-supporting, simple,
peaceful. defenseless country people were
driven from their homes in tho agricultural
portions Of the Spanish provinces to the
cities and imprisoned upon the barren
waste outside the residence portions of
these cities and within the lines of in
Their humble homes were burned, their
fields laid waste, their implements of hus-
bandry destroyed, their live stock and food
Most of these people were old men, women
and children. Slow starvation was their
inevitable fate A conservative estimate
already persisted from starvation.
1.-The pictures in the American newspa-
pers Of the starving reconcentrados are
true. They can all be duplicated by the
may never again see, so deporable sight
as the reconcentrados in the suburbs of
day the hopeless anguish in their despair
ing eyes. Huddled about their little bark
huts, they raised no voice Of appeal to us
for aims as we went among them
MEN. women md children stand Si1anf
furnishing. Their only appeal comes from
their sad eyes, through which one looks as
through an open window into their agoniz-
II shall refer to these horrible things no
further: They are there. God pity me; I
mind for ever-and this is almost the TWEEN
tieth century. Christ died 1900 years ago
and Spain Is Christian nation; she, has
more skies, and under them has butchered
more people than all the nations Of the
earth combined.
Europe may tolerate her existence as
long as the people of the Old World WISH
God grant that before another Christmas
morni5g the last visage Of Spanish tyran-
the western hemisphere"
Discussing the remedy which should be
applied to the evils he found, Senator
II counseled silence and moderation from
this floor when the passion of this nation
seemed at white heat over the destruction
~ lAC MdlIC, Uul ~ SSSLAS W uc luc IlL1lc
for action has now come Not action in
the Maine case. I hope and trust that this
government will take action on the Cuban
When the Maine report is received, If it
be found that our ship and sailors were
blown up by some outside explosion. we
or delay, and if the explosion can be traced
to Spanish official sources, there will be
such swift and terrible punishment admin
istered as will remain warning to the
What shall the United States do. Mr..
PRESIDENT"
publican, turned to the. last national plat
The United states shouid act;veiy use cts it's
and give independence to the island"
In accepting the nomination .tendcred
him by. the convention, which had adopted
William Mckinley "f had said .Fhe plat
form adopted by the republican convention
has received my careful consideration and
has my unqualified approval"
Senator Thurston even recounted the
steps which the president has taken upon
the Cuban question during the past year
manlike and in accordance with the diplo-.
matte uses of the world.
1T was the plain duty of the president of
the United States to give to the liberal min
istry Of Spain a reasonable time in which
to test its proposed autonomy. That time;
has been given. Autonomy is conceded the
ure. The situation in Cuba has only
changed for the worse. Sagasta is power
less, Blanco is poWerless, to put an end to
the conflict, to rehablitate the island or to
relieve the suffering starvation and dis
tress. a= %-.jass & s&sa
'''The time for action has then come. No
greater reason for it can be expected to-
morrow than to-day: Every hours delay
only adds another chapter to the awful
story of misery and death. Only one power
can intervene--the United States of Amer
lea. &3& AZ 5sE n
What shall our action be?''
Senator ThurStOn briefly referred TO the