The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-03-25
IHURSION N TEARS.
Speaks On Cuba by Command
Of Silent Lips.
BREAD BACKED BY BULLETS.
Senator Thinks Tina Has Come to
End the War.
pATRIOTISMVS. S.POCKETBO9K
Loyalty 10 Dollar Must Give Way
to Loyalty TO Flag.

Washington. March PA scene, dram-,
attic In the intensity of its interest was
presented In the Senate to-day during the
delivery by Mr.. Thurston of Nebraska oa
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 to-
day.
The galleries were packed. many orriv-
ing at the capitol as early as $3.50 o'clock.
in order to get seats
Within few minutes after the senate
convened every senator who could be-
present was in his scat, and by the tima
MIR. Thurston had begun his speech dog
ems OF members of the House were either
standing or occupying chairs in the srea
without the seml-clrcle of seats.
Mr. Thurston's first sentence, in which
lie said he spoke by command of silent
ilps--a delicate and touching reference to
the loss of his wife on his memorable trip
20 Cuba--commanded instant attention.
A hush fell over the great audience
which hung with almost breathless atten-
tion and interest upon every word.
Some surprise has been expressed that
Senator Thurston should appear in public
prominently so soon after the demise OF
Mrs Thurston, but the first sentence Of
his speech furnishes the key to his action.
1t is true that Mr. Thurston's speech
to-day, viewed from one standpoint, was
an unusual proceeding, but ii was justified
by the conditions attending ii.
Mrs. Thurstons dying request to her
husband was that he should lose no time
on account Of her death to do his utmost
to save and free Cuba and It's people.
In accordance with this request, there
fore, Senator Thurston sacrificed his per-
sonal feeling and delivered his speech-a
speech that was his tribute to- the mem
ory Of his wife.
Without knowing the motive which ami
mated Mr.. Thurston and inspired him to-
his best efforts, his auditors instinctively
realized and thoroughly sympathized with
his evident emotion.
The speech was very generally regard
ed as a mastery effort, and even those
who could not agree with his conclusions
conceded the power OF his grafton.
As he neared the end of the speech his
voice, which had been as clear and ring
ing as the tone of a bell, noticeabiy
broke He was almost overcome by emo
tion, but rallied with an effort, and clos
ed in manner that thrilled his auditors.
AS Mr. Thurston sank into his seat and
buried his face in his hands, the galleries
were swept by such a tumult of applause
as had not In long time been heard In
the Senate chamber.
AS brother might have DONE Mr. AL
len, Mr.. Thurstons colleague from Ne
braska, walked to him and placing his
arms over his shoulders, quietly led him
from the chamber. The act was one OF
the spontaneous and touching amenities
amid the turbulence and discord of politi-
cal life.
Mr.. Thurston began his speech as soon
as the routine business had been disposed
of. He was prepared he said, not only to
adopt every word Of the careful, concise
and specific statement OF the senator from
Vermont (Mr. Proctor), but he was even
convinced that he had understated the
facts.
The pictures in the American news
papers of the starving reeoncentrados are
true. They can all be duplicated by the
thousands. never saw, and please God,
/ may never again see, as deplorable a
sight as the reconcentrados in the sub
urbs of Matanzas. / can never forget to
my dying day the hopeless anguish in them
despairing eyes. Huddled about their lit
tle bark huts, they raised no voice OF ap-
peal to us for aims as we went among
them.
Think OF the spectaclel We are feed
ing these citizens of Spain; we are nursing
their sick; we are saving such as can be
saved, and yet there are those who still
say it is not right for US to send food, that
we must keep hands off 1 say that the
time has come when muskets ought to go
with the food"
Discussing the remedy which should be
applied 70 the evils he found, Mr. Thurston
said: II counseled silence and moderation
from this floor when the passion of the
nation seemed at white heat over The de-
struction OF the Maine, but IL seems to me
the time for action has now come. Not
action in the Maine easel hope and trust
that his government will take action on
the Cuban situation entirely outside of the
Maine case.
when the Maine report is received. IL
1t be found that our ship and sailors were
blown up by some outside explosive we
will have ample reparation without Quib-
BILE or delay. and II the explosion can be
traced to Spanish official sources, there
will be such swift and terrible punishment
Continued on Fifth Page.)