The daily morning journal and courier., 1898-03-18
PROCTOR SPEAKS ON CUBA
RESULTS OF THE SENATOR'S VISIT TO THE ISLAND.


 Statement Made With That Clearness and Precision Which Might Characterize the Accurate Demonstration of Prob 1em-Scene in the Seaate Almost Dra- matic-The Maine Disaster-The Situa- ton in Cuba-Neither Peace Nor War but Desolation-No Human Life-Recon- Death-The Race Question.
 Washington, March 17.-Senator Proctor of Vermont, who returned last Saturday from an extended trip to and through Cuba, to-day made a state ment to the senate of his observations on the island. From many view points the statement was remarkable, It had evidently been carefully prepared. Every element of sensationalism had been studiously eliminated and except so far as the facts recited were sensa- tional, it bore not the slightest evidence of an effort to arouse the public mind. Every statement made by Senator
 
 precision which characterize the accu- rate demonstration of a problem in mathematics. Calm and dispassionate' to a notable degree, the utterances of the senator aroused a breathless inter- est. Every person within the sound of his voice was convinced that he was putting his observations into careful terms lest he might subject himself to 41.o @..s@ @s1s. I@1t-, 04t Nn1 nTon of the best characterizations of the statement was made by Senator Frye of Maine a few minutes after it's de- livery. Tt is,' said he, just as if Proctor had held up his right hand and sworn to it.''
 Scene Almost Dramatic.
 The scene in the senate just preced- ing and during the delivery of the speech of Senator Proctor was almost dramatic in the intensity of it's inter est. The occasion of the address arose very unexpectedly. The national quar- antine bill was under discussion, and Senator Mallory of Florida had been recognized for speech in opposition to the measure. MT. Frye entered the chamber and, interrupting MT. Mallory, requested him to yield to MT. Proctor, who desired to make statement con- corning his observations in Cuba of in- terest to the senate and to the country. Instantly there was a commOtion on the floor and in the galleries. It had been announced that MT. Proctor would soon make a statement, but it was not supposed that he would make it on the floor of the senate. A call of the sen- ate was demanded by MT. Chandler of New Hampshire, and in few minutes every senator in the capitol was in his seat, and the word having been passed through the corridors, people focked into the galleries until they were pack ed.
 The Speech.
 MT. Proctor read his statement from manuscript. In part, he said: More importance seems to be attached by others to my recent visit to Cuba than have given it. My trip was entirely unofficial and of my own notion The only mention made of it to the presi- dent was to say to him that I con- templated such a trip, and to ask him if there was any objection to it, to which he replied that he could see none. No one but myself, therefore, is respon-
  Judge Day gave me note of introduc- tion to General Lee and I had letters of introduction from business friends at the north to bankers and other busi- ness men at Havana and they in turn gave me letters to their correspond ents in other cities. General Lees val uable services to this country in his trying position are too well known to all his countrymen to require mention. General Lee kindly invited us to sit at his table at the hotel during our stay in Havana and this oportunity for freuuent informal talks with him was of great help to me. also spent con- siderable time with Consul Brice at Matanzas and with Captain Barker, a staunch ex-confederate soldier at Sagua la Grande. They are all three true Americans and have done excel- lent service.
 The Maine Disaster.
 It has been stated that said there was no doubt the Maine was blown up from the outside. This is mistake. may have said that such was the gen. eral impression among Americans in Havana In fact, I have no opinion about it myself and carefully avoided l these outside surmises. Until the court of inquiry makes it's report, surmises and conjectures are idle and unprofita- bIe. Let us calmly wait for the report.
 Situation in Cuba.
 There are six provinces in Cuba, each, with the exception of Matanzas, ex- tending the whole width of the island My observations were confined to the four western provinces, which consti- ute about one-half of the island The two eastern ones are practically in the hands of the insurgents except the few fortified towns. Everything seems to go on much as usual in Havana. Quiet prevails, and except for the squads of soldiers marching to guard and police duty and in their abounding appear ance in public, one sees few signs of war. Outside Havana all is changed. It is not peace, nor is it war. It is des- olation and distress, misery and starv- ation. Every town and village Is sur rounded by a trocha Ctrench) These trochas have at every and at frequent intervals along the sides what are call ed rd-houses, but which are really block houses. The purpose of these trenches Is to keen the reconcentradOS