The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1898-03-25
lie Says America Must Break
The FetterS of Cuba.
INTERVENTION MEANS WAR
The Pledges of the Republican
Party VIII ne Kcpt-sIualseis for
Ihc lnsurGeHt~-No1 one Dollar for
Hoihers of Spanish Bonds-Hor-
roT-S of the Island.

his seat in the Senate. II was as official .
as membership i'm the highest legislative I
body % the world could make it-and it 7!
WAS something more. In portTaying the 1
horrors Of Spain's internal persecution of
women and children on the Island of
Cuba, the eloquent statesman was full
filing a commission accepted at the bed
side OF his diving wife.
II was at Mrs. Thurston's request that
her husband told his fellow-citizens what
he saw in Cuba-told them before the
flowers on his wifes grave had wlthered,
before even the solace which nature
gives in the course Of time to a stricken
heart had come to his.
No wonder that the senator was plainly
suffering from the repression Of his per
sonal sorrow while he undertook dispas-
sionately to bear witness TO the sorrows
Of agonized humanity.
No wonder that when it was all over.
after his message was delivered, mem
ories crowded so thick and fast upon
him that he surrendered. and the man
asserted himself where the statesman had
been outwardly calm and circumstantial
Nature found relief in tears-but not until
set this country on fire with patriotism.
And no wonder yesterday presented
scene unique in the annals Of the Amer
lean Senate, when strong men in the
chamber shook with emotion and women
wept in sympathy for the speaker whose
greatest consolation must lie in the re-
Election that the companion Of his life
did not die in vain.
The climax was more than dramatic; 1t
was tragic. When the speaker had fin
ished he sank into his chair as If exhaust
ed. and buried his face in his hands on
the desk before him. The sobs of a strong
man-always terrible-shoOk his frame,
and the applause which started Fravely
in the galleries died away into sympa-
thetic weeping. There was no dry eyes
in chamber or gallery when Senator
Thurston's colleague, Mr.. Allen, the Pop
ulist leader, sought his side and gently
led him away.
These men are political opponents at
home but both are Americans to the
core and as they left the chamber, shoul-
der to shoulder, they typified the unity of
purpose WHICH inspires every loyal heart.
Not within the next hundred years viii
such a scene be witnessed in any legisla-
tive body. It was a touch Of nature, and
Il means that until Spain is driven from
are kin.
Pledged to Action.
After Senator Thurston had reviewed
the story Of his visit to the island, cor
roborating in full the facts set forth by
his colleagues. Senators Gallinger and
Proctor, he boldly announced his belief
in f0rceable intervention by this govern.
ment, sustaining his position by quoting
the platform adopted by the st. Louis
convention, over which he presided, say
ing in partI
] shall refer TO these horrible things NJ
further. They are there. God pity me
have seen them; they will remain in m,
mind forever-and this Is almost III,
twentieth century. Christ died nineteel
hundred years ago, and Spain is a Chris
tian nation. She has set up more crosse
In mere lands, beneath more skies, an,
under them has butchered more peopl
than all the other nations OF the eartl
combined.
Europe may tolerate her existence a
long as the people Of the Old World wish
God grant that before another Christina
morning the last vestige Of Spanish ty
ranny and oppression VIII have vauishet
from the Western Hemisphere.
The Time for Action.
I counseled silence and moderation
from this floor when the passion Of tn,
nation seemed at white heat over III,
destruction Of the Maine; but it seem
10 me the time for action has now come
Not action in the Maine case, / hop
and trust that this Government viii TAX
action on the Cuban situation entireI.
outside Of the Maine case. When tn
Maine report is received. if it be foun
that our ship and sailors were blown u
by some outside explosive. We viii hay
ample re9aration without bubble or dc
Iay- and if the explosion can be trace
TO Spanish official sources there viii D
such swift and terrible punishment ad
judged as viii remain a warning 70 tn
world forever.
What shall the United States do, M
President?
am a Republican. and ] turn to tn
last platform 81 my party and read:
From the hour Of achieving their own iHdepenl
enc The people 81 the iuiJed States have D,
corded with sympathy ihc struggles Of 9th,
A,..a4fr4n regulg u free themselves from Eur,
rsaI domination. We watch with deep and abb,
irE interest the heroic battle u the cuban p.
tr51t, against cruelty and oppression. and our bo'
hape- - oul for Ihc null success Il taeII dete
mined contest for liberty.
The government of Spain, having lost control
.ifa and being unable 10 UrOf.-ct fle lives
property % resident American citizens, r1 col.
rrs with its treaty Obligations, believe n.
ila Government ~ the United States should Il,
ivelF use IT. influence and good piiile- % sest0i
pe-ue and give Independence 70 the island.
Quotes Mr.. Mckinley.
lIr President. when that declarati9
was read before the s.. Louis convention
over which Z had the distinguished homo
- preside. IL was greeted with . might
shout which seemed 20 lift the very roo
of that great convention haIl and il Wa
adopted as a part Of the platform of III
Republican party by unanimous v0tt
ON The 10Th day Of June, 1895. Wulial
Mckinley. standing upon his vine-cla
porch at Canton Ohio, in accepting III
nomination then officially rendered hin
said.
Tho platform adopted hy the Republican nation
.. convention la. received ms careful consider
1loH and i.4- lHls unqualified approval lr is
matter af -latIGJati1n a. me. AS a.l sure
must Dr. a. sou aHd Republicans cveryUhcrl ~
IL al our people. tEat jhc expression 0f its de
larfiIon uf HGiUc.l lHS SO Cirgct. clear aaI
pi4iig- They are too plain and positive 10 llt
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