The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-03-24
GALL|NG[R ON CUBA
Another Word Picture Paving the
Way For Intervention.
HORRORS AND CRUELTIES
WEIRD SCENES THAT GIVE LIFE
TO DANTE'S FICTION.
Senator Gallinger's Trip to Cuba Gave
Him Ample Field For Observation
Description of Matanzas-Even
In Havana Hunger Stalks Abroad
Senator's Grand Period at Close.

Senator's Grand Period at Close.
washington, March ga vivid word
picture of the barbarities and destitu-
ton in the island of Cuba was drawn in
the senate today by Mr. Gallinger OF
New Hampshire. The senator recently
visited Cuba to study the situation
there. Long before the senate convened
the galleries were packed.
Mr.. Gallinger spoke in a low, clear
tone of voice. distinctly audible
throughout the chamber. There was
not an interruption by word through
out his speech. His auditors listened in
tently to his description of the horrors
and crueities suffered by the recon-
centrados. When he declared, how
ever. that a government that would
starve 400, 600 of its people, would do
anything, and followed this with fur
tier declaration that the lives of the
brave men lost in the Maine disaster
could not be atoned for with gold or
silver a spontaneous wave OF applause
swept over the galleries and the wee
president had difficulty in restoring or
der. -
In opening his speech, Mr.. Gallinger
said that after the calm, dispassionate
and touching statement concerning
Cuba. made in the senate recently by
Mr.. Proctor, of Vermont, it might be
well for him TO remain silent, but,
Welding to the desire expressed by
many of his colleagues, he had con-
scented to give a plain recital of some
of his observations on that unhappy
island"
He referred to the efforts made by
the Cubans in 1929 in 1874, in 1S4S, in
1850 in 1851, in 1868 and again in 1895,
to break the chains that bound them
to Spain in order that they might es-
tabIish for themselves free govern
ment upon the soil that was rlghtly
theirs" Save the last, all these efforts
have ended in failure. That failure is
historic and need not be recOunted- Mr..
GaIlinger then detailed some of the
events leading up to his arrival in
Cuba and of his reception by Consul
General Lee.
General Lee,''- said he. lis deserving
of the highest possible praise for the
manner in which he conducted himself
in Havana Cool and fearless in the
midst of difficulties and dangers he
never loses sight of the fact that he
is an American citizen, nor is he I'M
mindful of the tremendous responsible
ity and duty of his position. :
referring to his call upon the au-
economist cabinet Mr.. Gallinger said it
was evident that the president of the
cabinet was not encouraged in the
work.
AUTONOMY 4 FLAT FAILURE.
"The truth is said Mr.. Gallinger,
autonomy is a fiat failure, opposed
alike by the ultra-Spaniards and the
Cubans. The leaders of the insurrec-
ton have not forgotten how they were
treated by Spain in 1878 and the'bland-
ishments and brides being now offered
them. are spurned with contempt.
Better death death than autonomy. i
said a leading Cuban to me, for au-
tonOmy is only a pretense under which
we would again be slaves to Spain.
Mr. Gallinger recalled that he had
heard during debates in the senate, de-
malls made that a state of war existed
in Cuba hut it required only a brief
personal observation to convince one
that war actually did exist.
a des0lated country and its stricken
people told tie story more eloquently
than it could be conveyed in words.
The VIZ IL Cuba, however, he said,
lis war Of starvation and eXtermina-
tion-a war mere cruel than the world
has ever known"
10 GREAT SOLDIERS.
The Spanish troops Go not impress
Americana IS great soldiers. They are !
under lax discipline, and are poorly |
uniformed and inadeqUately fed. The |
hish officials do most of their fighting |
III hotels and cafes, the actual fighting |
being Gone by those of inferior grades. /
On the contrary, the insurgents are /
clad and under strict dis
cipline. They occupy a large part of /
the island and could, in Mr.. Gallinger's |
judgment, take Havana or MatanzaS /
whenever it might suit their purpose, /
although these cities could not be held |
FOR lack Of a navy.
lie scenes in the streets of Havana
ere narrowing beyond description. Peo- /
pie in want and suffering are every
where seen, and walking skeletons are
met on every hand. Naked children,
and ragged women and dis
eased and starving men throng the
streets. the hotel Hobbies and every
place of public resort. 1t is a terrible
iight-One that sickens the heart and
luickens every impulse of human SYM
1athy and love"
HORRIBLE CONDITIONS.
Under the very shadow of cathedrals
and churches, where Spain's authority
S absolute and unquestioned. the most
horrible conditions are conceded to ex-
st. Many have refused to believe that
IF determination instead of a war of
lonor. yet such is an absolute fact. A
visit was paid to the orDhanage which
S now under the care of Miss Clara
Barton. 1t contains now about so chill
lren, almost every one of whom is d
rictim OF starvation. DR.. Lesser, one
If Miss Barton's assistants, has had
experience in the Armenian and In
liam famines. but he declares that the
anime in Cuba is worse than that in
and pictures he drew OF the
eIrible suffering and starvation in the
Stand more than confirm all that has
,een written upon the subject
\ detailed story OF a visit to Los
Aocas. the place where the recOncen-
RADIOS daily assemble to get food, was
iso given. a few weeks ago. when Miss
Barton discovered the place, there were
As people lying on the floors, many of ]
hem entirely nude, and all suffering
he pangS of starvation. Much has
zen done by the Red Cross society to
lleviate the condition of those who still
emain. but scores of men, women and
hildren are yet there, gaunt and bdny,
lmost as a skeleton, many of them
oVered with sores directly traceable to
Insufficient food.
What a chapter of horrors and death
5 that. and still the tragedy goes on.
low much longer shall it continue,
argely depends upon the forbearance
f . great people, who, through suffer
ag ard sorrow, achieved their own in
ependence, and whose sympathies
ave always gone out to the oppressed
f all nations of the world"
DANTE IN THE SHADE.
A vivid picture was then drawn by .
IT. Gallinger of a trip to the city of
Iatanzas. All along the route were
lretched people in rags. but not until
he city was reached was the full ex- :
ent of the suffering realized. 1T oc-
urred 70 me, as 1 looked upon the /