The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1898-03-25
THE TIME FOR ACTION.
Senator Thurston, Of Nebraska, De-
clares It Has Arrived.
MRS. THURsToNs DYING REQUEST
Was That He Should Lose NO Time in
Doing HIS Utmost to Save and Free
Cuba and It's People-A Pathetic Plea
and a Determined stand.

Washington, March 25.-A scene dra-
matte In the intensity of Its interest
was presented In the senate yesterday
during the delivery by Mr.. Thurston, Of
Nebraka, 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. Even the diplomatic gallery.
which is rarely occupied. was filled.
Mr. Thurston's first sentence, in
which he said he spoke by command of
silent lips---a delicate and touching ref
erence to the loss Of his wife on his
memorable trip to Cuba-commanded
instant attention. A hush fell over the
great audience. which hung with al
most breathless attention 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 furnished the
key to his action. 1t is true that Mr..
Thurston's speech yesterday, viewed
from one standpoint, was an unusual
proceeding, but it was justified by the
conditions attending it. Mrs. Thurs
toms 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 Its people. In &C.
cordance with this request, therefore,
Senator Thurston sacrificed his per-
sonal feeling and delivered his speech
a. speech that was his tribute to the
memory OF his wife.
The speech was very generally re-
garded as mastery effort, and even
those who could not agree with his con-
illusions conceded the power of his ora
ton. AS he neared the end Of his
speech his voice, which had been clear
and ringing, noticeably broke. He was
almost overcome with emotion, but
rallied with an effort and closed in a
manner that thrilled his auditors. Staid
and dignifled senators turned away and
wept, and In the galleries tears welied
to hundreds Of eyes. 1t was remark
able scene and the stiffness until the
last word had been pronounced was
as of death itself
As Mr. Thurston sank into his seat
and buried his face in his hands the
galleries were swept by such tumult
of applause as has not in a long time
been heard in the senate chamber.
AS a brother might have done, Mr.
Allen, Mr.. Thurston's colleague from
Nebraska, walked to him, and placing
his arm over his shoulders quietly led
him from the chamber. The act was
one of the spontaneous and touching
amenities amid the turbulence and dis
cord of political life.
Mr.. Thurston, after declaring that
Senator Proctor, of Vermont, in his
desire to avoid sensationalism, had
really understated the suffering in
Cuba, asserted that the revolutionists
are in absolute and almost peaceful
possession Of nearly one-half the island,
and that Spain holds the fortified towns
under the virtual protection of war;
ships. He declared that in the four
so-called Spanish provinces there Is
neither cultivation nor railway oper-
alton except under military protection,
and denounced the 'inhuman policy
of Weyler which drove 100000 self sup
porting, defenseless country people
from their homes to the cities" He
vigorously arraigned Spain's lack Of
CHdtlty Ipi liiS5C ouiIOtlib ohSo, nhiu
expressed his belief that the entire
Spanish army in Cuba could not stand
against 10000 American soldiers.
Discussing the remedy which should
be applied to 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 destruction of the Maine, but it
seems to me the time for action has
come. Not action in the Maine case. I
hope and trust this government will
take action on the Cuban situation en-
tirely outside of the Maine case. When
the Maine report is received If 1t be
found that our ship and sailors were
blown up by some outside explosive
we will have ample reparation without
bubble or delay, and if the explosion
can be traced to Spanish official sources
there will be such swift and terrible
punishment adjudged as will remain a
warning to the whole world forever"
The speaker referred to the Republic
can platform, which demands that the
United States shall actively use its in
tluence for the independence of the ISL
and" and reiterated that the time for
action had come. He declared that the
only voice against Intervention in this
holy cause is the voice of the money
changers, and urged that the gamblers
be ignored, declaring that they repre-
scented neither American sentiment nor
American patriotism. He said there
could be no intervention to save Cuba
without force, and force means war and
war means blood. He believed in the
doctrine of peace taught by the lowly
Nazarene, but men must have liberty
before abiding peace can come. He con-
cluded:
IN the cable that moored me to life
and hope the strongest strands are bro
ken. ] have but little left to offer at the
altar of freedoms sacrifice, but all
have I am glad to give. l am ready to
serve my country as best I can in the
senate or in the field. My dearest hope,
my most earnest prayer to God Is that
when death comes to end all may meet
it calmly and fearessly, as did my be-
loved, in the cause of humanity, under
the American flag"
Tom Watson Ont of Politics,