The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1898-04-01

There has never been more impress
sive speech delivered in the United
States senate than that in which Sena.
tor Thurston Of Nebraska told what he
had seen in Cuba. Senator Thurston
said:
Mr.. PRESIDENT am here by COM
mand of silent lips to speak once and
for all upon the Cuban situation.
trust that no one has expected anything
sensational from me. God forbid that
the bitterness of a personal loss should
induce me to color in the slightest de-
gree the statement that I feel it my
duty to make
l shall endeavor to be honest, conserv-
ative and just. l have no purpose to
stir the public passion to any action not
necessary and imperative to meet the
duties and necessities of American re-
sponsibility, Christian humanity and
national honor. l would shirk this task
If could, but dare not 1 cannot sat
lsfy my conscience. except by speaking,
and speaking now.
Some three weeks since three senators
and two representatives in congress ac-
cepted the invitation of great metro
politan newspaper to make a trip to
Cuba and personally investigate and re-
port upon the situation there.
Our invitation was from newspaper
whose political teachings l have never
failed to antagonize and denounce and
whose journalism / have considered de.
cidedly sensational.
But let me say, for the credit of the
proprietor of the paper in question, that
l believe the invitation extended to us
was inspired by his patriotic desire to
have the actual condition Of affairs in
Cuba brought to the attention of the
American people in such way that the
psrcts would no longer remain in contro-
'~versy or dispute.
We were not asked in any way to be-
come the representatives Of the paper;
no conditions or restrictions were i'm
posed upon us; we were left free to
conduct the investigation in our own
way; make our own plans, pursue our
own methods, take our own time and
decide for ourselves upon the best man.
ner OF laying the result of our labors
. before the American people.
For myself, l went to Cuba firmly be-
lieving that the condition of affairs
there had been greatly exaggerated by
the press, and my own efforts were di-
rected in the first instance to the at
tempted exposure of these supposed ex-
aggerations.
Mr.. President, there has undoubtedly
been much sensationalism in the jour-
nalism of the time, but as to the condi-
tion of affairs in Cuba there has been
no exaggeration, because exaggeration
has been impossible. / have read the
careful statement of the junior senator
from Vermont Mr.. Proctor and find
that he has anticipated me in almost
every detail. From my own personal
knowledge of the situation, adopt ev-
cry word of his concise, conservative,
specific presentation as my own-nay.
more, / am convinced that he has, in
measure. understated the facts.
Cuba Is Lost to Spain.
tAfter three years of warfare and the
use of 225, 600 Spanish troops Spain
has lost control of every foot of Cuba
mot surrounded by an actual intrench-
ment and protected by fortified picket
line.
She holds possession with her armies
Of the fortified seaboard towns, not be-
cause the insurgents could not capture
many of them, but because they are un-
der the virtual protection of Spanish
warshirs with which the revolutionists
-
r ~ ~