The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1898-03-25
SIMPLY UNDERSTANDABLE.
Senator Gallinger Talks of THINGS
as He Found Them on His
Visit to Cuba.
The PICTURE CAN'T Be EXAGGERATED.
tituiion and Heiiishne-s Fast BELIEF by
Anyone Who Has Not Witnessed II Tn.
senator Not Much Impressed with The
spaniards rs Soldiers.

WAsHISGToN, March Is Senator Gal.
finger was at the capitol for the first
time since his return from Cuba. When
requested TO make statement astoh i.
observations on the condition of affairs
on that island, he respon ded:
You can sign my name toany picture
you NAV draw of utter wretchedness
dcstitution and hellishness in tina,
country. The condition of affairs. 80
far as | had opportunity to observe
1T. and | was only in Havana
and Matanzas. is simply indescrb-
able. | had not expected To
find it half as bad as it is, and do not
believe that anyone who simply reads
the accounts and does not see for him.
self can form an adequate idea Of the
situation.
THE reconcentradocs are wedged into
all available places in those cities. and
are perishing by the thousand for
want of the commoncst nccessarics of
life. The best information obtainable
leads TO the conclusion that there have
been, beyond IA doubt. 400. 900 deaths az
result of SPANS brutal policy.
and the tragedy goes on from
day to day. The society of the
Red Cross is furnishing some
relief by its efforts, but the most OF
those people are beyond the reach Of
aid. either through medicine or food.
The mortality in Matanzas for the last
four months previous To our visit has
been equal To ten times the ordinary
death rate.
with reference to the.miitary aspect
of affairs in Cuba saw nothing which
impressed me with the idea that Spain
knows much about modern warfare.
The soldiers | saw are not drilled
as our soldiers are. Indeed they
lack every element of soldcrv
bearing, whatever may BE- said
of their merits as ighters. The drills
that | witnessed were trayestv on
modern ideas. While they were under
going their evolutions the soldiers were
talking TO each other and smoking as
freely and unconcerncdly as they would
do in their mess rooms. From my obser-
walton Of them | should not consider
them very formidable antagonists on
the field of battle.
Naturally there was much talk
about the Maine disaster. and So far as
/ could ascertain from my conyerSa-
ton with Americans, and with those
not entirely under the influence Of the
Spaniards. the opinion was universal
that the Maine had been destroyed by
an external agency and almost every
person with whom discussed the sub
jet in Cuba expects that the findings
Of the American court of inquiry will
substantiate this view.
There is divergence Of opinion on
the island as to the probabilities of war
between Spain and the United States,
and | am sure that | am within the
bounds Of the truth when | say that al
most the entire native population would
welcome any turn of events. however
tragic, that would wrest Cuba from
Spanish dominion. This is true not on
ly Of those who are avowedly favorable
to "A war fH independence. but Of
many of those who are ranked as
Spanish sympathizers, but who are
at heart advocates of Cuban indie
pcndence. The fact is that even IN
Havana the allegiance to Spain is Of
very weak and doubtful character. and
If war should come il would bc found
that there would be an uprising in that
city against the mother country. which
would he most important factor in
shortening the contcs. and deciding Il
against spain.