The evening times., 1898-03-24

Matanzas there were 1909 deaths In NO
vember. l209 in December. 200 in Janua-
ry, and 500 in February-S.60O in four
months. and those four months under
the administration of a governor whoni
believe to be truly humane man. lie
stated to me that on the day of his IN
auguration which | think was the l2th
of last November to his personal knowl-
edge fifteen persons died in the public
square in front of the executive man
sion. Think of it, oh, my countrymen!
Fifteen human beings dying from star
walton in the public square, in the shade
of tho palm trees. and amid the beauu-
full flowers in sight of the open windows
of the executive mansioni
The governor of Matanzas told us that
for tho most part the people of the city
of Matanzas had done all they could for
the reconcentrados; and after studying
the situation over ] believe his state
ment is true He said the copdition OF
affairs i'm the island had destroyed the
trade. the commerce, and the business
of the city; that most OF The people who
had tho means assisted the reconcentra-
dos with food just as long as they could,
but he said to US that there were thOus-
ands Of the people living in fine houses
with marble floors who were deep in
need themselves and who did not know
from one day to the other where their
food supply coming from.
The ability of the people of MatanZas
TO aid is practically exhausted. The gov
ernOr told us that he had expended all
of his salary. and all that he could pos
sibly afford of his private means in re-
lief work. He is willing that the recon-
centrados shall repaSS the picket line,
and go back to seek work in the inte-
rior of the island. He expresses his will
ingness to give them passes for that pur-
pose but they are no longer physically
able to take advantage Of that offer.
They have no homes TO return to; their
fields have grown up to weeds: they have
no oxen. no implements of husbandry,
with which to begin anew the culttva-
tion Of the soil. Their only hope is to
remain where they are: to live as long
as they can on an insufficient charity and
then die What is true ut Matanzas is
true at all the other cities where these
reconcentrados have been gathered
Muskcts for Cubn.
The government of Spain has not and
will not appropriate one dollar TO save
: these people. They are now being at
! tended and nursed and administered to
by the charity OF the United States.
Think Of the spectacle! We are feeding
these citizens of Spain; We are nursing
their sick: we are saving such as can be
saved, and yet there are those who still
say it is right for Us to send food. but
We must keep hands off. / say that the
/ time has come when muskets ought to go
| with the food
We asked the governor If he knew Of
! any relief for these people except through
! the charity of the United States. He did
] not We then asked him, Can you see
Z any end to this condition of affairs?'' He
: could not. We asked him. when do you
/ think the time will come that these peo-
! pie can be placed in a position of self
/ support He replied to US. with deep
/ feeling. only the good God or the great
Government of the United States can an
! swer that question" / hope and believe
| that the good God by the great Govern
! ment Of the United States will answer
/ that question.
| Butchery by Spain.
| l shall refer to these horrible things no
| further. They are there. God pity me ;
/ have seen them: they will remain in my
mind forever-and this is almost the
| twentieth century. Christ died nineteen
/ tian nation. She has set up more crosses
in more lands, beneath more skies. and
/ under them has butchered more people
| than all the other nations of the earth
! combined
Europe may tolerate her existence as
| long as the people of the Old World wish
| God grant that before another Christmas
ranny and oppression will have vanished
| from the Western Hemisphere.
Mr. President, the distinguished Sena-
/ tor from Vermont has seen all these
! things; he knows all these things:
! he has described all these things;
] but after describing them he says he has
! nothing to propose. no remedy to suggest
/ ] have. l am only an humble unit in the
| great Government of the United States
! but | should feel myself a traitor did
| remain silent now.
The Time for Action.
1 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 now come.
| Not action in the Maine case! / hope
! and trust that this Government will take
| action on the Cuban situation entirely
| outside of the Maine case. When the
| Maine report is received, if it be found
I that our ship and sailors were blown up
| by some outside explosive, we will have
| ample reparation without bubble or de-
| lay: and if the explosion can be traced
| to Spanish official sources there will be
| such swift and terrible punishment ad-
| judged will remain a warning to the
| world forever.
What shall the United States do, Mr.
/ President?
| / am a Republican, and / turn to the
| last platform of my party and l read:
From the hour of achieving their own independ-
ence the people of the United States have re-
garded with sympathy the struggles of other
} American people TO free themselves from Euro
pean domination. We watch with deep and abid-
trots against cruelty and oppression, and our bjst
hopes 90 out for the full OF their determined
contest for liberty.
The government OF Spain. having lost control of
Cuba, and being unable to protect the lives or
property of resident American citizens, or to COM
ply with its treaty obligations, we believe that
the Government of the United States should ac-
lively its influence and good offices to restore
/ peace and give independence to the island.
Quotes Mr. Mckinley.
| Mr.. President, when that declaration
was read before the st. Louis convention,
over which had the distinguished honor
1