The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-03-25

ness having been completed. Mr. Thurs
ton was recognized for the delivery OF.
his speech on fhe Cuban situation. His
first sentence. containing . delicate and
touching reference TO his recent hereaye-
ment. commanded instant attention.
Mr. President" said Mr. Thurstor. IT
am hare today by command OF lips now
silent TO speak once and for all upon the
Cuban situation trust that no one has
expected anything sensational from HE
God forbid that the bitternsss OF a person
al loss should induce me 10 color in the
slightest degree the statement that / feel
it my duty to make have no purpose
10 stir the public passion TO any action
not necessary and imperative TO meet the
duties and necessities of American res
possibility. Christian humanity and ma
tional honor. cannot satisfy my con-
science except by speaking and speaking
now"
Mr.. Thurstcn said he had gone to Cuba
firmly believing that the condition Of az
fairs in the island had been greatly ex-
aggerated. He had concluded. however,
that an oyerratement OF the horrors of
the situation was impossible He was pre-
pared not only 10 adopt every word of
the careful concise and specific statement
OF the senator from Vermont (Afr. Proc
tori, but was even convinced that he had
understood the facts in detailing the fnc:-
dents and reciting the facts that came
under his observation. Mr.. Thurston said
he had no desire to deal in horrors.
.If 1 had my way said he. II would
shield the American public even from the
1,xIx~
scenes that viewed in all their original
ghastliness.
or the 2225.000 soldiers Spain has sent to
Cuba less than 6o,0oo We're now available
for duty. The remainde- are dead, sick
or return to Spain ineapacitated.
Il do not believe said he, ..that the en-.
tire Spanish army In Cuba could stand an
engagement in the open field against co.
600 wel-disciplined American soldiers.
The Spanish soldiers of all people on earth
would most gladly welcome any result
which would enable them to return to
their homes
'The pictures in the American newspa-
pers of the starving reconcentrados are
true. They can be all duplicated by the
thousands. / never saw. and please God
may l never again see. so deplorabie a
sight as the reconcentrados in the suburbs
OF Matanzas can never forget to my dy-
ing day the helpless anguish in their de-
sparing eyes Men. women and children
stand silent. famishng. Their only appeal
comes from their eyes through which one
looks as through an open window into
their agonzng soals.
The governor of Matanzas" Mr. Thurs
ton said. could see no end to this condi-
ton OF affairs and could suggest no relief
except through the United States. The
government of Spain will not appropriate
one dollar to save these people" said Mr..
Thurston. 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 I say that the
time has come when muskets ought TO go
with the food
II shall refer to these horrible things M
further. They are there. God pity me. I
have seen them; they Will remain in mind
forever-and this is almost the twentieth
century. Christ died 1900 years ago and
Spain is Christian 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 world wish God
grant that before another Christmas
morning the last vesiige OF Spanish tyr
amy and oppression viii have vanished
from the Western hemisphere"
Discussing the remedy which should be
applied, 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 1t seems to me the time for
action has now come. Not action in the
Maine case. l 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 that our ship and sailors were
blown up by some outside explosive, We will
have ample reparation without quibble or