The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1898-03-26
A STORY OF STARVATION.
Senator GaiiinEer Recites 20 the Sem
ate Horrors Of the situation
I'm Unhappy Cuba.

Of concentration on the island of Cuba
was drawn in the senate Wednesday by
Senator Gallinger On. H.. The sena-
tor recently visited Cuba to study the
situation there. Long before the SEN
ate convened the galleries were packed.
Almost as soon as the senate convened
Senator Bacon (Ga.) introduced n joint
resolution that the United States
should do everything in its power to
preserve peace with all the nations OF
the world, and not be forced into war
except to preserve the honor and Dig
nifty of the nation. He said that he
would not ask for immediate consdera-
ton of the resolution, but would per-
NIT it to lie on the table until to-day.
Then Senator Hale (Me.), chairman OF
the naval affairs committee, quietly
rose and favorably reported the bill
providing for relief for the survivors of
the Maine catastrophe. There was a
suppressed murmur of expectancy in
the galleries, but the measure was read
end passed without a word of debate.
Senator Gallinger's speech followed.
He spoke in low, clear tone OF voice,
distinctly audible throughout the
chamber. There was not an Interrupt
ton by word throughout his speech.
When he declared, however, that gov
eminent that would starve 100000 of
It's people would do anything, and fol-
lowed this with the further declaration
that the lives of the brave men lost in
the Maine disaster could not be atoned
for with gold or silver, spontaneous
wave of applause swept over the gall
leries, and the vice president had diff
Guilty in restoring order.
synopsis of Senator Gallinger's
speech follows;
In opening hts speech Senator Gallinger
said that after the calm, dispassionate and
touching statement concerning Cuba made
in the senate recently by Senator Proctor,
OF Vermont, It might be well for him to re-
main silent, but, yielding to the desire ex-
pressed by many OF his colleagues, he had
consented to give a plain recital OF some
OF his observations on that unhappy
island"
Senator Gallinger then detailed some OF
the events leading up TO HIS arrival In Cuba
and OF his reception by Consul General
Lee.
Gen. Lee" said he, lis deserving OF the
highest possible praise for the manner In
which he carries himself in Havana. Cool
dangers. he never loses sight of the fact
that he Is an American citizen, nor is he
unmndful OF the tremendous responsible
tiles and duties OF his position"
Referring 10 his call upon the autonomist
cabinet, Senator Gallinger said IL was evil
dent that the president OF the cabinet was
not encouraged In the work. "The truth
10, said Senator Gallinger, autonomy Is
a fiat failure"
Senator Gallinger recalled that he had
1.na I'D "A.
made that a state or war existed In Cuba,
but II required only a brief personal OBJ
servation to convince one that war actual-
ly did exist. A desolated country and its
stricken people told the story more elo-
quently than IL could be conveyed In words.
The war In Cuba, however" ne said, lisa
war OF starvation and determination -
war more cruel than the world has ever
known"
THE scenes in the atreets OF Havana ara
narrowing beyond description. People In
want and suffering are everywhere seen.
ana walking skeletons meet one on every
hand. Naked children, emaciated and
ragged women and diseased and starving
men throng the streets, the hotel Hobbies
and every place OF public resort. 1t is
terrible sight-one that sickens the heart
and quickens every impulse OF human
sympathy and love"
a detailed story of visit TO Los Focas.
the place where the reconcentrados daily
assemble to get food, was also given. 4
few weeks ago when Miss Barton discov-
cred the place there were Gi5 people lying
on the hoors, many OF them entirely nude
ana all suffering the pangs OF starvation.
A vivid picture was then drawn by Sem
ator Gallinger OF trip TO the city OF
Matanzas. All along the route were
wretched people In rags. but not until the
city was reached was the full extent OF the
sunering realized. 1T occurred TO me as
l looked upon the scenes OF suffering and
horrors that the Cuban reconcentrados
might well have adopted the words OF
Dante; Who enters here leaves hope be-
hind when they were driven from me
fields and herded like cattle In the cities nd
towns OF this fertile land. The truth il
that Weyler devised a scheme OF human
suffering and sorrow that put Dante's In
ferno TO the shade and converted a con-
tented, prosperous people into a herd Of
suffering starving unfortunates."
The number OF people who have starved
In Cuba will never be definitely known. IL
Is estimated that S00.0 900 were driven from
their homes into the cities and towns /
mad IL from Spanish authority that accord
ing TO their figures. 225 900 already have
perished, but II Is said that the Red Cross
society Is In possession of figures showing
that $1,000 Cubans have died as a result OF
Spanish cruelty from starvation and that
100000 more must inevitably die.
II have been asked many times what OF
the Maine / do not know. This, how
ever, do know; A government that will
deliberately starve 100000 OF it's own people
Will do pretty much anything. II the ship
was blown up from the outside. what
should our government dor Perhaps I
should foroear 10 discuss that question
now: but this will venture to say: Human
life purposeiy taken cannot be paid for IN
gold or silver. Mark my words 'purposelv
taken and " Il shall appear that such was
the fate OF 250 brave American sailors. then
Heaven pity the guilty parties III will nor
be question for arbitration, but a qucs-
tion involving the dignity and honor OF this
great republic"
As 10 what should be done, Senator Gal
lnger felt that sooner or later this govern
ment would OF necessity absorb Cubn. bur
II annexation cannot now be accomplished,
let Independence speedily come. "Ameri-
can interests In Cuba" said he I'm con-
clusion, have already suffered enough
We have patrolled our coast IN the interest
OF Spain as long as we should and we have
spent quite too much money In protecting
our people from epidemic diseases coming
TO our shores because OF the unsanitary
condition or the harbor and city OF Ha-
vana. Spain has failed TO meet the REQUIRE
- 4Efa a.