The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-03-25
all vessels in tow and carrying passen-

4
gers.
Mr.. Allison of Iowa moved that when
| the senate adjourned to-day il be to
meet Monday next. The motion pre-
vailed. Mr.. Mason of Illinois emphat-
| ically voting I'm the negative.
Much confusion existed in the CALLER
les and the vice president was obliged
to demand that order be restored. Mr..
Cockrell of Missouri expressed the hope
that the vice president would strictly
enforce the rule prohibiting any DEM
onstration or manifestation of approv-
al by people in the galleries.
|. Mr.. Mason of Illinois then moved
that the vote by which the senate had
agreed to adjourn until Monday be re-
considered. Mr.. Hale of Maine de-
manded the yeas and nays and the
motion was defeated, SO to 9. Those
voting in the negative were Messrs.
Cannon, Chandler, Foraker. Frye, Gal
linger, Harris. Mason, Mills and Petit
grew.
At 1885 p. m., the routine morning
business having been completed, Mr..
Thurston was recognized for the deliv-
cry of his speech on the Cuban situa-
tion. His first sentence, containing a
delicate and touching reference to his
recent terrible bereavement, command
ed instant attention.
Mr.. President" said Mr.. Thurston,
Il am here by command OF silent lips
to speak once and for all upon the Gu
ban situation. ] trust that no one has
expected anything sensational from
me. God forbid that the bitterness Of
a personal loss shoui1 induce me TO
color in the slightest degree the state
ment that / feel ii my duty to make.
/ have no purpose to stir the public
passion in any action not necessary
and imperative to meet the duty and
necessities of American responsibility,
Christian humanity and national hon.
or. i cannot satisfy my conscience ex-
cept by speaking and speaking now"
Mr.. Thurston said he had gone to
Cuba firmly believing that the condi-
tion of affairs on the island had been
greatly exaggerated. He had conclud-
ed. however. that an overstatement of
the horrors of the situation was inn
possible. He was prepared not only to
adopt every word of the careful. con-
else and specific statement of the sem
ator from Vermont, Mr.. Proctor, but
was even convinced that he had under
stated the facts.
In detailing the incidents and re-
citing conditions that came under his
observation Mr.. Thurston said he had
no desire to deal in horrors. IF | had
my way" said he, II would shield the
American public even from the photo
graphic reproductions of the awful
scenes that / viewed in all their orig
inal ghastliness."
OF the 225, 900 soldiers Spain has sent
to Cuba. less than 10000 were now
available for duty. The remainder are
dead, sick or in hospitals or returned to
Spain incapacitated.
Il do not believe" said he, that the
entire Spanish army i'm Cuba could
stand an engagement in the open field
against 10000 well disciplined Ameri-
can soldiers. The Spanish soldiers. of
all people, would most gladly welcome
any result which would enable them
to return to their homes.
The Anguish of Despair.
The pictures in the American news
papers of the starving reconcentrados
are true. They can all be duplicated by
the thousands. / never saw and. please
God. may i never again see, so deplo-
rable a sight as the reconcentrados in
the suburbs of Matanzas. / can never
forget to my dying day the hopeless
anguish i'm their despairing eyes. Men,
women and children stand silent, fam
ishing. Their only appeal comes from
their sad eyes through which one looks
as through an open window into their
agonizing souls
The governor of Matanzas. Mr..
Thurston said. could see no end TO this
condition 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 il is not right for us to send food.
hut. tx-o, pet or l,a.
the time has come when muskets ought
to go with the food.
Il shall refer TO these horrible things
no further. They are there. God pity
me. i have seen them: they will re-
main in my mind forever. and this is
almost the twentieth century. Christ
died 1900 years ago. and Spain is a
Christian nation. She has set up more
crosses in more lands. beneath more
skies and under them has butchered
more people than all the others 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 morning the last vestige of
Spanish tyranny and oppression will
have vanished from the western hemi-
sphere
Discussing the remedy which should
he applied. Mr.. Thurston said: II
this floor when the passion OF the ma
tion seemed at white heat over the de-
struction Of the Maine. but II seems to
me time for action has now come. Not
action i'm the Maine case. / hope and
trust that this government viii take
action on the Cuban situation entirely
outside Of the Maine case. When the
Maine report is received. IL il can be
found that cur ships and sailors were
blown up by some outside explosive, we
will have ample reparation without
quiDble or delay. and IL the explosion
can he traced to Spanish official
sources there will be such swift and
terrible punishment adjudged as will
remain a warning to the world forever.
What shall the United States do,
Mr. Presidenty"
For answer. Mr.. Thurston. as a re-
publican. turned to the last national
platform Of his party.
"Our platform. said he. demands