The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-03-25
THE SENATE AFLAME
Mr.. Thurston, Central Figure
of a Dramtic Scene.
AN OVERFLOW OF PEOPLE
HE SPOKE BY THE COMMAND
OF SILENT LIPS.
He WAS LED FROM SENATE, OVER COME
A Splendid Display Of PalhOs and Patriotic
Passion Which Thrilled and Melted the
Hearts Of Those Who Heard =
War the Remedy.

War the Remedy.
Washington. ID. c.. March pa
scene dramatic in the intensity of its
interest, was presented in the Senate to-
day during the delivery by Mr.. Thurs
ton, of Nebraska, of n speech on the
Cuban situation.
Not since the Inauguration of Presi-
dent Mckinley have so many people
been on the Senate side of the capitol
as were there to-day.
The galleries were packed, many ar
irving at the capitol as early as $3.50 a.
m. in order TO obtain seats.
Within Il few minutes after the Sen
ate convened every Senator who could
be present was in his seat and by the
time Mr.. ThurstOn had begun his speech
dozens of members of tire House We're
either standing or occupying chairs in
the area without the sem.-circle of seats.
Mr.. Thurston's first sentence in which
he said he spoke by command Of silent
liIas-a delicate and touching reference
to the loss of his wife on his memorable
trp to Cuba-cOmmanded instant atten-
ton A hush fell over the great au.
dicnce, which hung with almost breath
less attention and interest upon every
word.
Some surprise has been expressed that
Senator ThHstOn should appear in pub
lie prominently so soon after the demise
of Mrs. ThurstOn, but the first sentence
of his speech furnished the key to his
action. 1t is true that Mr.. Thurston' 5
speech to-day, viewed from one stand
point. was an unusual proceeding, but It
was justified by the conditions attending
it,
Mrs. Thurston's dying request to her
husband was that he should lose no time
on account of her death to do his utmost
to save and free Cuba and its people.
In accordance with this request there
fore. Senator ThllrstOn sacrificed his
personal feeling and delivered his
speech-a speech that was his tribute
to the memory of his wife
Without knowing the motive which
animated Mr.. Thurston and inspired him
to his best efforts, his audience instinc-
lively realized and thoroughly sympa-
thized with mis- evident emotion.
The speech was very generally regard
cd as n mastery effort and even those
who could not agree with his cOnclu-
sions. conceded the power of his Grafton.
As he neared the end of the speech his
voice which had been as clear and ring
ing as the tone of Il bell, nOticeably
broke. He was almost overcome by
emotion but rallied with an effort and
closed in a manner that thrilled his au-
ditOrs.
As Mr.. ThurstOn sank into his seat
and buried his face in his hands the gal
leries were swept by such a tumult of
applause as had not in q long time
been heard in the Senate chamber.
As brother might have done Mr.. AL
len. Mr.. Thurston's colleague from Ne
braSka. walked to h.m and, placing his
arm over glils shoulders quietly led him
from the chamber. The act was one of
tie spontaneous and touching amenities
amid the turbulence and discord of Do
litical life.
Mr.. ThurstOn began his speech as soon
as the routine business had been dis
rCsed of. He was prepared, he said, not
to adopt every word of the careful con-
else and specific statement of the Sena-
tor from Vermont, (NIr PrOctor). but
he was even convinced that he had un.
derstated the facts.
THE pictures in the American news
papers of the starving TecOncentradOs
are true. They can all be duplicated by
the thousands. | never saw, and please
God | may never again see, as deplOr
able sight as the recOncentradOs in the
suburbs of MatanZaS. | can never for
get to my dying day the hopeless anguish
in their despairing eyes. Huddled about
their little bark hutS, they raised no
voice of appeal to lis for aims as we
went among them.
"Th:nk 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 1T is not right for IT'S TO
send food, that we must keep hands off
| say that the time has come when mus
kets ought to go with the food"
Discussing the remedy which should
be applied to the evils he found, Mr..
ThurstOn said:
Il 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 viii take
action on the Cuban situation entirely
outside of the Maine case. When the
Maine report is received. If it be found
chat our ship and sailors were blown up
by some outside explosive, we will have
ample reparation without quibble or de-
lay; and if the explosion can be traced
to Spanish official sources there will be
such swift and terrible. punishment adj