The Dickinson press., 1898-04-02

States: Hess aid not. Va then asi,d
him. "Csn you eco any end to this con.
dition Of Sa6airsl's HS could NOT Va
asked him, "When do you think tho
time will como that these people can DO
placed in aposition Of self mpportl''
he replied to "a with deep feeling,
"Only the good God or the great gov.
eminent Of the United States can an.
swer that question" I hope and believe
that the good God by the great govern.
ment Of the Omitted States will answer
that question.
I will cite but a few facts that CAME
under my personal observation, all tend
ing to fully s~ubstantiate the absolute
truth Of the foregoing propositions I
could detail incidents BY the hour and
by the day, but the senator from Yer
mont has absolutely covered the case. !
have no desire to deal in horrorA I'll
had my way, Iwonld shield the Ameri-
can public even from the Photographic
reproductions Of the awful scenes that !
viewed in all their original ghastlinesa
gpain's Dooimated Army.
Spain has sent to Cuba more than
225, 900 soldiers to subdue the island,
whose entire male population capable Of
bearing arms did not exceed at the be-
ginning that number. These soldiers
were mostly boys, oonscripts from the
Spanish hills. They are we'll armed, but
otherwise seem to be absolutely unpro-
vided for. They have been without tents
and practically without any Of the neo-
essary supplies and equipment for serv-
ice in the field. They have been put in
barracks, In warehouses and old build
ings in the cities where all sanitary
surroundings have been Of the worst
possible character. They have seen but
little discipline, and I could not asoer.
tain that such a thing as a drill had
taken place in the island.
There are less than 60, 000now avail
able for duty. The balance are dead or
sick in hospitals, or have been sent back
to Spain as incapacitated for further
service. It is currently stated that there
are now 81, 600 sick in hospitals. I do
not believe that the entire Spanish army
in Cuba could stand an engagement in
the open field against q $1,000 we'll dis
oiplined American soldiers.
shall refer to these horrible things
no further. They are there. God pity
me; / have seen them; they will re.
main in my mind forever-and this is
almost the twentieth century. Christ
died l, 300 years ago, and Spain 10 a
Christian nation. She has set up more
crosses In more lands, beneath more
skies and under them has butchered
mor people than all the other nations
Of the earth combined.
Europe may tolerate her existence az
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-
spherel
e~tarvation's Awful Work.
There was almost no begging by the
reconoentrados themselves. The streets
of the cities are full Of beggars of all
ages and all conditions, but they are al.
most wholly of the residents of the cit
les and largely Of the professional beg
gar class. The Observation-Disclosures,
women and children-stand silent, fam.
fishing with hunger. Their only appeal
comes from their sad eyes, through
which n looks as through an open
window into their agonizing souls.
The present Autonomist governor Of
Matanzas, who speaks excellent Eng
lish, was inaugurated In November last.
His records disclose that at the city Of
Matanzas there were 1900 deaths in
November, 1900 in December, 700 in
January and 500 in February, 5000 In
four months, and those four months un-
der the administration Of q governor
whom I believe to be a truly humane
man. He stated to me that on the day
Of his Inauguration, which I think was
the l2th Of last November; to his per.
sonal knowledge Is persons died in the
public square In front Of the executive
mansion. Think Of 1t, o my country
menl Fifteen human beings dying from
starvation in the public square, in the
shade of the palm trees and amid the
beautiful flowers, in sight Of the open
windows of the executive mansionl
The governor Of Matanzas told us
that for the most part thepeople Of the
city Of Matanzas had done all they could
for the reconoentrados, and after study
ing the situation over believe his state
ment is true. He said the condition Of
affairs in the island had destroyed the
trade, the commerce and the business Of
the city; that most Of the people who
had the means assisted the reconcentra-
dos with. food just as long as they could,
but he said to us that there were thou.
sands Of the people living in fine houses,
with marble floors, who were in deep
need themselves and who did not know
from one day to the other where their
food supply was coming from.
Z. Time For Action Has Come.
I counseled silence and moderation
from this floor when the passion Of the
nation seemed at white heat owe the
destruction Of the Maine, but it seems
to me the time for action has now come.
Not action in the Maine easel I 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, IT
It be found that our ship and sailors
were blown up by some outside explo.
pive ne will have ample PREPARATION
without bubble or delay, and Il the ex-
plosion a be traced to Spanish official
sources there will be such a swift and
terrible punishment adjudged as will
remain q warning to the world forever.
Mr.. President, the distinguished sen.
ator 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. am only q humble unit in the
asy to Take