The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1898-03-25
SENATOR PROCTOR. OF VERMONT.

and. except SO far as the facts rected
were sensational. it bore not the slight
est evidence OF an effort To arouse the
public mind. already keenly alive to
the condition Of affairs on the island
Every statement made by senator
Proctor was with that clearness and
precision which characterize the dem
onstratiOn of a problem in mathe-
MATES. Calm and dispassionate to a
notable degree. the utterances OF the
senator aroused breathless interest.
One of the best characterization Of
the statement was made by senator
Frye. of Maine. a few minutes after its
delivery
1T is. said he. Just as if Proctor
had held up his right hand and sworn
10 it
Tha, was the impression the state
1ncnt made upon the senate.
AZ had been announced that Mr.
Proctor would soon make a st atement
but II was not supposed that he would
make it on the floor of the senate. A
call of the senate was demanded by
Mr.. Chandler. of New Hampshire. and.
IN few minutes every senator in the
capitol was in his seat and. the word
having been passed through the corri-
doris, people fiocked into the galleries
until they were packed.
senator Proctor was accorded the
closest attention throughout his speech.
He confined himself to his manuscript.
and at the conclusion. while there was
no demonstration. he was cordially
congratulated by many of his col
leagues.
Mr.. Proctor began as follows:
Mere Importance seems to be at
tachcd by others to my recent visit to
Cuba than have given it. Il has been
suggested that make public state
ment Of what saw and how the situa-
tiOn impressed me This | DO on ac-
count OF the public interest in all that
concerns Cuba, and To correct any in
accuracics that have not unnaturallv APP
pcared in some Of the reported inter-
views with me. My trip was entirely
unofficial and of my own motion;not sug-
gested by anyone. The only mention
1 made OF il to the president was to
say 10 him that | contemplated such a
trip. and to ask him if there was any
objection to il. to which he replied
that he could see none. No one but
myself, therefore. is responsible for
anything in this statement Judge
Day gave me "A brief note OF introduce
ton 10 Gen. Lee. and ! had letters of
Introduction from business friends at
the north 10 bankers and business men
at Havana. and they, in turn, gave me
letters to their correspondents in other
cities. These letters To business men
were very useful, as one principal pur-
pose Of my visit was To ascertain the
views Of practical men Of affairs upon
the situation.
OF Gen. Lee ! need say little lis
valuable services to his country in his
trying position are too well known to
all his countrymen to require mention.
Besides his ability high character and
courage. he possesses the important
requisites Of unfailing tact aud courtc-
81, and withal his military cduca-
tion and training and his Soldierly
qualities are invaluable adjuncts in
the equipment of our reprcsentive in n
country SO completely under military
rule as is Cuba. Gen. Lee kindly in
vited Us to sit at his table Mt the
hotel during our stay in lla-
vana. and this opportunity for f.e-
nuent informal talks with him
was OF great help 10 me. In addi-
ton to the information he voluntarily
gave me, il furnished me an opporsu-
nifty to ask him the many questions
that suggested themselves in cxplana-
ton Of things seen and heard on our
trips through the country. also met
and spent considerable time with Con-
sui Iirice. at Matanzas and with, Capt
Barker. staunch ex-confederate
soldier. at Sagua la Grandc. friend OF
the senator from Mississippi (Mr
Walthall. None of our representa-
tves whom | met in Cuba are of my
political faith. but there is broader
faith. not bounded by party lines.
They are all three true Americans and
have done excellent service.
1T has been stated that said there
was no doubt the Maine was blown NJ