The herald., 1898-03-24
THE THEME OF oALLINdER's
FERvID oRAToRY
4 WILD BURST OF APPLAUSE
Greets the Assertion That Gold Can
not Atone for the Death Of the
Maine Sailors
Associated Press Special Wire


word picture of the barbarities and des-
titution in the island Of Cuba was
drawn in the senate today by Mr.. CALM
ger of New Hampshire. The senator
recently visited Cuba to study the situ-
alton there. Long before the senate con-
vened the galleries were packed. Almost
as soon as the senate convened Mr.. Ba-
con of Georgia introduced Joint reso-
luton declaring 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 dignity and honor
Of the nation. He said that he would
not ask for immediate consideration Of
the resolution, bpt would permit 1t to lie
on the table until tomorrow. Then Mr..
Hale Of Maine, chairman Of the naval
affairs committee, quietly rose and Ia
vorably reported the bill providing for
relief for the survivors of the Maine
catastrophe. There was suppressed
murmur of expectancy In the galleries,
but the measure was read and passed
without a word of debate. Mr.. CALM
gers speech followed. He spoke In
low. clear tone, distinctly audible
throughout the chamber. There was not
an interruption by a word throughout
his speech His auditors listened in
tently to his description Of the horrors
and cruelties suffered by the reconcen-
trados When he declared, however, that
4 government that would starve 100000
of its people would do anything. and as
he followed 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 CALLER
ies, and the vice president had difficulty
In restoring order. When he had con-
oluded he was accorded burst OF ap-
plause which the vice president made
little effort to restrain. The senate then
quietly resumed the consideration of the
bill making further provision for civil
government in Alaska, and at o'clock
took up the national quarantine bill.
Its consideration had not been con-
cluded when the senate adjourned.
Very quietly and with no attempt to
produce effect, the bill providingfor the
relief Of the survivors Of the Maine dis
aster was presented to the Senate for
consideration.
Mr.. Hale Of Maine reported the bill
favorably and asked that it be placed
at once upon it's passage.
The bill was read and. without debate,
was unanimously passed.
Then, in accordance with notice given
yesterday, Mr.. Gallinger of New Hamp
shire was recognized for a speech upon
the condition of affairs in Cuba.
Mr.. Gallinger has recently returned
from the island. He received the most
careful and thoughtful attention OF
every person within the sound of his
voice.
A full synopsis of Mr.. Gallingers
speech follows:
THE SENATOR'S SPEECH
In opening his speech Mr.. Gallinger
said that after the calm, dispassionate
and touching statement concerning Cuba
made in the Senate recently by Mr.. Proc
tor of Vermont, it might be well for him
to remain silent, but, yielding to the
desire expressed by many of his col
leagues, he had consented to give a
plain recital of some of his observations
on that unhappy island"
He referred to the efforts made by the
Cubans in 1929, in 1874, In 1S4S, in 1850 in
1868 and again in 1895, to break the
chains that bound them to Spain that
they might establish for themselves a
free government upon the soil that was
rightly theirs
Save the last, all these efforts have
ended in failure.
That failure is history and need not
be recounted.
Mr.. Gallinger then detailed some of the
events leading up to his arrival in Cuba
and of reception by Consul-General Lee.
General Lee" said he, "is deserving
of the highest praise for the manner in
which he conducted himself in Havana.
Cool and fearless in the midst of diff
culties and dangers, he never loses sight
3 of the fact that he is an American citi-
zen, nor is he unmindful of the tremen-
dous responsibility and duty of his posi-
ton"
Referring to his call upon the Auton-
omst Cabinet. Mr.. Gallinger said it was
evident that the President of the Cabi-
net was not encouraged in the work
"The truth is" said Mr.. Gallinger,
"autonomy is a fiat failure, opposed alike
by the ultra Spaniards and the Cubans.
The leaders of the insurrection have not
forgotten how they were treated by
Spain in 1878 and the Establishments and
bribes now being offered them are
spurned with contempt. Better death
than autonomy said a leading Cuban
to me, for autonomy is only pretense
under which we would again be slaves
70 SPAIN"
Mr.. Gallinger recalled that he had
heard during debates in the Senate de-
hials made that a state of war existed
in Cuba, but it only required brief OBJ
servation to convince one that war ac-
tually did exist. A desolated country
and its striken people told the story more
eloquently than it could be conveyed in
words.
"The war in Cuba, however" he said,
"is war of starvation and extermina-
tion-a war more cruel that the world
has ever known
The Spanish troops do not impress
Americans as great soldiers. They are
under a lax discipline and are poorly
uniformed and inadequately fed. The
high officials do most of their fighting in
hotels and cafes, the actual fighting be-
ing done by those of inferior grade On
the contrary, the insurgents are COM
fortably clad and under strict discipline.
They own large part of the island, and
could, in Mr.. Gallinger's judgment. take
Havana or Matanzas whenever it might
suit their purpose, although these cities
could not be held for lack of a navy
1.-THE scenes in the streets of Havana
are narrowing beyond description. Peo
pie In want and suffering are everywhere
seen and walking skeletons meet one on