The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-03-25
CAUSE OF CUBA PLEADED
MR.. THURSTON, OF NEBRASKA,
AROUSES THE SENATE
The Speech, at the Command of ST.
lent Lips, the Senator's Tribute
to the Wife Who Died During the
Memorable Trip to the Island
The Scene Dramatic I'm the In
tensity of It's Interest.

WASHINGTON, March IA scene.
dramatic in the intensity of it's interest,
was presented In the senate today dur
ing the delivery by Mr. Thurston (Neb)
of speech on the Cuban situation.
Not since the inauguration of PreS-
dent Mckinley have so many people
been on the senate side Of the capitol
as were there today. The galleries
were packed with people, many of
whom had arrived as early as $50 a.
m. in order to obtain seats. Even the
diplomatic gallery, which is rarely oc-
cupied. was filled, among those in it
being Senior Mendonca, the Brazilian
minister and party, eXSecretary of
State John w. Foster and Mrs. Foster,
and many ladies and gentlemen from
the various foreign legations.
Within 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 the house
were either standing or occupying
chairs in the area without the semi
circle of seats.
a Jar of roses had been placed on
Mr.. Thurston's desk but he spoke from
that of Mr.. Hawley, in the central part
OF the chamber.
His first sentence, in which he said
he spoke by command of silent lips-a
delicate and touching reference to the
loss Of his wife on his memorable trip
to Cuba-commanded instant atten-
ton. A hush fell over the great audi
ence. which hung with almost breath
less attention and interest upon every
word.
Some surprise has been expressed
that Senator Thurston should appear
in public prominently so soon after the
demise of Mrs. Thurston, but the first
sentence of his speech furnishes the
key to his action. 1t is true that Mr..
Thurston's speech today. viewed from
one standpoint, was an unusual pro-
ceeding, but it was justified by the
conditions attending it.
Evident Emotion.
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,
therefore, Senator Thurston 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 auditors in
stinctlVely realized and SympathiZed
with his evident emotion.
The speech was very generally re-
garded as mastery effort and even
those who could not agree with his
conclusions conceded the power of his
grafton. AS he neared the end of the
speech his voice. which had been clear
and ringing. noticeably broke. He was
almost overcome by emotion but raj
lied with an effort and closed in a man
ner that thrilled his auditors.
Staid and dgnilied senators turned
away and wept, and in the gale. les
tears Welled to hundreds of eyes. 1t
was d remarkable scene. and the still
ness until the last word had been pro
nCunced was as of death itself.
AS Mr.. Thurston sank into his seat
and buried his face in his hands, the
galleries were swept by such a tumult
of applause as has not in a long time
been heard In the senate chamber.
AS brother might have done, Mr..
Allen. Mr.. Thurston's colleague from
Nebraska, walked to him and placing
his arm over his shoulders quietly led
him from the chamber The act was
one OF spontaneous and touching amen
tiles amid the turbulence and discord
of political life.
Following Mr.. Thurston's speech the
senate devoted an hour to eulogies In
memory of the late Senator Harris and
then adjourned until Monday.
Thurston's Speech
Mr.. Thurston. in part, said:
| am here by command of silent lips to
speak once and for all upon the Cuban
situation. | trust that one has ex-
pected anything sensational from me. God
forbid that the bitterness of personal loss
should induce me to color in the slightest
hat p 5,,tvr
to make
shall endeavor to be honest. conserva-
tive and just. l have no purpose to stir
the public passion in any action not neces-
sary and imperative to meet the duties
and necessities Of American responsibility
Christian humanity and national honor.
would shirk this task If could. but l dare
not. | cannot satisfy my conscience OK
cept BY speaking, and speaking now
After three years OF warfare and the use
of 225, eco Spanish troops. Spain has lost
control of every foot Of Cuba not surround
ed by actual intrenchnent and protected
by fortified picket line: She holds pos
session with her armies Of the fortified sea
board towns, because they under the
virtual protection of Spanish warships. with
which the revolutionists cannot cope.
The revolutonsts in absolute and al
of the island. including the eastern prov
inces of Santiago de Cuba, and Puerto
they have established form of government,
levy and collect taxes maintain armies
and generally levy a tax or tribute upon
the principal plantations in other prov
inces and, as is commonly believed, upon
the entire railway system of the island.
Under the inhuman policy of Weyler, not
less than 100000 sef-supporting, simple,
peaceable. defenseless country people were
driven from their homes in the agricul-
tural portions of the Spanish provinces to
the cities. and imprisoned upon the barren
waste outside the residence portion of these
cities, and within the lines of ntrenchment
established a little way beyond.
Slow Starvation.
Their humble homes were burned, their
fields laid waste, their implements of hus-
bandry destroyed. their live stock and food
supplies for the most part confscated Most
OF these people were old men, women and
children. Slow starvation was their inevita-
bic fate. A conservative estimate indicates
that 100000 Of these people nave already
persisted from starvation. The government
| OF Spain has never contributed one dollar to
| house, shelter. feed or to provide medical
| attention for these citizens Such a spectacle
| exceeds the scenes of the Inferno.
never saw, and please God l may never
| again see, deplorable a sight as the re-
concentrates In the suburbs OF Matanzas
| | can never forget to my dying hour the
| hopeless anguish of their despairing eyes.
| Huddled about their little bark huts they
| raised no voice OF appeal to us for aims
| as we went among them. Men, women and
| children stand silent, furnishing. Their only
| appeal comes from their sad eyes through
which one looks as through open window
| into their agonizing souls.
| The government of Spain has not and
| will not appropriate one dollar to save these
people They are now being attended and
nursed and administered to by the charity
| of the United States. Think of the spectacle
We are feeding these citizens of SPAIN we