The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1898-03-29
HE SPOKE BY THE COMMAND
OF SILENT LIPS.
He WAS LED FROM SENATE, OVER COME
A Splendid Display of Pathos and Patriotic
Passion Which Thrilled and Melted the
Hearts of Those Who Heard
War the Remedy.
War the Remedy.

interest. was presented i'll the Senate to-
day during the delivery by Mr.. Thurs
ton. OF Nebraska, Of Il speech on the
Cuban situation.
Not since the inauguration of Presl-
lent 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 rs 9:3O a.
H.. in order to obtain seats.
Within Il few minutes after the Sen
ate convened every Senator who could
DE present was in his seat and by the
time Mr.. Thur>ton had begun his speech
dozens of members of the House were
either standing or Occupying chairs in
the area without the Senf:-cirtle of seats.
Mr.. ThurSton'S first sentence in which
he said he spoke by of silent
liI4S-a delicate and touching reference
ito thc loss of his wife on his memorable
trip to Cuba-commanded instant atten-
ton. \ hush fell over the great au-
dirnce. which hung with almost breath
less attention and interest upon every
word.
Some surprise has been expressed that
Senator Thurrton should appear i'll pub
lie prominently SO soon after the demlsc
of Mrs. Thurston. but the first sentence
of his speech furnished the key to his
action. 1t is true that Mr.. Tluretons
speech to-day. viewed from one stand
point. was ali 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
tn Slya 1nI frpn cJIbu md ITS npOlAtO
In accordance with this request, there
fore. Senator Thurston sacrificed his
personal feeling and delivered his
~pccch-a speech that was his tribute
10 the memory of his wife.
Without knowing the motive which
animated Mr.. Thurston and inspired him
To his best efforts. his audience i%nstinc-
lively realized and thoroughly sympa-
thized with his evident emotion.
The speech was very generally regard
cd AZ Il mastery effort and even those
who could not agree with his concIu-
>ionS. conceded the power of his Grafton.
As lie ncarcd the end of the speech his
voice which had been us clear and ring
ing as The q Of Il bell. noticcably
broke. He WAS almost overcome by
emotion but rallied with an effort and
closed i'll Il manner that thrilled his al-
ditor~.
As Mr.. Thur~ton sank into his seat
and buried his face in his hands the gal
lcrIcs were swept by such Il tumult of
applause as had not in q long time
been heard in the Senate chamber.
rs a brother might have done Mr.. Al
len, Mr.. IhurSton'S colleague from Ne
bra>ka, walked to him and. placing his
arm over his shoulders quietly led him
from the chamber. Thc act WAS one Of
toe spontaneous and touching amenities
amid the turbulence and diScOrd of DO
litical life.
Mr.. Ihurston began his speech rs soon
as the routine business had been dis
posed of. He WAS prepared. he said, not
TO adopt every word of the careful con-
else ard specific statement Of the Scna-
tor from Vermont. MI. proctorl. but
he WAS wen convinced that he had un,
d%r~tated the facts.
The pictures IN the American news.
papers of the starving r~cconcentrados
are true. They can all be duplicated by
the thousands. | never saw. and please
God | may never again see. as depl0r-
able sight rs the rcc0nccntrados in the
suburbs of MatanZaS. | can never for
get TO my dying day the hopeless anguish
in their despairing eyes. Huddlcd about
their little bark huts. they raised no
voice of appeal TO us for aims us 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
AZ can be saved, and yet there are those
who still say it is not Fight for us to
send food, that we must keep hands off.
say that the time has come when mus
kcts ought to 90 with the food"
Discussing the remedy which should
TIC applied TO the evils he found, Mr..
IhurSton said:
Il counsclcd 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 will take
action on the Cuban situation entirely
outside of the Marine case. When the
Maine report is received. if it be foun0
that our ship and sailors were blown up
10y some outside explosive. we will have
ample PREPARATION without bubble or de-
lay: and if the explosion can be traced
10 Spanish official sources there VIII he
such swift and terrible punishment ad-
Judged as Will remain a warming to the
world forever.
What shall the United States do.
Mr.. l'rcsidcntE'
For answer Mr.. Ihlrston, as a Re
publican, turned to the last national
platform Of his party which declared
that the United States should ac-
lively use its influence and good offices
10 restore peace and give independence
To the island in accepting the nomi-
nation rendered him 10y the convention
which has adopted the Cuban plank
With a mighty shout VIM. Mckinley
had said:
That platform adopted by the Re.
publican convention has received my
careful consideration and has my un-
qualified APPROVAL
Twice within the past two years, Mr..