The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1898-03-18

tcohc III INC Scfhtc Dnrihs the DeiiScry
of Hts Speech was Almost Drnn,ntie-ne
Pays a Glowing Trlbuteio General Ice
and tho two A Amtrlenn Con,ul..
WASHINGTON. D. c., March IL
Senator Proctor. OF Vermont. who re-
turned last Sunday from an extended
trip to and ;hroughthe Island Of Cuba
This afternoon. made a statement TO
the senate OF his observations on the
Island.
From many view points the statement
was remarkable. It had evidently beea
most carefully prepared. Every elemen:
Of sensatonal!sm had been stuilously
eliminated from H. and, except 50 fac
as the facts recited were Sensational, II
bore not the slightest evidence Of m es-
fort to arouse the public mind, already
keenlR alive 10 the condition OF affairs
on the island.
Every statement made by Senator
Proctor was with that clearness and
/ precision which charactecizes tho accll-
rute demonstration Of a problem In
mathematics. Calm and dispasslonate
to notable degree, the utterances OF
the senator aroused n breathless inter-
est. Every person within tho sound OF
his voice was convinced that he was
putting his conversation into careful
| terms, lest he might subject himself TO
the criticism OF being emotional. One
OF the best characterlzations OF the
statement was made by Senator Frye,
! (Maine), 4 few minutes after Its deliv-,
cry. "It Is, !" said he. lust as IL Proctor,
had held up his right hand and sworn
ITO H." That was the impression the,
statement made upon the senate.
The scene in the senate Just preceding
and during the delivery OF the speech OF
saator Proctor was almost dramatic in
the Intensity OF It's interest. The occa-
sion OF the address arose very unexpect-
edly. The national quarantine bill was
under discussion and Senator Mallory.
| (Fla.), had been recognized for I speech
| In opposition to the pending measure.
Mr.. FRYE entered the chamber, and In
| terrupting Mr.. Mallory requested him
| to yield to Mr.. Proctor who desired to
| make a statement concerning his OBJ
servations In Cuba, OF interest TO the
senate and to the country,
Instantly there was 4 conmotion on
the floor and in the galleries. 1t had
been announced that Mr.. Proctor would
soon make statement. tbutsit-was. not
supposed that he would make-it on the
| floor, OF the senate. A call OF the senate
was demanded by Mr.. Chandler, (N.
H.) In a few minutes every senator In
! the capitol was in his seat and the word
having been passed through the corr!-
doris, people ilocked 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 con-
graduated by many OF his colleagues.
Mr., Proctor read his speech from
manuscript, speaking rapidly but clear
lF. The speech In full follows:
More importance seems to be at
tached by others to my recent visit to
Cuba than have given It. It has been
| ouSbGsltd kildl puDllSH skdtC-
ment of what saw and how the situa-
count of the public interest In all that
concerns Cuba and to correct any mac
curacles that have not unnaturally ap-
! peared In some OF the reported inter-
views with me. Ny trip was entirely
unofficial and OF my own motion: not
suggested by any one. The only men,
tion ] made OF 1t to the President was
to say to him that contemplated such
| q trip and 10 ask il!m II there was any
objection toiit to which he replied that
he could see none. No one but myself.
therefore, Is responsible for anything In
this statement. Judge Day gave mo
brief note OF Introduction to General
Lee. and had letters Of Introduction
| from business friends at the north to
bankers and other business men at Ha-
vana, and they In turn gave me letters
to their correspondents In other cities.
These letters to business men were very
useful. rs one principal purpose OF my
visit was to ascertain the views of
practical men of affairs upon the sltua-
ton.
"Of General Lee. need say little,
His valuable services to his country In
his trying position aro too well known
to all his countrymen 10 require men,
tlon. Besides his ability. high charac-
ter and courage, he possesses the i'm
portant requisites OF unfailing tact and
courtesy. and with his military cduca-
ton and training and his soldictly
qualities are Invaluable ad1uncts in the
equipment OF our representative in q
country so completely under military
rule as In Cuba. General Lee kindly In
ylted us to sit at his table at tho hotel
during our stay In Havana, and this
opportunity for frequent Informal talks
with him wns Of great help to mo. In
addition 10 the information he volun-
tarly gave me, 1t furnished a convenl-
cnt opportunity to ask him the many
questions that suggested themselves In
explanation of things seen and heard on
our trips throughout the country. also
met and spent considerable time with
| Consul Brice ut Matanzas, and with
Captain Barker. staunch ex-Confed-
crate soldier, at Sasua In Grande. 4
friend OF the senator from Mississippi
(Mr. WnlthalD. None OF our reprcsen-
tat!ves whom met In Cuba nre OF mF
political faith, but there Is q broader
faith not bounded by party lines, They
arc oil three true Americans. and have
done excellent service. e;3
1T has been stated that said there
was no doubt that the Maine was blown
up from the outside. This is a mistake,
I may have said that such was the Sen-