Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1898-03-29
STRONG I. PLEA FOR CUBA:
Vivid Word Picture of the Horrors
and Barbarities in the Island
Drawn by Mr.. Gallinger.
DECLARES SPAIN EQUAL TO ANY CRIME
Walking Skeletons Are Met on Every
Corner in Havana-Weyler's "ln-
fernO'' Puts to Shame That of
Dante-Says Cuba Will BE Free
Autonomy a Failure.

Autonomy Failure.
Washington, March PA vivid word
picture of the horrors and barbarities
of concentration on the island of Cuba
was drawn in the senate yesterday by
Senator Gallinger IN. H.. The sena-
tor recently visited Cuba to study the
situation there. A synopsis of his
speech follows:
In opening his speech Senator Gallinger
said that after the calm, dispassionate and
touching statement concerning Cuba made
in the senate recently by Senator Proctor,
of Vermont. it might be we'll for him to re-
main silent, but, yielding to the desire ex-
pressed by many Of his colleagues, he had
consented to give a plain recital of some
OF his observations on that "unhappy
island.''
Pays Lee n Tribute.
Senator Gallinger then detailed some of
the events leading up to his arrival in Cuba
and of his reception by Consul General
Lee;
highest possible praise for the manner in
which he carries himself in Havana. Cool
and fearless in the midst of difficulties and
dangers, he never loses sight Of the fact
that he is an American citizen, nor is he
unmindful of the tremendous responsible
tiles and duties of his position"
Referring to his call upon the autonomist
cabinet, Senator Gallinger said it was evil
dent that the president Of the cabinet was
not encouraged in the work. 1.-The truth
is" said Senator Gallinger, "autonomy is
a fiat failure
War Exists in Cuba.
Senator Gallinger recalled that he had
heard during debates in the senate denials
made that state of war existed in Cuba,
but it required only a brief personal OBJ
servation to convince one that war actual
ly did exist. A desOlated country and it's
stricken people told the story more elo-
quently than it could be conveyed in words
1.-The war in Cuba, however," he said, lis a
war Of starvation and determination -
war more cruel than the world has ever
known"
Narrowing Scenes.
1.-THE scenes in the streets of Havana are
narrowing beyond description. People in
want and suffering are everywhere seen,
and walking skeletons meet one on every
hand. Naked children, emaciated and
ragged women and diseased and starving
men throng the streets, the hotel Hobbies
and every place of public resort 1t is a.
terrible sight-one that sickens the heart
and quickens every impulse Of human
sympathy and love-"
A detailed story of visit to Los Focas.
the place where the reconcentrados daily
assemble to get food, was also given A
few weeks ago when Miss Barton discov-
cred the place there were 645 people lying
on the floors, many of them entirely nude
and all suffering the pangs of starvation.
Weyler's "InfernO."
A vivid picture was then drawn by Sem
ator Gallinger of a trip to the city of
Matanzas. All along the route were
wretched people in rags, but not until the
city was reached was the full extent of the
suffering realized. 1T occurred to me as
I looked upon the scenes Of suffering and
horrors that the Cuban reconcentrados
might well have adopted the words of
Dante: Who enters here leaves hope be-
hind when they were driven from the
fields and herded like cattle in the cities and
towns of this fertile land. The truth is
that Weyler devised a scheme of human
suffering and sorrow that put Dante's In
fernO' to the shade and converted con-
tented, prosperous people into herd Of
suffering, starving unfortunates."
1.-The number of people who have starved
in Cuba will never be definitely known It
is estimated that 100000 were driven from
their homes into the cities and towns. I
had it from Spanish authority that accord
ing to their figures, 225000 already have
persisted, but it is said that the Red Cross
society is in possession of figures showing
that 425,000 Cubans have died as result of
Spanish cruelty from starvation and that
100000 more must inevitably die.
Gold Can't Pay for Crime.
II have been asked many times, what of
the Maine. I do not know. This, how
ever 1 do know: A government that will
will do pretty much anything. If the ship
was blown up from the outside, what
should our government do? Perhaps I
should forbear to discuss that question
now; but this will venture to say: Human
life purposely taken cannot be paid for in
gold or silver. Mark my words 'purposely
taken,' and if 1t shall appear that such was
the fate of $50 brave American sailors, then
Heaven pity the guilty parties. 1t will not
be a question for arbitration, but ques-
ton involving the dignity and honor OF this
great republic"
Must Absorb Cuba.
AS to what should be done, Senator Gal
lnger felt that sooner or later this govern
ment would of necessity absorb Cuba, but
If annexation cannot now be accomplished,
can interests in Cuba" said he, in con-
clusion, "have already suffered enough.
We have patrolled our coast in the interest
of Spain as long as we should, and we have
spent quite too much money in protecting
our people from Epidemic diseases coming
to our shores because of the unsanitary
condition Of the harbor and city or Ha-
vana. Spain has failed to meet the require
ments of an advanced civilization. Let the
United States or Cuba take up the problem
and solve it"
Several times during the delivery of
the speech Oendtof 0dIlHSeI was liz
terrupted by hearty applause from the
galleries. Senator Gallinger was 3s
minutes in delivering his speech, and as
he commended 1.-The poor, suffering
Cubans to the great heart of the Amer
lean people," a great wave of applause
swept through the galleries. He was
warmly congratulated by many of his
colleagues. .;..,,vs::
In Extra Session.
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