The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-03-24


without amendment.
Then. in accordance with notice Civ
en- yesterday. Mr.. Galiinger of New
Hampshire 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.. CAL
linger's speech follows:
In opening his speech, Mr.. Gallinger
said that after the calm. dispassionate
and touching statement concerning
Cuba, made in the senate recently by
Mr.. Proctor Of Vermont. ii might be
well for him To remain silent. but. yield
ing to the desire expressed by many OF
his colleagues, he had consented to give
a plain recital Of some of his observa-
tions on that unhappy island"
He referred to the efforts made by the
Cubans in 1929. in 1874. in 1s4s. In 1850. In
1851. in 1868. and again in 1895. 10 break
the chains that bound them to Spain. in
order that they might establish for
themselves free government upon the
soil that was rightly theirs Save the
last, all these efforts have ended in fall
ure. That failure is historic. and need
not be recounted.
Mr.. Gallinger then detailed some Of
the events Leading up TO his arrival in
Cuba and Of his reception by Consul
General Lee.
General Lee" said he. lis deserving
Of the highest possible praise for the
manner in which he conducted 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 unmind-
full of the tremendous responsibility and
duty of his position"
Referring to his call upon the autono-
mist cabinet. Mr.. Gallinger said II was
ovtlent that the president of the cabinet
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 insurrec-
ton have not forgotten how they were
treated by Spain in 1873. and the bribes
now being offered them are spurned with
contempt. Better death than autono-
my said a leading Cuban to me. for
autonomy Is only a pretense under
which we wouf1 again be slaves OF
Spain"
Mr. Gallinger recalled that he had
heard during debates in the senate de-
mails made that a state Of war existed
in Cuba, but II required only a brief per-
sonal observation to convince one that
war actually did exist. A desolated
country and it's stricken people told the
story more eloquently than 1t could be
conveyed in words.
"The war in Cuba, however" he said,
lis a war OF starvation and extermina-
t!on--a war more cruel than the worst
ever known"
The Spanish troops do not impress
Americans as great soldiers. They are
under a lax discipline and are poorly
uniformed and inadequateiy fed The
high officials do most of their fighting
in hotels and cafes. the actual fighting
being done by those of inferior grades.
on the contrary, the insurgents are
comfortably clad and under strict dis
cipline They occupy a large part OF
the island, and could. in Mr.. Gallingers
ju.igment, take Havana or Matanzas
whenever IL might suit their purpose.
although those cities could not be held
for lack of a navy.
THE scenes in the streets of Havana
are narrowing beyond description. Peo-
pie in want and suffering are every
where seen and walking skeletons meet
one on every hand. Naked children,
emaciated and ragged women. and dis
easel and starving men throng the
streets. the hotel lobbies and every
place of public resort. Ii is terrible
sight one that sickens the heart and
quickens every pulse of human sympa-
thy and love-"
Under the very shadow of cathedrafs
and churches. where Spain's authority
is absolute and unquestioned, the most
horrible conditions exist. Many have
refused to believe that a great govern
ment was waging war of extermina-
tion instead of a war OF honor. yet such
is an absolute fact. A visit was paid
to the orphanage. which is now under
the care of Miss Clara Barton. Ii now
contains about so children. almost
everyone OF whom is a victim OF star
vation. DIR. LASER, one of Miss BAR
tons assistants. has had experience IN
the Armenian and Indian famines. but
he declares that the famine in Cuba Is
worse than in Armenia. and the pic
lures he drew of the terrible suffering
and starvation in the island more than
confirm all that has been written upon
the subject.
A detailed story of visit to Los
Aocas. the place where the reconcen-
trados daily assemble to get food. was
also given. A few weeks ago. when
Miss Barton discovered the place. there
were 6i5 people lying on the hoors,
many of them entirely nude. and all
suffering the pangs OF starvation. Much
has been done by the Red Cross So
ciety to alleviate the condition of those
who still remain. but scores OF men.
women and children are yet there.
gaunt and bony almost as a skeleton.
many of them covered with sores. d.
rectly traceable to insufficient food
What a chapter of horror and death
is that and still the tragedy goes on
How much longer shall IL continue
largely depends upon the forebearance
OF a great people. who. through suffer-
ing and sorrow. achieved their own in
dependence. and whose sympathies
have always gone out to the oppressed
of all nations of the world"
A vivid picture was then drawn by
Mr. 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 ex-
tent of the suffering realized
1T occurred to me as looked upon
the scene of sufferings and horrors that
the Cuban reconcentrados might well
have adopted the words of Dante. who
enters here leaves hope behind. 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 hu-
man suffering and sorrow that put