The San Francisco call., 1898-03-24

O can sailors, then heaven pity the V o guilty parties. It will not be o 0 question for arbitration, but o o question involving the dignity o o and honor of this great repub- o O lic."-Extract from a speech de- O o livered by Senator Gallinger. o 900 o o o o o o o
 WASHINGTON, March 23.-The an ticipated discussion of the Cuban ques- tton drew an unusually large crowd Of spectators to the galleries of the Sen ate to-day. The galleries were packed and long lines of people swayed through the corridors vainly seeking admission. Every Senator at the Cap itol was in his seat
 MT. Tillman of South Carolina an nounced that he would next Tuesday at D. m. ask the Senate to consider the resolutions upon the death of his col league, the late Senator Earle.
 Bacon of Georgia presented joint resolution, declaring in favor of peaceful settlement of the present crisis Bacon said that owing to the importance of the resolution he would not ask for it's immediate considera- tion. but would permit it to lie upon the table until tomorrow
 Very quietly and with no attempt to produce effect the bill providing tor the aster was presented to the Senate for consideration. Hale of Maine, Char man of the Naval Affairs Committee, reported the bill favorably and asked that it be placed at once upon us pas sage The bill was read and without debate was unanimously passed Wilh- out amendment.
 Then. in accordance with a notice given yesterday, MT. Gallinger Of New Hampshire was recognized for a speech upon the condition of affairs in Cuba; Mir Gallinger has recently returned from the island. He received the most careful and thoughtful attention Of every person within the sound of his voice
 said that after the calm, dlspaSslonate and touching statement concerning Cuba made in the Senate recently by MT. Proctor of Vermont, 1t might be well for him to remain silent, put, yielding to the desire expressed by many of his colleagues, he had con- sented to give a plain recital of some of his observations on that unhappy leland 9 He referred to the efforts made bv the Cubans in 1929, in 1S44, in 1S48, in 1850, in 1851, in 1868 and agaln in 1895. to break the chains that bound them to Spain in order that they might
  ment upon the soil that was rightly theirs" Save the last all these efforts had ended in failure. That failure was history and need not be recounted.
 MT. Gallinger spoke of his reception by Consul General Lee.
 "General Lee," said he, lis deserv- ing of the highest possible praise for the manner in which he conducted him. self in Havana. Cool and fearless in the midst of difficulties and dangers,
 0S fha nf hot he is an American citizen, nor IS he unmindfuI of the tremendous respon- sibility and duty of his position.
 Referring to his call upon the Au- tonomist Cabinet, MT. Gall1nger said It was evident that the President of the Cabinet was not encouraged III Ihe work. .s "autonomy is a fiat failure, opposed alike by the. ultra -Spaniards and the Cubans. The leaders of the insurrec- +ion have not forgotten how they were treated by Spain in 1878, and the hlan- dishments and bribes now being offered them a1e spurned with contempt. Bet Ter death than autonomy, sad lead ing Cuban to me, for autonomy Is only a pretense under which we would aga>n be slaves of Spain.
 Mr. GalIinger recalled that he had heard during debates in the Senate de nials made that a state or war existed Tn Crba. but it required only brief I1ersonal observation to convince one that war actually did exist, A deso- lated country and it's stricken people told the story more eloquently than IL could be conveyed in words.
 ''The war in Cuba, however, he sald, 'is a war of starvation and extermlna- tion-a war more cruel than the "orlo has ever before known
 The Spanish troops do not impress Americans as great soldiers, he said They are under a lax discipline ana are poorly uniformed and inadequateIy req. The high officials do most or thelr ileheI lltI ing in hotels and cafes, the actual fighting being done by those of inferior grade On the contrary, the lISuI senls zen are comfortably clad and unoer stIict discipline They occupy a large RaIl of the island and could, in MT. IaiIlH- gers judgment, take Havana or Mdt- anzas whenever it might suit tbelr pur- pose although these cities could not pc held for lack of a navy. Continuing ne said:
 The scenes in the streets Tn Havana are narrowing beyond description Feo- pie in want and suffering are eVeryWhere seen, and walking skeletons meet one on every hand. Naked children, emacialeu and ragged women, diseased ana SidIV1 Hobbies and every place of public resort. It is a terrible sght-one that sickens the heart and quickens every impulse or hu- man sympathy and love.
 Under the shadow of cathedrals ana churches, where Spain's authority IS ap- solutely unquesioned, the most horrible conditions are conceded to exist. Many hc Ve refused tO haIiaUa that great Gov