Evening journal., 1898-03-22
THURSTON ON CUBA.
Nebraska Senator Says We
Should Intervene Now.
70 ADDRESS THE SENATE THURSDAY
He Thinks That Intervention by the
United states Is the Only Hope For
Saving the Cubans From starva-
tion-OpinIon ON the Maine.

OMAHA. March Eff the time for
the Intervention Of the United States
in the affairs Of Cuba is not here now,
1t never viii come" said Senator Thurs
ton TO reporter. Il wired Senator Al
len to announce that 1 would speak on
the Cuban question in the senate next
Thursday"
The senator says that the only solu-
ton of the trouble is Intervention un-
less the people of the United States are
willing to look on and see the work Of
starvation already so far advanced
completed. The reconcentrados are alb
solutely without hope, and if the death
lists in any parts of the island are de-
creasing IT is only because the material
for starvation to work upon is giving
out. All that the reconcentrados can
now do. with their homes and imple-
ments destroyed by fire. their little
farms devastated and growing inweeds,
their stock driven off 60 furnish food
for the Spanish soldiers and themselves
emaciated and diseased, is to remain in
their pens with a look of quiet despair
and take the little food that they can
get, sent by the charity Of the United
States. 1t is perfectly true says the
senator, that the insurgents practically
have the whole island. All that the
Spanish hold is Havana, and even
while the congressional party was there
there was fighting in the suburbs of
that city.
Senator Thurston was asked what ef-
feet Intervention would have in increas-
ing the volume of the insurgent move
ment. He said that 1t would have some
effect in that direction, for then the
Cubans generally would rise and de-
clare themselves.
The members Of the party saw all
classes Of Spaniards in Cuba and had
an opportunity to learn their temper
with regard to the Americans there
He said that by the better classes he
and his friends were treated with re-
spect and If any bitterness was enter
tained 1t was kept concealed. But he
had heard that by the rabble of Havana
some insulting remarks were made with
with reference to the ladies OF their
party
He said 1t was the impression among
Americans in Havana that the Maine
was blown up by an external explosion.
and while he denied having informa-
ton from any official sources on which
to form an opinion he said that he had
no uouDl lIdL lue snip WAS DlOWn up
from without. If" he was asked, "the
report Of the naval board should be that
such was the case. but that the agency
could not be definitely ascertained, what
course would you adviser"
L would" he answered, determine
what would be a proper indemnity and
demand It,"
If the report Of the naval board Of
inquiry should implicate responsible
Spanish officials in the blowing up of
the Maine. what course do you think
would be proper?
Il would consider the blowing up OF
the ship an act Of war and declare wai
at once"
do you think the administration
would consent to submit either the gen.
eral Cuban dispute or a question of in
demnity for the destruction of the Maine
TO arbitration"
I do not see how it could" replied
the senator. Il do not believe It would