Daily capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1896-1899, 1898-03-25
PLEAD FOR STARVING cuBANs
Senator Thurston Fulflls a Last Re-
otIeSf

dramatic in the intensity OF It's in
terest was presented in the senate
during the delivery by Thurston, of
Nebraska, of speech on the Cuban
subject. 1t is true that Thurston's
speech viewed from one standpoint,
was an unusual proceeding, but it
was justified by the conditions at
tending it.
Mrs, Thurston 's.dying request to her
husband was that he should lose no
time on the account of her death to do
his utmost to save and free Cuba and
her people. In accordance with this
request, therefore, Thurston sacrificed
his personal feeling and delivered his
speech-a speech that was his tribute
to the memory of his wife. Without
knowing the motiye that animated
Thurston and aspired him to his best
efforts. his auditors instinctively real
lied and sympathized with his emo
tions. AS he neared the end of his
speech his voice, which had been clear
and ringing, noticeably broke. He
was almost overcome with emotion,
but rallied with an effort and closed
| in a manner that thrilled his auditors.
Staid and dignified senators turned
away and wept, and in the galleries
tears welled to hundreds of eyes. 1t
was a remarkable scene and the still
ness, until the last word had been
pronounced, was of death itself. AS
Thurston sa nix back into his seat and
buried his face in his hands the gal
leries were swept by such tumult of
applause as has not in long time
been heard in the senate chamber.
AS a brother might have done, Allen,
Thurston's colleague, walked over to
him and, placing his arm oyer his
shoulders, quietly led him from the
chamber. The act was one of the
spontaneous3and touching amenities
amid the turbulance and discord of
political life,
For an hour and half before the
senate convened the galleries
were crowded with people anxious to
hear the promised discussion of the
| Cuban question. Hundreds of peO-
pie surged through the upper cOrrid.
ors, eagerly, but vainly, appealing to
the doorkeepers for admission. The
crowd had been attracted particularly
by the announcement that Senator
Thurston, of Nebraska, was to address
the senate upon the Cuban matter,
basing his utterances upon his recent
trip to the island-a trip that had
brought TO him the deepest bereaYe.
ment that can come to man. 1t was
expected that the ADDE'S would be
notable oration, as wei. a| thorough
discussion of the political phases of
the pending controversy. On the
floor senators were early in their
seats, and here and there about the
chamber was member of the house
of representatives. Thurston's first
sentence, containing a delicate aud
touching reference to his recent be-
reavement, commanded instant at
| tention.
"Mr. President" said Thurston. ~
am here, by command of silent lips, to
speak once and for all upon the Cuban
situation, trust that no one has
expected anything sensational from
me. God forbid that the bitterness
of personal loss should induce me to
color in the slightest degree the state
ment that 1 feel it my duty TO
make"
Thurston said he had gone to Cuba
firmly believing the condition Of af-
fairs in the island had been greatly
exaggerated. He had concluded, how
ever, that an oyer-statement of the
horrors Of the situation was impos-
sible.
m"The pictures in American news
papers OF the starving reconcentrados
are true. They can be duplicated by
the thousands, l meyer saw and,
please God, never again wish to see,
such sufferings as the concentrates in
the suburbs CT Matanzas edure. l
can never forget to my dying day the
hopeless anguish of their despairing
eyes.
"Men, women and children stand
silent, famishing. Their only appeal
comes from their sad eyes, through
which one looks as through an open
window into their agonizing SOULS"
"The government of Spain will not
appropriate one dollar to save these
people," said ThursJon. "Think Of
the spectacle: We are feeding those
citizens of Spain; we are nursing their
sick; we are saying such as can be
saYed, and yet there are those who
still say it, is right for US to send
food, but we must keep our hands of.
l say that the time has come when
muskets ought to 10 with the food.
"Mr. President, in the cable that
moored me to life and hope, the
I \