The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-03-25
ELOQUENT THURSloN.
Continued from First Page,

Continued from First Page,
Mr.. Hale of Maine demanded the yea
and nay vote and the motion was defeat
ed, 52-9, those voting in the negative were
Messrs. Cannon. Chandler, Foraker.
Frye, Gallinger, Harris, Mason, Mills and
Pettigrew.
having been completed, Mr.. Thurston
was recognized for the delivery of his an
nounced speech ON the Cuban situation.
His first sentence that he appeared by
command of silent lips to present his
views one and for all on the Cuban stu
alton, containing as it did contain.
delicate and touching reference to his
recent terrible bereavement, commanded
instant attention.
.'Mr. President" said Mr.. Thurston in
opening, 81 am here by command of
silent lips to speak once and for all upon
the Cuban question. l 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 statement that
think it my duty to make:
~ shall endeayor to be honest, conser-
vstive and Just. I have no purpose to
stir the public action in my speech now
neces sary and imperative TO meet the
duties and necessities of American re-
sponsibility, Christian humanity and
national honor. 1 would shirk this task
if could, but 1 dare not cannot salts,
fy nv conscience except by speaking and
speaking now.
Mr.. Thurston said that he had gone to
Cuba firmly believing that the condition
of affairs on the island had been greatly
exaggerated and that he directed his
efforts in the first instance to the expos
ure of the supposed exaggerations. He
= lid hot
statement OF the horrors of the stu alton
was impossible. He was prepared, he
stated, not only to adopt every word Of
the careful, concise and specific statement
of the Senator from Vermont (Mr. Proc
tor) but he was even convinced that he
had understated the facts. Mr.. Thurston
then tersely summarized his observations
and conclusions as follows:
After three years Of warfare and the
use Of 225, 900 Spanish troops, Spain has
lost control of every foot of Cuba not sur
rounded by an actual intrenchment and
protected by fortified picket line.
She holds possession with her army of
the fortified seaport towns. because they
are under the virtual protection of Span
ish warships. while the revolutionlsts
are in absolute and almost peaceful pos
session of nearly half of the island, in
Guiding the eastern provinces of Santiago
de Cuba and Puerto Principe.
In those provinces they have an estab-
lished form of government, levy and col
lect taxes, maintain armies, and general
ly levy tax or tribute upon the principal
plantations in otherSprovinces and, 1T is
commonly believed, upon the entire rail-
way system of the island. In the four So
called Spanish provinces there is neither
cultivation nor railway operations expect
under strong Spanish military protection,
or by consent of the revolutionists in con-
sideration of tribute paid.
Under the inhuman policy Of Weyler,
not less than 400, 600 self supporting, peace
full, defenseless country people were driven
from their homes in the agricultural
portions of tho Spanish provinces to the
cities and imprisoned under the barren
waste outside the residence portions of
these cities and within the lines of re-
trenchment established little way be-
yond. Their humble homes were burned,
their fields laid waste, their implements
of husbandry destroyed and their live
stock and food supplies for the most part
confscated.
Most of these people were old lien,
women and children. Slow starvation
was thsir inevitable fate. A conservative
estimate indicates that 80, 900 of these
people have already persisted from starya-
ton. The government of Spain has never
contributed one dollar to house, shelter,
feed or to provide medical attention for
these, its own citizens. There has been no
amelioration of the situation, except
through the people of the United States.
There has been no diminution in the death
rate among these reconcentrados, except
as the death supply is constantly
diminished. There is no relief and no
hope except through the continued charity
of the American people until peace has
been fully restored in the island.
Spain cannot put an end to the existing
conditions. She cannot conquer the in
surgents. She cannot re-establish her
sovereignty over any considerable portion
of the interior of the island. The revolu-
selves, cannot drive the Spanish army
from the fortified seacoast towns. The
situation the;s is not war, as we under
stand it, but chaos of devastation and
depopulation of underlined duration.
In detailing the incidents and reciting
the facts that came under his observation.
Mr.. Thurston said he had no desire to
deal in horrors ''If ! had my way"
said he, ~ would shield the American
public, even from the Photographic repro
auctions of the awful scenes that l viewed
in all their original ghastliness -
OF the 225, 900 soldiers Spain has sent to
Cuba less than Co. 600 are now available
for duty. The remainder are dead or sick
in hospitals, or returned to Spain in
capscitated. 1t is currently reported that
70O0 are now sick in the hospitals OF
island. The army was in poor condition
and under lax discipline.
81 do not believe, - said he, ''that the
en- tire Spanish army in Cuba could stand
an engagement in the open field against