The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-03-24
HIS WIFE
Before Her Tragic Death Ex-
acted a Promise
From Senator Thurston to
Speak For Cuba.
MORE CROSSES SET UP
And More Butcheries Enacted
Under Them
BY FEChristian' Spain Than All
Other Nations Combined.
SHE MAY SUIT EUROPE
But Before Another Christmas
Morning DaWns
Spain Should Be Driven From
the Western Continent.
SHE MAY SUIT EUROPE
But Before Another Christmas
Morning Dawns
Spain Should Be Driven From
the Western Continent.


Washington, March "a. - Senator
Thurston of Nebraska today addressed
the senate on the Cuban question as
follows:
Mr.. President, am here by COM
mand of silent lips to speak once and
for all on the Cuban situation. trust
that no one has expected anything SEN
sational from me. God forbid that
the bitterness of personal loss should
color in the slightest degree the state
ment that I feel it my duty to make.
1 have no purpose to stir the public
passion in any action not necessary
and imperative to meet the duties and
necessities of American responsibility,
christian humanity and national honor.
1 would shirk this task if could, but
dare not. I cannot satisfy my con-
science except by speaking and speak
ing now"
Mr.. Thurston said that he had gone
to Cuba firmly believing that the condi-
ton of the affairs on the island had
been eXaggerat ted and that he had d1-
rected his efforts in the first instance
to the supposed exaggerations. He
had concluded, however, that an over
statement of the horrors of the Situa-
ton 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
(A1r. PrOctOr), but he was even con-
WINGED that he had underStated the
facts.
Mr. Thurston then tersely summar-
lied his observations and conclusions
as follows:
After three years of warfare and the
use of 225.000 Spanish troops, Spain has
lost control of every foot of Cuba, not
surrounded by an actual entrench-
ment and protected by a fortified pick
ct line.
'She holds possession with her armies
of the fortified seaboard towns, because
they are under the virtual protection
of Spanish warships, with which the
revolutionists cannot cope.
1.-The government of Spain has never
contributed one dollar to house, shelter,
feed or provide medical attention for
its own citizens. Such a spectacle ex-
ceeds the scenes of the Inferno as
painted by Dante.
There has been no ameliOratiOn of
the situation except through the char
ity of the people of the United States.
There has been no diminutiOn in the
death rate among the recOncentradOs
except as the death supply is constant
ly 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 ex-
listing condition. She cannot conquer
the insurgents. She cannot re-estab-
lish her sovereignty over any consider
able portion of the interior of the is
land. The revolutionists, while able
to maintain themselves, cannot drive
the Spanish army from the fortified
sea towns"
In detailing the incidents and reciting
the facts that came under his Observa-
ton, Mr.. ThurstOn said he had no de-
sire to deal in horrors. IF 1 had my
way" said he, I would shield the
American public even from the photo
graphic reproductions Of the awful
scenes that 1 viewed in all their Origi-
n a oh q
Of the 225,O0O soldiers Spain had sent
to Cuba, less than so, 600 were now
available for duty. The remainder are
dead, or returned to Spain incapacitat-
ed. 1t is currently reported that 81 900
are now sick in the hospitals on the
island. The army was in poor cOndi-
not believe said he, THAT the entire
Spanish army in Cuba could stand an
engagement in the open field against
10000 well disciplined American sol
The pictures in the American news
papers of the starving recOncentrados
are true. They can all be duplicated
by the thousands. I never saw and
deplorable a sight as the reconcentra-
dos in the suburbs of Matanzas. I
can never forget to my dying day the
hopeless anguish in their despairing
eyes. Huddled about their little bark
huts, they raised no voice of appeal to
us for aims, as we went among them
lent, furnishing. Their only appeal
comes from their eyes, through which
one looks as through an open window
into their agOnized souls.
I'VE are feeding these citizens of
Spain; we are nursing their sick; we
are saving such as can be saved, and
vet there are those who still say it is
right for US to send food, but we must
keep hands off. I say that the time has
come when muskets ought to go with
the food.
4 shall refer to these horrible things
no further. They are there. God pity
me; I have seen them; they will remain
in my mind forever-and this is almost
years ago, and Spain is a Christian ma
ton; she has set up more crosses in
more lands, beneath more skies and IN
der them has butchered more people
than all the other nations of the earth
combined.
Europe may tolerate her existence
as long as the people of the Old World
wish. God grant that before another
Christmas morning, the last vestage of
Spanish tyranny and oppression will
have vanished from the western hernis-
phere."
Discussing the remedy which should
be applied to the evils he found. Mr..
ThurstOn said:
What shall the United States do
Mr.. PRESIDENT
For answer Mr.. Thurston, as a Re
publican, turned to the last national
platform of his party, which declared
that the United States should active
ly use its influence and good offices to
restore peace and give independence to
the island" In accepting the nominal