Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1898-03-31
STRONG PLEA FOR CUBA
Vivid Word Picture of the Horrors
and Barbarities in the Island
Drawn by Mr.. Gallinger.
DECLARES SPAIN EQUAL TO ANY CRIME
Corner in Havana-WeyIer's "In-
ferno" Puts TO Shame That of
Dante senator ThurstOn Tells
what He Saw in Cuba.

Washington, March PA vivid word
picture of the horrors and barbarities
of concentration on the island of Cuba
was drawn in the senate yesterday by
Senator Gallinger q. H.. The sena-
tor recently visited Cuba TO study the
situation there. A synopsis of his
speech follows:
In opening his speech Senator GaIlinger
said that after the calm, iispassionate and
touching statement concerning Cuba made
in the senate recently by Senator Proctor,
Of Vermont. II might be well for him to re-
main silent. but. yielding to the desire ex-
consented to give plain recital of some
OF his observations on that unhappy
island" ~~-
War Exists in Cuba.
Senator Gallinger recalled that he had
heard during debates in the senate denials
but II required only q brief personal OBJ
servation to convince one that war actual
ly did exist. A desolated country and its
stricken people told The story more elo-
quently than II could be conveyed in words
The war In Cuba, however" he said "is a
war of starvation and determination - a
war more cruel than the world has ever
known"
narrowing Scenes.
THE scenes In the streets of Havana are
narrowing beyond description. People In
want and suffering are everywhere seen.
and walking skeletons meet one on every
hand. Naked children. emaciated and
ragged women and diseased and starving
men throng the streets, the hotel Hobbies
and every place of public resort. 1t is a
terrible sight-one that sickens the heart
and quickens every impulse of human
sympathy ard love"
A detailed story OF a visit TO Los Focas.
the place where the reconcentrados daily
assemble to get food. was also given. A
few weeks ago when Miss Barton discov-
on the floors. many Of them entirely nude
and all suffering the pangs Of starvation.
weyIer's "InfernO."
vivid picture was then drawn by Sen
Rtor Gallinger OF a trip to the CITY Of
Matanzas. All along the route were
wretched people In rags. but not until the
city was reached was the fun extent Of the
suffering realized. ut occurred to me as
/ looked upon the scenes of suffering and
horrors that the Cuban reconcentrados
might well have adopted the words OF
Dante: Who enters here leaves hope be-
hind when they were driven from the
fields and herded like cattle In the cities and
towns of this fertile land. The truth is
that Weyler devised a scheme OF human
suffering and sorrow that put Dantes In
ferno' TO the shade and converted a con-
tented. prosperous people into a herd of
suffering. starving unfortunates."
THE number OF people who have starved
IN Cuba viii never be definitely known. II
Is estimated that $4,000 were driven from
their homes into the cities and towns.
had II from Spanish authority that accord
ing to their figures, DPS 600 already have
persisted. but II is said that the Red Cross
society IS in possession OF figures showing
that 425.000 Cubans have died as a result OF
Spanish cruelty from starvation and that
100000 more must inevitably die.
Gold Can't Pay for Crime.
IT have been asked many times. what OF
the Maine. / do not know. This, how
ever. I do know: A government that Will
deliberately starve 10000 Of its own people
will do pretty much anything. IF the shin
was blown up from the outside. what
should our government do? Perhaps 1
should forbear 10 discuss that question
now: but this will venture to say: Human
life purposely taken cannot be paid for I'm
gold or silver. Mark my words 'purposelv
taken. and If II shall appear that such was
the fate Of go brave American sailors then
Heaven pity the guilty parties 1t will not
be a question for arbitration, but a ques-
tioa involving the dignity and honor of this
great republic"
Must Absorb Cubn.
As 20 what should be done. Senator Cal
linger felt that sooner or later this govern
ment would Of necessity absorb Cuba. but
II annexation cannot now be accomplished,
let independence speedily come "Ameri-
can interests in Cuba" said he, in con-
clusion, have already suffered enough
we have patrolled our coast In the interest
OF Spain as long as We should. and we have
spent quite too much money IN protecting
our people from epidemic diseases coming
TO our shores because of the unsanitary
condition OF the harbor and city of Ha-
vRna. Spain has failed to meet the require
ments OF an advanced civilization. Let the
United States or Cuba take up the problem
u,, "a