Arizona republican., 1898-03-24
THE WOES OF CUBA.
Speech of Senator Proctor of Vermont
 on His Return From the Island.
CHAPTER I.


 "More importance seems to be at tached by others to my recent visit to Cuba than I have given it. It has been suggested that I make public statement of what I saw and how the situation impressed me. This I do on account of the public interest in all that concerns Cuba and to correct any inaccuracies that have, not unnatural ly, appeared in some of the reported interviews with me. My trip was en- tirely unofficial and of my own mo- tion-not suggested by any one. The only mention I made of it to the president was to say to him that 1 contemplated such trip, and to ask him if there was any objection to It, to which he replied that he could see none. No one but myself, therefore, is responsible for anything in this statement. Judge Day gave me brief note of introduction to General Lee, and I had letters of introduction from business friends at the north to bankers and other business men at Havana, and they in turn gave me let ters to their correspondents in other cities. These letters to business men were very usful, as one principal pur- pose of my visit was to ascertain the views of practical men of affairs upon the situation.
 GEN. LEES CONDUCT PRAISED.
 "Of General Lee I need sa- little. His valuable services to this country in his trying position are too well known to all his countrymen to re- quire mention. Besides his ability, high character and courage, he pos sesses the important requisites of un- failing tact and courtesy, and, withal, his military education and training and his soldiery qualities are inval- uable adjuncts in the equipment of our representative in country so con- pletely under military rule as is Cuba. Genral Lee kindly invited us to sit at his table at the hotel during our stay in Havana, and this opportunity for frequent informal talks with him vas of great help to me. In addition to the information he voluntarily gave me, it furnished a convenient opportunity to ask him the many questions that suggested themselves in explanation of things seen and heard on our trips through the country.
 'I also met and spent considerable time with Consul Brice at Matanzas and with Captain Parker, a staunch ex-confederate soldier. at Sagua la Grande, friend of the senator from Mississippi (Mr. WalthalD. None of our representatives whom I met in Cuba are of my political faith. but there is a broader faith not bounded by party lines. They are all three true Americans, and have done excel lent service.
 AS TO THE MAINE DISASTER.
 "It has been stated that I said there was no doubt the Maine was blown up from the outside. This is a mis- take. I may have said that such was the general impression among Ameri- cans in Havana. In fact, I have no opinion about it myself. and carefully avoided forming one. 1 gave no at tention to these outside surmises. I met the members of the court on their boat, but would as soon approach our supreme court in regard to a pending case as that board. They are as com petent and trustworthy within the lines of their duty as any court in the land, and their report, when made, will carry conviction to all the people, that the exact truth has been stated just as far as is possible to ascertain it. And until then surmise and con- lecture are idle and unproftable Let us calmly wait for the report.
 IN THE WESTERN PROVINCES.
 There are six provinces in Cuba, each, with the exception of Matanzas, extending the whole width of the is land, and having about an equal sea front on the north and south borders. Matanzas touches the Caribbean sea only at it's southwest corner, being separated from it elsewhere by a mar row peninsula of Santa Clara province. The provinces are named, beginning at the west, Pinar del Rio, Havana, Matanzas, Santa Clara, Puerto Prin- cipe and Santiago de Cuba. My ob- servations were confined to the four western provinces, which constitute about one-half the island. The two eastern ones are practically in the hands of the insurgents, except the few fortified towns. These two large provinces are spoken of today as Cuba Libre.'
 THE SITUATION IN HAVANA
 Havana, the great city and capital of the island, is, in the eyes of the Spaniards and many Cubans, all Cuba, as much as Paris is France But hay ing visited it in more peaceful times and seen it's sights-the tomb of Col umbus, the forts Cabanas and Moro castle. etc-I did not care to repeat this, preferring trips in the country. Everything seems to go on much as 11sl1a1 in Havana Quiet prevails and except for the frequent squads of sol diers marching to guard and police duty and their abounding presence in all public places, one sees little sign of war.
 MISERY AND STARVATION PRE-
 MAILING.
 "Outside Havana all is changed. It is not peace nor is it war. It is deso- lation and distress, misery and starva- tion. Every town and village is sur rounded by a trocha (trench a sort of rifle pit, but constructed on a plan new to me, the dirt being thrown up