The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-03-29
A VOICE FROM fHB CRAVE
APPEALS TO AMERICANS FOR
STARVING CUBA.

the Dying Prayer Of His Wife that Relief
should be Given tn the Objects of Spanish
Cruelty In Cuba-Senafor Thnrseon's Pie,
for che Starving ReconeentradosLwar
Sentiment In the House
SENATE.
Washington, March pa scene
dramatic IN the intensity OF It's inter-
est. was presented In the senate to-
day during the delivery by senator
Thurston. OF Nebraska, OF a speech on
the Cuban situation. Not since the
inauguration OF President McKsn iey
nave 50 many people been on the SEN
ate sid OF the cap4tol as were there
today. The galleries were packed
many arriving at the capitol as early
as $50 O'Clock a m, in order to OBJ
tain seats.
Within a few minutes after the SEN
ate convened every enator who could
be present was in his sea and by the
time Senator Thurston a begun his
speech dozens OF members Of the house
were either standing or occupying
chairs in the area without the semi
circle Of seats.
IN Thurston's first sentence in
which he said he spoke by command
OF silent lips-a delicate and touching
reference TO the loss of his wife on his
memorable trip to Cuba-commanded
instant attention. "A hush fell over the
great audience, which hung with al
upon every word.
Some surprise had been expressed
that Senator Thurston should appear
in public prominently 50 soon after the
demise OF Mrs. Thurston, but the first
sentence of his speech furnished the
Key to his action. 1t is true hat SEN
ator ThurSton'S speech today, viewed
from n standpoint, was an unusual
proceeding, but 1t was justified by the
conditions attending it. Mrs. Thurs
tons dying request to her husband was
that he should lose no time on cou
of her death to do his utmost to save
and free Cuba and its people.
In accordance with this eques
therefore, Senator Thurston sacrificed
his personal feeling and delivered his
speech-a speech that was a tribute to
the memoir of his wife.
Without Knowing the motive which
animated Senator Thurston and inspir-
ed him to his best efforts, his auditors
inStinctively realized and thoroughly
SympathiZed with this vident emotion.
The speech was generally regarded
as a mastery effort and even those
who could not agree with his conclu-
sions, conceded the power of his ora
ton. AS he neared the end of the
speech his voice, which had been as
clear n ringing as the tone of a bell,
noticeably broke. He was almost over
come by emotion, but rallied with an
effort and closed in a manner that
thrilled his auditors.
As Senator Thurston sank into his
seat and buried his face in his hands
the galleries were swept by such a tu-
multi of applause as had not in a long
time been heard in the senate chamber
AS a brother might have done, SEN
ator Allen, Senator Thurston's col
league from Nebraska, walked to him
and, placing his arm over his shoulders,
quietly led him from the chamber. The
act was one Of the spontaneous n
touching amenities amid the turbulence
and discord Of political life.
Senator Thurston began his speech
as soon a the routine business a
been disposed of. He was prepared, he
said, not only to adopt every word of
the careful, concise and specific state
ment of the from Vermont,
(Senator Proctor), but he was ever
convinced that he had understated the
facts.
1.-THE pictures in the American news
papers of the starving r~econcentrados
are true. They can all be duplicated
hU n n o. 7 hLnl G q n6C naUar Can- and
please God, I may never again see,
as deplorable a sight as the
trades in the Surburbs of MatanZas.
can never forget to my dying day the
hopeless anguish in their desparing
eyes. Huddled about their little bark
huts, they raised no voice of appeal
to us for aims as w went among them,
Think of the spectacle We are
feeding citizens of Spain. We are nurs-
ing their sick. We are saving such as
a be saved, and yet there are those
who still say it is not right for us to
send food; that we must keep hands
off. I say hat the time has come when
muskets ought to go with the ood.'
Discussing the remedy which should
be applied to the evils he found, Sen
atOr ThurSton said: Il c~ounseled
silence and moderation from this floor
when the passion of the nation seemed
at whitehead Owe the destruction OF
the Maine, but it seems to me the tipe
for action has now Not action
in the Maine case! / hope and trust
that this government will take
action on the Cuban situation outside
of the Maine case. When the Maine
report is received, If it be found that
our ship and sailors were blown up by
some outside explosive, We will have
ample reparation without bubble OF
delay; and If the explosion can be
traced to Spanish official sources. there
Will be such swift and terrible punish.
ment adjudged as will remain a warn.
ing to the world forever.
What shall the United States do
Mr.. president"
For answer, Senator Thurston, as a
republican, turned to the last national
platform of his party which declared
that ''the United States should active
ly use it's influence and good Offices tc
restore eac and give independence
II 81 AL@ sT~-I --H