The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1898-03-29

possibly could do for the recon- 1
centrados, but 1t was too true that
many MataLzas people who resided in
tine houses scarcely knew where their
w next meal was to come from. The
governor was willing that the recon
comrades should repass the trocha to
their homes, but the great majority
were physically unable to go. Their
late was a slow death by starvation. The
of Matanzas. Mr.. Tburston
said, could see no end to this condit on
OF affairs, and suggest no relief except
thrt Ugh the United State.
The government of Spain has not
ana Will not appropriate one dollar to
save these people. They are now being
attended and nursed and administered
TO by the charity OF the United States.
Think OF. the spectacle. W. are feed
Ing these citizens Of Spain; we are
nursing their sick we are saving such
as can be saved, and yet there are
those who still say it Is right for us
to send food but We must keep hands
off.
81 say that the time has come when
muskets ought to go with the food. |
shall refer TO these horrible things no
further. They are there. God pity
me | have seen them 4; they will re-
main in my mind forever-and this
almost the twentieth century. Christ
died 1900 years ago, and Spain is u
Christian nation she has set up more
crosses in more lands, beneath more
skies and under them has butchered
more people than all nations COM
oined.
Europe may tolerate her existence
as long as the people Of the old world
wish. God grant Thai before another
Christmas morning tho last vestage OF
Spanish tyranny and oppression will
have vanished from the western
hemisphere"
Discussing the remedy which should
be applied to the evils he found, MIR.
Thurston said
81 counseled silence and modera-
ton from this floor when the passion
Of the nation seemed to be at white
heat over the destruction Of the Maine;
but 1T seems to me tie time for acting
has now come. Not action in the Maine
case. [ hope and trust hat this gov
eminent will take action on the Cuban
situation entirely outside Of the Maine
case. When the Maine report is re-
ceived, IL it be found that our ship and
sailors were blown up by some outside
explosive, we will have ample repara.
tion without bubble or delay and ii
the explosion can be traced to Spanish
officials source, there will be such swift
and terrible punishment adjudged as
will remain q warning to the world
forever.
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 declare d
that the. United States should actively
use its influence and good offices to re.
store peace and give independence tc
the island"
In accepting the nomination rendered
him by the convention, which mad
adopted the Cuban plank with a mighty
shout, William Mckinley had said,
The platform adopted by the Repub
lican convention has received my care.
full consideration and has my unQuali
fed approval.
Twice within the past two years
Mr.. Thurston said, he had voted for 8
resolution recognizing the belligerency
> OF the Cuban insurgents, but he was
!, satisfied it was now too late to accord
them bellingerent rights, or ever
!, merely to recognize the independence
OF the Cuban republic.
, "Our platform" said he, demands
( that the United States shall actively
use its influence for the independence
} OF the island. / am not here to criti
4 else the present administration.
yield to no man living in my respect
, my admiration for and my confidence
In the judgment, the wisdom. the
patriotism, the A~mericanism Of VIM
Mckinley. Whea he entered upon hi.
administration he faced a d~itlicult
situation, 1t was his duty to proceed
with care and caution"
Mr.. Thurston then rec0unted the
steps which the President has taken
upon the Cuban question daring the
past year and pronounced his course
wise, statesman-like n in accordance
with the diplomatic usages of the
world.
1T was the plain duty of the Presi-
dent Of the United States to give to
the Liberal ministry OF Spain a reason.
able time in which to test it's proposed
autonomy. That time has oeen given.
Autonomy Is conceded the wide world
over to be q conspicuous failure. The
situation in Cuba has only changed for
the worse. Sagasta is powerless; Blan-
co Ii powerless to put an end to the
conflict, to rehabilitate the island, or
to relieve the suffering, starvation and
distress.
The time for action has come. No
greater reason for 1t tomorrow more
than exists to-day. Every hours de-
lay only adds another chapter to the
awlul story OF misery n death. Oaly
one power can iptervenc.-the United
States of America.
1T was her glorious example which
inspired the Cubaps of Cuba to raise
the flag OF liberty in her eternal hills.
we cannot refuse to accept this re-
sponsibility which the God OF the Uni.
verse has placed upon US as the one
great power in the new world What
shall our action be?"
Mr.. President, there Is ONLY one
action possible, if one Is taken that is
the Intervention for the Independence
OF the island Intervention that means
the landing of al American army on
CUBAN soil, the deploying of an Ameri-
can bcet off the harbor of Habana: in.
prevention that means to Spain, leave
the Island, withdraw your soldiers,
leave the Cubans, these brothers of
ours In the new world, to form and
carry on government for themselves.
such Intervention on our part would
not OF itself be war. 1t would undoubt.
edly lead to war. But If war came H.
would come by act of Spain In resist
ance OF the liberty and independence of
the Cuban people,"
he maintained that of all people
on the island the native Cubans were
the best qualified and fitted for gov
eminent. o.
Mr. ThnpstDn o.;l t