Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-02-10

contributed to the carnival of cruelty
Three hundred thousand people starved
Three hundred thousand more were
marching to the grave. And yet the
cry was raised that war was being
sought, when the one and only cry
was for peace and an end to this afro
| city.
Hale interrupted to say that Mason's
figures of those said to be dead OF
starving We're far exaggerated and out
of all proportion to the known popula-
ton of the island "Such statements
are monstrous," declared Hale.
That's what | think" interposec
Mason, and again the galleries Vigor-
ously applauded.
The statement was monStrous, added
Hale. in its inconsistency with the
known number Of people on the island
The figures given would show, he said
that one out of three of the population
had died
Yes, and in some provinces 80 pei
cent, or one in two" answered Mason
He would establish his statement by
the letters of Mr. Pepper. man recog
nized as conservative in his statements.
Hale interposed that if the state
ments OF newspaper correspondents
We're to be cited then both views should
| I've given and the statements of Mr..
Wrightman, another correspondent,
should be placed alongside of Mr..
! PEPPER.
Mason read the statements of cor
! respondents as To the famine and dis
| tress in Cuba He said that Mr. Pep
perS startling statements had been
| written since the mild-mannered
| Blanco had assumed control in Cuba
and had attempted to bride the insur-
gents into peace-insurgents whom he
was afraid to fight
Referring to, the statement of Hale
that President Grant had not inter
fered in the 10-years' war, he urged
that the situation had materially
changed since that time. Our coun-
try was then in the course of rcconstruc-
ton and was in no position to inter
Vene. Now our position was different
and back of ii all was the demand of
our people. that We take official cogni-
zance Of the war in Cuba.
Mason said: This government ought
to maintain that the horrible mas
sacres which are now to common in
! QE1d anu toiluufttu uflut1 the guns III
warfare must be stopped We have no
right as n neutral nation fully regard
ful Of the rights OF all to look upon
such a warfare as within any reason
able construction of international law.
The flag of truce has been abandoned,
the prisoners of war are being shot and
ii is evident that no rule OF civilized
warfare is being observed. The con-
flict has developed into mere matter
of murder on both sides-prisoners NJ
war being shot or machetcd without
trial"
Mason gave the shocking details Of
the recent killing Of the Cuban General
Arranguren and held that the United
States had ample authority to inter
fere and to demand that the rules Of
civilized warfare lie respected. He re-
ferred scornfully to Captain General
Blanco's trip through the island in an
armored car under heavy escort If
Spanish troops and asserted that
Blanco used relief funds To appeal as
brides to Cuban leaders with itching
palms
Mason read a letter purporting To ne
the answer of Gen, Gomez to Gen.
Blanco's offer OF Il vessel to enable him
Oiomezl to leave Cuba in safety.
He paid high tribute to Gomez ana
spoke Of him a. being approached by
that bride giver that military prosti-
tute. Blanro with a piliful bride for
his honor"
Now that the Spanish forces have
refused open battle. said Mason, the
only hope Of Spain is To overcome The
4
tended that Uncle sam was in effect a
policeman whose duty it was TO eX-
ercise his power to prevent further
nloodshed upon the island,
Should the President take such &C
ton" declared Mason. he would have
behind him tn" army and the navy
and above all, the people"
Mason read a letter from an Amcri-
can woman who is mother superior in
convent in Havana. picturing the sad
condition Of affairs there. Weylcr.
said Mason. had succeeded in killing
hundreds of thousands hy his policy IF
concentrations
The law Of compensation would de-
mdnd punishment for the crimes here
inflicted. While these men ana women
We're starving, the senator said. the
bucket shops sent us price lists.
These stock jobbers," he exclaimed.
tell US that war is he'll. In Cuba it is
worse than hell
Mason said that when the bucket
shops wrote the legislation of the coun-
Try. the evil day was upon us. TIL
Republican party has promised to stop
this condition of affairs and no man
had a right to interdct this resolution
let him sit in the White House or else
where. (Applausc).
/ Mason declared that notwithstanding
| the declaration of the St Louis plat
| form nothing had been done-"Noth
| ing, he said. except to pass bel
| liGerency resolution in the Senate
and" he added amidst general laugh
! ter. referring evidently to Speaker
Reed. lit is not certain whether he will
| pass it on the other side"
| Mason expressed the opinion that
there was an effort in Spain to force
| this country to buy Cuba. He said the
| Spaniards had always been hostile to
| the Republican institutions of this
! country. Spain was without honor,
without cash and without credit Her
| soldiers were conscripts and her cap
/ tain generals either thieves like Wey-