The Irish standard., 1898-04-02
another VERY SAD TALE.
Misery In Cuba as Seen BY Senator
Thurston, Of Nebraska, Told
to the Senate.
he INSISTS UPON IMMEDIATE ACTION!

The Senator's Address IL Made in
Response to the Dying Request OF
His Wife-Liberty Before Peace Is
His Motto-Pioccs Himself on the
Altar.
Washington, March 25.-A scene dra-
matiO in the intensity of its interest
was presented in the senate yesterday
during the delivery by Senator Thurs
ton (Neb.) of speech on the Cuban
situation. His 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 memoir
able trip to Cuba-commanded instant
attention. Some surprise has been ex-
pressed that Senator Thurston should
appear in public prominently 50 soon
after the demise of Mrs. Thurston, but
the first sentence of his speech fur
nishes the key to his action. Mrs.
Thurston's dying request to her hus-
band was that he should lose no time
on account of her death to do his ut
most 10 save and free Cuba and her
people. In accordance with this re-
quest, therefore, Senator Thurston sac.
ri1iced his personal feeling. AS he
neared the end of his speech his voice.
which had been clear and ringing, no.
ticeably broke. lie was almost over
come by emotion, but rallied with an
effort and closed in a manner that
thrilled his auditors. Staid and dieni-
fed senators turned away and wept.
and in the galleries tears welled to hum
dreds of eyes. 1t was remarkable
scene. A synopsis of Senator Thurs
toms speech follows:
Speech CT Senator Thurston.
Senator Thurston said that he had gone
to Cuba firmly believing that the condi,
tion of affairs on the island had been great.
ly exaggerated, and that he had directed
his efforts in the first instance to the ex.
posture OF the supposed exaggerations. He
had concluded, however, that an over
statement Of the horrors Of the situation
was impossible. He was prepared, he
stated, not only to adopt every word of the
careful concise and specific statement OF
the senator from Vermont Senator Proc
tori, but he was even convinced that he
had understated the facts.
Senator Thurston then tersely summar.
lied his observations and conclusions al
follows:
After three years Of warfare and the
use of 225,O0O Spanish troops, Spain has lost
control Of every foot of Cuba not surrouno-
ed by an actual intrenchment and protect
ed by fortified picket line.
'She holds possession with her armies Of
the fortified seaboard towns, because they
are under the virtual protection of Spanish
warships. with which the revolutionista
cannot cope.
The revolutionists are in absolute and al
most peaceful possession Of nearly one-hall
of the island. including the eastern
provinces OF Santiago De Cuba and Puerto
Principe.
lnhuman Policy OF weyler.
Under the inhuman policy Of weyler not
less than 100000 self-supporting, simple,
peaceful. defenseless country people were
driven from their homes in the agricultural
portions Of the Spanish provinces to the
cities and imprisoned upon the barren
waste outside the residence portions OF
these cities and within the lines Of in.
itrenchment established a little way beyond.
Their humble homes were burned. their
fields laid waste, their implements Of hus-
bandry destroyed, their live stock and food
Most Of these people were old men. women
and children. Slow starvation was their
inevitable fate. A conservative estimate
indicates that 100000 of these people have
already persisted from starvation.
Pictures Are True.
The pictures In the American newspapers
OF the starving reconcentradoS are true.
They can all be duplicated by the thou-
sands. I never saw, and please God may
never again see, SO deplorable sight az
the reconcentradoes in the suburbs OF
Matanzas. I can never forget to my dying
day the hopeless anguish in their despair
Ang eyes. Huddled about their little bark
butts. they raised no voice Of appeal to us
TOR aims as we went among them.
Men. women and children stand silent,
furnishing. Their only appeal comes from
their sad eyes. through which one looks aa
through an open window into their agonix.
ing souls.
butchers Under Shadow Of Cross.
II shall refer to these horrible things no
further. They are there. God pity me;
have seen them: they will remain Id
mind for overland this Is almost the twen-
tieth century. Christ died 1900 years ago
and Spain Is Christian nation; she has
set up more crosses In more lands, beneath
more skies. and under them has butchered
moro people than all the nations Of the
earth combined.
Europe may tolerate her existence as
long as the people OF the Old World wish.
God grant that before another Christmas
morning the last visage Of Spanish tyran-
ny and oppression will have vanished from
the western hemisphere"
Remedy Suggested.
Discussing the remedy which should be
applied to the evils he found. Senator
Thurston said:
II counseled silence and m odera ton from
this floor when the passion Of this nation
seemed at white heat over the destruction
Of the Maine. but 1t seems to me the time
for action has now come. Not action in
the Maine case. I hope and trust that this
government will take action on the Cuban
situation entirely outside Of the Maine case.
When the Maine report is received, II IL
be found that our ship and sailors vera
blown up by some outside explosion, We
will have ample reparation without bubble
or delay, and II the explosion can be traced
to Spanish official sources. there will be
ouch swift and terrible punishment admin.
istered as will remain warning to the
world forever
The Time for Action.
'"The time for action has then come, No
greater reason Tor It can be expected To-.
morrow than to-day. Every hours delay
only adds another chapter to the awful
story of misery and death. Only one power
can intervene-the United States Of Amer.
lea.
What shall our action be?"
Senator Thurston briefly referred to the
propositions Of recognising tho belligersn.
~ or the independence Of the Cubans only
10 say that it was too late for either. An ia
annexation he said:
God forbid. would oppose annexation
with my latest breath.
Only One Action Possible,
'Mr. President. there is only one action
possible. II any is taken: that is, interysn.
Intervention that means the landing of an
American army on Cuban soil, the deploy.
Ing OF an American feet OFF the harbor OF
Havana; Intervention which says to Spaini
Leave the island. withdraw your soldiers.
leave the Cubans: these brothers Of ours