The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1898-03-23
POLITICAL.
Senator Proctor on the Condition
OF the Cubans.

In the Unlted StaJes Oephto VI
Thursday Senator Proctor told his COL
leagues, and the world, what he saw
during his recent visit to Cuba and ex-
pressed his opinion about some other
things. The occasion of the address
was the consideration of the national
quarantine bill. After saying that he
went to Cuba on his own personal re-
sponsibility, to see for himself the con-
dition of things on the unhappy island,
he continued:
GENERAL LEE.
"Of General Lee l need say little.
His valuable services to his country in
his trying position are too well known
to all his countrymen to require men
ton. Besides his ability, high charac-
ter and courage, he possesses the i'm
portant requisites of unfailing tact and
courtesy, and withal his military edu-
cation and training and his soldierly
qualities are invaluable adjuncts in the
equipment of our representative in
country so completely under military
rule as is Cuba. General Lee kindly
invited US to sit at his table at the hotel
during our stay in Havana, and this op-
portunity for frequent informal talks
with him was Of great help to me. In
addition to the information he volun-
tarily gave me, it furnished conven-
lent opportunity to ask him the many
questions that suggested themselves in
explanation of things seen and heard on
our trips through the country. also
met and spent considerable time with
Consul Brice at Matanzas and with
Captain Barker, staunch ex Confeder-
ate soldier at Sagua La Grande, friend
of the Senator from Mississippi (Mr.
Walthall). None of our representa-
tives whom l 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 excellent service.
at has been stated that | said there
was no doubt the Maine was blown up
from the outside. This is mistake.
may have said that such was the gen.
eral impression among Americans in
Havana. In fact l have no opinion
about it myself, and carefully avoided
forming one. l gave no attention to
these outside surmises. / met the
members of the court on their boat, but
would as soon approach our Supreme
Court in regard 10 pending case as
that board. They are as competent
and trustworthy within the lines OF
their duty as any court in the land, and
their report when made will carry con-
viction to all the people that the exact
truth has been stated just as far as it is
possible to ascertain it; and until then
surmise and conjecture are idle and IN
profitable. Let us calmly wait for the
report.
INSURGENTS CONTROL THE EAST.
Mr.. Proctor sketched the geography
of Cuba and the location of the six
provinces, adding:
"My observations were confined to
the four We stern provinces which con-
stitute about one falf the Island. The
two eastern ones are practically in the
hands of the insurgents except the few
fortified towns. These two large prov
inces are spoken of today as Cuba
Libre.' He continued:
"Havana, the great city and capital
of the Island, is in the eyes of the
Spaniards and many Cubans, ell Cuba
as much as Paris is France. But hav-
visited it in more peaceful times and
seen its sights, the tomb of Columbus,
the Forts Cabana and Moro Castle,
did not care to repeat this, preferring
trips in the country. Ever ythine
seems to 90 on much as usual in Fla
vana. Quiet prevails and except fol-
the fro quent squads of soldiers march.
ing to guard and police duty and theil
Astounding presence in all public laces
one sees little signs of war.
"Outside Havana all is changed. II
is not peace, nor is it war. 1t is desc
lation and distress, misery and starva
ton. Every town and village is sur.
rounded by trocha (trench), a sort OF
rifle pit, but constructed on plan new
to me, the dirt being thrown up on the
inside and barbed wire fence on the
outside of the trench. These trochai
have at every corner and at frtquen
intervals along the sides what are call
ed forts, but which are really small
block houses, many of them more like
sentry box, loop-holed for musketr,
and with guard of from two to ter
soldiers in each. The purpose of thes
trochas is to keep the reconcentrado
in as we'll as to keep the insurgent
out. From all the surrounding COUNT.
the people have been driven into thes
fortified towns and held there to sub
sist as they can. They are virtual,
prison yards and not unlike one il
general appearance, except the wall
are not 30 high and strong but the,
suffice, where every point is in rang
of soldiers rife, to keepi in the poo
reconcentradoes women and children
Every railroad station is within one O
these trouchas and has an armed guard
Every train has an armored freigh
car, loop holed for musketry and file
with soldiers and with, as l observe
usually and was informed is always tn
case, pilot engine mile or so in at
vance. There are frequent bloc
houses enclosed by trocha and with
guard along the railroad track. Wit
this exception there is no human lif
or habitation between these fortifie
towns and villages and throughout tn
whole of the four western province
except to very limited extent anon
the hills where the Spaniards have nj
been able to go and drive the people