New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-03-25
SENATOR THURsTON's SPEECH.
An ELOQUENT DESCRIPTION OF WHAT HE SAW
IN CUBA HEARD BY GREAT CROWD.


N CUBA HEARD BY A GREAT CROWD
washington March 2-An hour and a half De
fore the Senate met to-day the galleries were
crowded with peope anxious 10 hear the PROMISED
discussion OF the Cuban question The crowd OF
Yesterday nothing compared with 'la' Vi
TO-DAY Hundreds Of people surged through the
upper corr iors OF the Senate side OF the CAPITOL
.arar.v hut yainly appealing 10 the doorkeepers
a. The various gallery entrances for admission The
crowd had been attracted particularly by the an
nouncement that Mr.. Thurston was 10 adoress the
Senate on the Cuban question. basng his utter
ences on his trip TO the island-a Trip thdt
brought TO him a great bereavement II was eX-
pec,ed mat the address would be notable orator.
cal effort. well as a thorough discussion OF the
pofical phases of the controversy In the dplo-
mats gallery were Senior Mendonca. the Brazilian
Minister accompanied by party. and several peo-
from other legations. on the floor the Senators
early in their seats. and here and there ABOUT
the chamber was member OF the House
MrfAlson moved that when the Senate adjourn
to-daS il be TO meet Monday next. The motion
prevailed Mr.. Mason emphatically voting In the
negative
Much confusion existed in the galleries and the
Vice President obliged TO demand that order
be restored.
Mr. CockreN expressed the hope that the Vice
President would strictly enforce the rule prohibiting
any demonstration manifestation OF approval by
those in the galleries.
Mr. Mason then moved that the vote by which the
considered.
NJ Hale demanded the ayes and noes and the
motion defeated. 50 20 9. Those voting in the
negative Messrs Cannon. Chandler. Foraker
Frye Gallinger. Harris. Mason. Mills and Petit
grew
THURSTON HEARD WITH GREAT INTEREST
A. l22o the routine morning business having
hors completed Mr Thurston was recognized for
The delivery Of his announced speech on the Cuban
b. l.
command Of silent LIS to presen, his views once
and Tor al on the Cuban situation. containing. as
T. DID, q touching reference 10 ms recent terrible
berea cement ommanded instant attention
NJ President" said M Thurston Il am here
b. mmauG OF silent lips 10 speak once and for
al upon the Cuban situation. trust that one
has expected anything sensational from me. God
forbd nat the bitterness Of a personal loss should
ind.ce 20 color n the slightest degree the
meut mat l feel It my duty 10 make. shall
deavcr % be honest. conservative and just. have
y purpose TO stir the public passion TO any action
10. csssry and imperative 20 meet the duties
and necessities Of American responsibility Chris
csu humanity and National honor. would shirll
his task !! could hat dare not. cannot sat-
isfy my conscience except by speaking. 'and speak
Ing now"
Nj Thurston said that he had gone TO Cuba
firmly believing that the condition Of affairs tho
island had been greatly exaggerated. and that he
had directed his efforts in the first instance to the
exposure Of The supposed eXagSeIauons. He had
concluded however. that an ovcrstatement Of the
horrors % the situation was Impossible. He was
prepared. he said not only to adopt every word Of
the careful concise and specific statement Of the
Senator from Vernon; (Mr Proctor. but he Was
even convinced that hc had unders;ate the facts
MI Thurs;on then tersey summarized his obs"r-
vauons and conclusions Is follows.
After three years Of warfare and the Of 40
Spanish troops Spain has lost control Of every foo:
dad l. on nc
and protected by fortified picket-line. She holds
possession WITH her army Of the fortified scaboaid
towns because they under the virtual pfotec-
uon OF Spanish warshDs with which the revolu-
donists cannot cope
The revouuonsts are in absolute and almost
peaceful possession Of nearly onehaf Of the island.
including the eastern provinces of Santiago de
Uuoa and Puerto Principe In those provinces they
nave an established form ot government l"yy and
"i'ect taxes. maintain armies. and generally levy
YAK or tribute upon the principal plantations in
osef provinces. and. Is commonly believed. upon
me entire railway system Of the island
IN the four sO-caled Spanish provinces there IS
He'iher cultivation nor railway operation except
uhaer strong Spanish military protection or 10y
consent OF the revoutonists In CONSIDERATION Of
Tribute paid
THE RECONCENTRADO9
Under the nhurnan policy Of Weyer not less |
unah $1,000 seif-suppOrt.ng. simple. pcaceabc. de- !
.'"0''ess country people were driven from their I
"o"es IN The agricultural portions Of the Spanish /
provinces 10 the cities and Imprisoned upon the |
warren waste outside the residence portions OF these
,es ana within the lines Of !ntTenchment estab- /
"sh'd liite way beyond Their humble homes
v'' burned. their fields laid waste. their nipple
''s OF husbandry destroyed. their i've stock and
- supplies for the most part connscated Most |
60, 'Se people were old men. women and children.
starvation was their inevitable fare. 4 CON (
nen,lo estimate indicates that 10000 OF these
'p'e nave already persisted from starvation
,n o'cihment OF Spain has never contributed
,.a1 uo'sr 70 house. shelter. feed or provide med
"''e"'icn for these. It's own citizens. Such q