The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-04-14
POSITION IS CLEAR.


W AohlA6lON, April i4--lne nominor
ton OF Fitzhugh Lee as consul general to
Habana, In place OF Williams, resigned. is
not without significance. Lee was already
holding the office OF internal revenue col
lector. Also his appointment to Habana
Is taken to mean that his particular serv-
Ices wero especially in demand.
A West Point graduate, an eminent
general in the Confederate army, and
lifelong student OF military affairs, his
selection Is evidence Of desire on tho
part OF the administration to make care
ful study OF the military side Of the Cuban
question. "Belligerency a question of
fact Is the administration motto, and to
ascertain this fact Mr.. Lee has been
selected as a competent expert
The nomination OF General Fitzhugb
Lee to be consul general OF the United
States at Habana has caused no little
commotion in the senate. There is not
much doubt Of the confirmation of the
nomination. as Lee is generally liked per-
sonally. But in view Of the quasi diplo-
matte character of this particular post,
and the somewhat strained relations be.
tween this country and Spain. there Ia
much curiosity as to the present attitude
of the general on the Cuban question.
Always heretofore. he has been a good
deal OF a jingo and very quick to resent
any suspected affront, public or private.
He Is intensely American" as the phrase
goes, and the cause OF the Cuban revolu-
tionists Is one which would naturally stir
his sympathies.
General Fitzhugh Lee, ex-governor of
Virginia. is a grandson OF the famous
"Light Horse Harry" Lee, and nephew
of the late Robert E. Lee. the southern
military chieftain. He graduated at West
Point In the class OF 1856 and entered the
regular army as lieutenant in the Sec
ond cavalry. For three years preceding
the rebellion he was on duty on the from
tier, and once in an encounter with tho
Indians, was seriously wounded in the
chest.
At the outbreak of the war he resigned
from the army and followed his state into
secession. He fought in the Confederate
army throughout the rebellion, acquiring
distinction as "a cavalry leader. After the
war he settled in Virginia AS farmer and
miller.
In 1875 he entered political life, and in
1876 attended the national Democratic
convention as delegate. The next year
but was defeated. In 1879 he became a
candidate for the state senate. but was
defeated by the rcadjuster candidate.
On July 90 1885, General Lee was NOM
mated for governor Of Virginia by the
Democratic convention, which met at
Richmond. He had for his opponents
some of the most prominent men Of the
state, and the struggle was fierce, 1t being
remarked on all sides that the convention
reminded old politicians Of the great gath
erings of ante bellum days.
He was elected. That time has Grad
icated the scars left by our late war was
already shown some years ago. when GEN
eral Lee was invited TO be present at the
obsequies of General Grant.
The Administration's Attitude.
A great deal Of misapprehension exists
as to the attitude OF the administration
toward the Cuban insurgents. Why the
president does not recognize Cuba, how
long before he will, and what the insur-
gents will have to do that they may be SO
treated. and thousand other questions of
like import, are constantly asked.
Are Mr.. Cleveland and Mr.. Olney de-
void of sympathy for q brave people
struggling against great oddsY Have they
no sentiment that teaches them that this
continent is dedicated TO liberty, and that
Spanish rule on the hemisphere is an an
achronism?
The president and his secretary possess
both sentiment and sympathy, but q
recognition of bclligcrency is q question
that comes under neither head. Why are
not the Cubans bclligetents? They have
kept up a hard fight, and are now nearing
troops OF Spain sent against them have
been unable to subdue them, and they
hold greater part of the island of Cuba.
But continued fighting and-th hold
ing OF an area of country, although ele-
ments necessary To establish the fact OF
belligerency. arc not all the elements
necessary. The usages of nations codified
in the rules Of International law expressly
declare that ether elements of warfare
must exist. and some of these other ele-
ments cannot be found in the Cuban
struggle.
What are these elements? The possess
sion OF considerable area OF land, of a
veaport or prominent town which the in
surgents may cnll their own and hold
against their advcrsaries; well-estab-
lished civil government controlling the
armed forces in the field, and able to re-
ceive diplomatic representatives of other
nations under their authority and protec-
ton. These and other things go TO make
up the notion that the subjects In rebel
lion may reasonably expect TO throw off the
parent government and become one OF tho
nations OF the earth Unless such an ex-
pectation may be justified. foreign govern
ments have no right To interfere.
But the poor Cuban insurgents have
thus far no ships, no legislature, no regu-
lar army, no one city OF size which
they are holding steadily against her enc
mics. Moreover, the insurgent bands arc
not working under the control of a def
nitely organized civil government. This
is an important distinction.
Where is their capital, where the seat Of
their government, and to what point
would i.r. Hit 60 werc he appointed en-
voy extraordinary 10 the Cuban republic?
These considerations account for the fail
ure of the administration to act.
The administration has not recognized
the bcligerency OF the insurgents because