New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-04-14
GENERAL FITZHUGH LEE.


GENERAL FTTZHUGH LEE.
ton Of Consul General Williams has been pend
ing for some time, and no surprise was caused by
the announcement that his successor had at last
been chosen.
II has long been known that Mr.. Williams has
been DESTROYS OF surrendering his office. having
accumulated private fortune and being inter-
ested In private business ventures. which re-
uuire much Of his attention; more than all else
he was thoroughly tired Of the official duties
Of his post. As to the manner in which he has
discharged these duties the officials Of the State
Department are full of praise. and say that Mr.
Williams leaves the consular service with the
reputation Of being n model consular officer. He
has been twenty-five years In the service. having
been appointed Vice Consul-General at Havana
in 1874 and promoted to be Consul-General ten
years later He was born In the District or
Columbia. and appointed from New-fork
His family lives In Brooklyn.
The selection Of General Fitzhugh Lee to sue
coed Mr.. Williams Consu-General at Havana
is regarded as indicating a determination on the
part of Mr.. Cleveland to make an additional
effort to ascertain the exact state OF affairs In
Cuba. 1t appears that the selection was made
without reference 10 either the Senator'S or
Representatives of Virginia. and purely
Cleveland Is not satisfied with the information
the State Department has thus far been able
to get and the impression was that ne intended
to send a secret commissioner. properly &C
credited TO the Spanish Government. to make
complete investigation OF the situation. Mr..
Williams has been regarded as friendly 10 the
Spanish and II has been complained by the
friends OF Cuba that II the Administration had
no Information which would warrant the recog-
milton OF beligerency 1t was because the United
States consul-General inclined too much toward
| the Spanish side. In appointing Fitzhugh Lee
| to this position the President places a man at
| the main point Of observation in whose dis
| erection and judgment he is known TO have the
| utmost confidence
II is not thought that General Lee has formed
any fixed opinions on the Cuban question. but
ii is believed that his natural sympathies are
with the Cubans. 1t Is probable that the new
| Consul General will take steps at once TO ascer-
tain exactly what is the status Of the revolution.
| II appears that the State Department has not
received any satisfactory evidence that the In
surgents have established a civil government
such as should entite them 10 recognition. II
| Is expected that on assuming office General Lees
| attention Will be at once directed 10 determining
| this question and upon the state OF facts re-
| ported by him Will depend the action OF the
| President
The Spanish Minister will be Informed that this
| Government expects tndt no obstacles VIII be
| thrown Ia the way of most thorough investga-
ton OF dhe situation for the private Information
! OF the President. The Spanish will be accom-
modatng In return for the consideration they
receive In the delay of recognition to the bel
| ligerents. II II is necessary TO send a special
| agent Of the Department to Cuba. this will
probably be done by the use OF the secret fund"
| Of the State Department. without referring the
| matter TO Congress.
William H. Fowle. who was appointed to-day
| as General Lees successor as Collector OF In
/ f,r thn Sixfh Nfrgin or I.vp n
| burg. District H. a son-in-law OF General Lee
General Fitzhugh Lee IL a nephew OF General
Robert T.. Lee, and grandson OF Colonel Henry
Lee. the Revolutionary commander. He born
at Cermont. Fairfax County. Va. November 49,
1885, and was graduated at West Point In 1856. He
was severely wounded in fight with Indians. and
in May. 1850. he was ordered 10 report West
Point as instructor OF cavalry. At the beginning Of
the Civil War In 1861 he resigned his commission
| In the United States Army and entered the Confed
crate service. At first he was placed STAFF duty
| and acknowledgement OF Ewe.rs Brigade until
September. 1861, when he was made lieutenant colo
mel of the lst Virginia Cavalry. and later was pro-
| NOTED TO the rank OF colonel. In all OF the cam
paigns OF Northern Virginia he took prominent
| part. On July %. 1862 he made brigader- gen
eral. and on September g. 1853. he was appointed
B In nra ne hors OF nasr
and he was disabled by a severe wound which
In March, 1866 he was placed in command of the
| whole cavalry corps Of the Army OF Northern
Virginia. and month later he surrendered TO Cen
| eral Meade at FarmvIlc. after which he retired to
| his home In Stafford County. In 1874 he made a
| speech at Bunker HILL which attracted wide atten-
ton. In the winter and spring Of 1898 he made n
tour through the Southern States In the interest OF
| the Southern Historical Society. In 1885, after a
| spirited campaign. he defeated John A. Wise Re
| adjuster for Governor OF Virginia.
Upon retiring from the Governorshin General
Lee engaged for a time In agricultural pursuits and
velopment Company. He was delegate at large
from Virginia to the Democratic National Conyen-
ton at Chicago In 1892. and earnest In his adj
vocacy of the nomination OF President Cleveland
He appointed Internal Revenue Collector for
the Western District Of Virginia last April