The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1896-04-22
Things That the Spanish Can
not hide from Him.

Habana, April Is, via Tampa,
April 17-The appointment of Gen.
Fitzhush Lee to succeed Consul Gen.
eral Williams is understood by Ameri-
cans here. as we'll as by the autho-
rites at the palace, as an adroit way
of sending a military commissioner
from the States to Cuba. When there
was an intimation a fortnight ago
that Mr.. Cleveland contemplated
sending commission here to learn
officially what was going on, the off,
cials said very plainly that no mill
tary or other commission would be ac-
cepted by them, or permitted to pry
into affairs in Cuba. There is, there
fore, some curiosity as to how Gen
eral Lee will be received and as TO
what facilities will be accorded him
for learning what is transpiring out
side of the city of Habana
The Spanish officials with whom l
have talked will not discuss any other
mission he may be supposed to have.
They have got along so smoothly with
Ramon @ Williams, who has devoted
himself assiduously to viewing bills
of lading and allowed Americans in
jail to rot there and others to be shot
down and their property destroyed,
that there may be trouble when a live
Americans comes here to represent
Uncle Sam
1t goes without saying that the
American residents will welcome
General Lee with open arms He
will not be long in discovering that
q state of war exists in Cuba, that it is
an army and not mob Of bandits who
are winning battles against the troops
Of Spain, that life is respected on
oae side and prisoners set free. while
on the other war of extermination
against all Cubans is waged, pris-
oners of war shot, unarmed peasants
shot and cut to pieces and political
suspects imprisoned by thousands.
He will learn that Spain is pow
erless to protect American property
throughout the island, that millions
of dollars worth of property belong.
Ing to our rcitizens has been destroyed.
and the prospect of recompense is as
shacowy as castles in Spain. He
will hear Of Americans who have
been shot down by Spanish troops.
and will find others imprisoned in
dungeons with no prospect CT trial
or release. lie will learn in short
what the newspaper readers of the
United States have known for months
but of which the administration at
Washington is still apparently Off
cially ignorant. His eyes will be
opened'to that which has stirred the
heart of mankind. for the truth has
been told by all the American cores
pondents here, with one exception
They have got the news out in spite
Of the Spanish censor and of all the
barriers to truth that the narrowmind-
edness of the middle ages has en-
deavored to erect around the island
of Cuba
Correspondents have been thrown
into Moro castle. Others have been
expelled Those who remain know
not what fate awaits them. But the
truth gets out just the same.
If the appointment Of General Lee
means that the administration seeks
light in view Of ali the misconcep.
tion that has gone and is going
through oficial channels, it is a step
in the right direction, and had It been
taken months ago, thousands of lives
would probably have been saved
Spain made one conquest of the
island Of Cuba and exterminated the
native Indians. The extreme Spani-
ards urge Weyler to clean up the
islands on the same old lines. Gen.
eral Lee will discover for himself
what is being done.