The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-11-06
LEE BEsET BY REPORTERS.
Admits his Admiration for Spain and
Says of Election peace to the Dead"


Says of Election peace to the Dead"
New York, Nov. 5.-Gen. Fitz Lee
accompanied by Thos. Jones his private
secretary arrived from Havana last
night, on the Ward Line steamer Vigil
anca. The steamer remained in quaran-
tine until this morning. AT the steamships
pier, Gen. Lee was met by a number of
Americans whom he had befriended with
in the past few months in Cuba. Among
them were: s. T. Tolon, Lorenzo Batam-
court, f. Zaldo, Miguel Mendoza, and
Louis Place.
Gen. Lee, who looked hale ard hearty
was impervious to all the assaults made
upon him by corps of newspaper men
who were anxious to learn the object
of his visit to this country.
The General listened good naturedly to
all the questions put to him and then
said: Gentlemen, / understand your
position and / am well aware that you
understand mine. l win go to Wash
ington as soon as I can catch a train
and then | will go to see my family in
Virginia.
What brought me here? Why only
to see how the election went"
What do you think Of the result of
the electionY
Before the General answered this
question he turned to Mr.. Tolon and said:
How do you spell these words which
mean Let the dead past bury its deadY
Mr.. Tolon wrote out the following words:
'Paz a los muertos."
The General repeated these words to
the reporters and said: Gentlemen I'm
poor hand at Spanish, but liberal
translation of this sentence would read,
Peace to the dead"
General you have been quoted by the
correspondent of the Ell Liberal, of Mad
rid as having said that you were conf
dent that the heroism Of the Spanish
soldiers under Gen. Weyler would soon
triumph over the rebellion and that you
eulogized Spain for the manner in which
she is conducting the war in Cuba"
ST met that correspondent" said the
General, "but / did not say that the
Spanish troops would triumph. What
did say was that / admired Spain for the
manner in which she is bearing up a
gainst difficulties, both in the Philip
pine Islands and Cuba"
The general could not be induced to
speak further on any topic and hurried
away in a cab to catch the first train for
Washington.
LEE IN WASHINGTON.
Washington, Nov. 5.-Gen. -Fitzhugh
Lee, the Consul General to Havana who
arrived in New York to-day reached
Washington this afternoon and is stop
ping at the Shoreham. He was beseiged
by friends and by newspaper reporters.
~, cR fbo vstnofinyc r1t1F IN him 10
maintains a diplomatic silence or evades
them by calling attention to the impro-
priety of discussing the affairs Of the
Island in the newspapers before report
ing to his superiors. Gen. Lee will re-
main in Washington possibly for several
days and then viii proceed to his home
in Virginia which he has not visited
since leaving for his post. In reply to a
direct question, he said he had not been
called here by the President for the
discussion of the situation there.
When asked whether the insurgents or
the Spaniards held the advantage in the
war, Gen. Lee shielded himself by hay
ing recourse to what he said was term
the Mexicans used when question were
put to them which they did not wish to
answer, viz: "Qu en- sabe," which trans
lated means "Who knows" First reports
are heard Of success on the one side and
then on the other. "The war has been
in progress since February, 1885," he
continued, 'and there is no prospect of
its speedy determination.
The Consul General testified to the
baneful effects of the strife which is now
desolating the island.
Business" he said, sis paralyzed and
the island is being gradually ruined.
What one side leaves the other destroys
as in all civil wars. There is a system
attic destruction of the vast sugar es-
tates."
Gen. Lee confirms the reports of the
press censorship which prevails in the is
land and says nothing can be sent out
by telegraph which is not first subjected
to the scrutiny of the officials. A SINH
lar censorship exists respecting the
Havana newspapers and what is blue
penciled" has to be left out of the pa
pers.
LINNEY'S ELECTION CLAIMED.
Winston N O. Nov 5-0hicial re-