The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1896-10-21
Hsbana, October, I, 1896.

Dear Sn: lO lis issue OF Oept 20.
the Philadelphia Press. uuder the head
;cg Americans Bleeding in Cuba.
prints an alleged interview with so
American citizen said to have recently
arrived from this coua.ry aud who
after graphically describing the horrors
of the Cubao war and how the lives aud
properties of the American citizens are
endangered by this state of things.
makes scathing remarks and severely
cri,icises the weak policy of the Uoi'ed
States government for uot taking a
band in stopping all these ousrsses
which are being daily committed at its
very doors 10 all this he is absolute
ly correct. Dr nothing can surpass the
ioiquitles, the untold crimes and out.
RACES which are constantly being perpe~
.ra,ed b. the blood-ihirs,y and ferocious
Spanish troops all around the couony.
as testified to by truthful correspond
eats, who have been constantly report
ing all these horrors. But where Mr.
Maop:x (for | believe i, was sha' geu-
tieman who has written the articte) has
made sure misstatement is 10 his com-
ments regarding Consul General Lee,
when be says: when General Lee was
seq. to Cuba. Spanish officials seemed
to thipk that American rights there
must be respected and that such respect
must be enforced. 1t vas thought that
he would make report to This govern
ment of the facts that he could discover.
and that be would be backed by this
governmen: 10 bis demands for proiec-
tion. Time vent on aud no report
seems 10 have been made that gave acy
idea Of The real situation of affairs. Geo.
e.al Lee was expected to maintain the
dignity Of this government lu Cuba and
be has reported wi'bio short time that
the relations betwees this country and
Spain, as far as affairs in Cuba went.
we're of the mos, pleasant character. He
and Wey!er are known to be on terms
of f:iepaliuess. When complaint is
made, General Lee Is sa!d TO go to
General Weyler aud ask concerning
shs abuse that is complained Of -
Now, all this is unfair aud does
great injustice to Consul General Lee
iIu toe FIRST place. General Lee sert his
report to the government concerning
the state of affairs in Cuba. two months
after his arrival here | cannot give
you the text nor the nature of the re-
port, for. as you may presume, it ,s
diplomatic secret, but can say this
much, that it contained ample aud suf-
6c;eos information on the condition Of
things on the island to guide the gov
in it's future course in its re'a-
.tions with the Spanish government
In the second place, he has main
rta:ued the dignity Of the American gov
erumens aud people. for in all his deal
angs with the Spanish authorities be
has always impressed them with the
force of his character, placing Ameri-
can Interests above all considerations
aud whenever be has. any communica-
tons to deliver to the authori,ies-whieh
are always couched 10 the most severe and
vigorous terms he always hands item
personally in order to show them the
-interes. be takes in having the affair
promptly aud satisfactorily arranged,
and to argue whatever difficulties should
arise
10 the third place. it is absolutely
false that when complaint is made 70
him. be first goes TO General Wey!er
80 get information abou. it. because
this sould seem to imply that he subor-
d;nates all bis ac,ious to the Spanish
side Of the question. and is Influenced
by the reports that Weyl.: may give
him Of the facts, when it is just the
contrary Take the Gown case. as an
instance Long before the facts were
known 10 the States, be was already
making his Investigations on certain in.
formation furnished him, which greatly
ass s.ed hin 10 the work Of 6od,Dg oc,
the truth. We'll. in this particular
case, Consul Lee never for a moment
cossulted with the Spanish authorities
until be obtained the facts from reliable
outside sources. and then presented the
claim to Weyier just day before be
received instructions from Washington
to investigate the matter. Lastly, re-
garding being on terms of friendliuess
With General Weyler. it is but natural
that 10 diploma way be should ap-
pear to be so. but in the natural sense
of the word. General Lee cannot be on
terms Of friendship with General Wey-
Ter, "Tbe general d'abbatscir," as
Rochefort styles him
10 making the above statement, |
am solely guided BY sense of justice
towards Consul Lee, whose frmDess of
character, integrity and stauDch Ameri