The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-04-18
WILL WELCOME LEE.
Americans on tho Island OF Cuba VIII
Hail the Arrival of New COnsul-Gcn-
oraI aI-Bnsiness for the New Official.

Hail the Arrival of q New Consul-Gcn-
oral-Busincss for the New Official.
Havana, April 15. via Tampa. Fla.
April 1.-THE appointment of General
Fitzhugh Lee to succeed Consul Cen
eral Williams Is understood by Ameri
cans here as well as by the authorities
at the palace as an adroit way of send
ing a military commissioner from the
United 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 officials at Madrid
said very plainly that no military or
other commission would be accepted by
them OF permitted to pry into affairs In
Cuba. There Is therefore some curl
osity as to how General Lee will be- re-
ceived and as to what facilities will be
accorded him for learning what Is
transpiring outside of the city OF Hav-
ana. The Spanish officials with whom
] have talked will not discuss any other
mission he may be supposed to have.
They have got along smoothly with IA
mon o. Williams. who has devoted him
self so assiduously to viewing bills of
laden and allowed Americans In Jail to
rot there and others to be shot down
and their property destroyed that there
may be trouble when Il live American
comes here to represent Uncle Sam.
1t goes without saying that American
residents will welcome General Lee
with open arms. He will not be long In
discovering that a state OF war exists
in Cuba, that life Is respected on one
side and prisoners set free; while on
the other war Of DETERMINATION
against all Cubans Is waged prisoners
of war are shot. unarmed peasants are
II, Il MI
suspects are imprisoned by thousands.
SPAIN POWERLESS.
He will learn that Spain is powerless
to protect American property through
out the island; that millions OF dollars
worth of property belonging to our citi-
zens has been destroyed, and the pros
pect of recompense Is as shadowy 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 pros
pect of trial or release. He will learn
In short what the newspaper leaders OK
the United States have known for
months, but of which the administra-
ton at Washington is still apparently
officially ignorant. His eyes will be
opened to that which has stirred the
heart of mankind for the truth has been
told by all American correspondents
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 narrow mindedness Of the
middle ages has endeavored to erect
around the island of Cuba. Corre-
spondents have been thrown into MORO
castle. Others have been expelled.
Those who remain know what fate
awaits them. But the truth gets out
just the same. If the appointment Of
General Lee means that the admins
tration seeks light in view Of all the
Misrepresentation that has gone and Is
going through official channels, 1t Is a
step in the right direction, and had 1t
been taken months ago thousands of
lives would 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 island
on the same old lines. General Lee will
discover for himself what is being done.