Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-10-16
JUSTICE To GEN. LEE.
EFFORTS OF OUR REPREsENTA-
TIVE AT HABANA.
SLURS And INNUENDOES REFUTEn.
Testimony of One Who Knows
Whereof He spenI<s-The Consul
May Lack Proper support at wash
ington-Spanish Cruelties.

NEW YORK, October l5--The following
private letter has been received in this
city from a reliable correspondent in
Cuba:
"Habana, October 7, 1896
Dear Sir: In it's issue of September 18th
the Philadelphia Press. under the head
ing Americans Bleeding in Cuba prints
an alleged interview with an American cit
jzen, said to have arrived recently from
this country, who after graphically de-
scribng the horrors OF the Cuban war
and how the lives and property of Ameri-
can citizens are endangered by this state
Of things. makes scathing remarks upon
and severely criticises the weak policy OF
the United States Government for not
taking a hand in stopping all these out
RACES, which are being daily committed
at it's very doors In all this he is abso-
lutely correct, for nothing can surpass
the niqutles, the untold crimes and out
RACES which are constantly being perpe-
trated by the bloodtbirsty and ferocious
Spanish troops all around the country. as
testified to by truthful correspondents
who have been constantly reporting all
these horrors. But where Mr. Maunix 0Or
| believe that is the gentleman who has
written the article) has made a sure mis-
statement Is I'm his comments regarding
Consul-General Lee. when he says:
"'When General Lee was sent TO Cuba
the Spanish officials seemed to think that
American rights there must be respected
and that such respect must be enforced.
IL was thought that he would make a re-
port 10 this government Of the facts that
he could discover, and that he would be
backed by this government in his de-
mands for protection. Time went on. and
no report seems 10 have been made that
gave any idea of the real situation OF
affairs General Lee was expected TO
maintain the dignity of this government
in Cuba, and he has reported within a
short time that the relations between this
country and Spain, as far as affairs in
Cuba went were OF the most pleasant
character. He and Weyler are known TO
be on terms Of friendliness.
"'When a complaint is made General
Lee is said to 60 10 General Weyler and
ask concerning the abuse that is COM
planned Of
GENERAL LEES REPORT.
Now, all this is unfair and does a great
injustice to Consul General Lee. In
tho first place, General Lee sent his
report to the government concerning the
state of affairs in cuba two months after
his arrival here. L cannot give you
the text nor the nature OF the report, be-
cause. as you may presume. it is a dplo-
matte secret, but can say this
much--that IL contained ample and
sufficient information on the condition of
things in the island to guide the govern
ment in its future course in its relations
with the Spanish Government. In the Sc
cond place he has maintained the
dignity of the American Government and
people. for in all his dealings with
the Spanish authorities here. he has al
ways impressed them with the force of
his character, placing American interests
above all considerations; and whenever
he has any communications TO deliver to
the autnorities-which are always couched
in the most severe and vigorous
terms-he always hands them personally.
I'm order to show them the interest
he takes in having the affair prompt
ly and satisfactorily arranged and 10
argue whatever difficulties may arise. IN
the third place IL is absolutely false that
when a complaint Is mads TO him he
first goes to General Weyler to get infor-
nation about it, because this would seem
10 imply that he subordinates all his
actions to the Spanish side Of the ques
tions, and IS Influenced by the reports
that Weyler 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 in the States, ne
was already making his Investigations on
certain information / furnished him,
whcn greatly assisted him I'm the
| work OF finding out the truth.
Wen. I'm this particular case. Consul Lee
never for a moment consulted with the
Spanish authorities until he obtained the
facts from reliable outside sources, and
then presented the claim 10 Weyer just
a day before he received Instructions
from Washington TO investigate the mat
| ter Lastly, regarding his being on terms
of friendliness with General Weyler. It
Is but natural that in "A diplomatic way
he should appear to be so. but in the
| natural sense OF the word General Lee
cannot be on terms OF friendship with
| General Weyler. 'un general d'abattoir,
as ROchefort styles him.
"In making the above statement. | am
solely guided by a sense Of justice to-
wards Consul Lee whose firmness Of
| character. integrity, and staunch Ameri-
canism have won for him the confidence
and esteem Of his fellow-citizens here,
/ who know they have IN him a firm sup
porter Of their rights and a trusted friend
in case of need. | am in position to af-
! Grm the above facts, and having been
honored with his confidence for some
time / can testify that his conduct IN
the defence Of American interests has
always been firm. energetic, and dignifed
| and that he IS the right man IN the right
place 1t is no fault Of his If he is not
properly backed by his government and
is left alone TO fight his own battles here,
| for am convinced that If he were sufii-
cently supported the American people
would see the stand he would take for
| them and there would not be any more
| disparaging remarks about him.
SHOOTING OF PRISONERS.
Referring to the story of the shooting
| Of ffty-one prisoners in the Cabana for
tress, / think you can now affirm that Il
| d'd happen, because for some time there
had been no public executions. and they
attracted considerable attention, and were
| severely and Justly criticised In all for
eign nations. especially America. Weyler,
| following instructions from De LONE, or
the home government, has adopted the
| old inQuisitorial proceeding OF doing away
with prisoners in the shadows of the
night. without inquisitive Gazes and sym
pathetic comments, thus giving him bet
| ter opportunities 10 clean OUT the cells
| OF the prisons in order TO make room for
| other unhappy victims. Oh, that such
| things should happen at the end of the
| enlightened nineteenth century, in a
! Christian and civilized country, at the
very doors OF a great and generous ma
| toni I do not believe that President
| Cleveland will leave power with the re-
| proach that he has been Indifferent TO
| the walls ard laments OF the unhappy
| Cubans. and has quietly allowed all these
crimes TO be committed without having at
least protested against them.
And as a proof that they are still be
ing committed all over the country. here
| Is a case taken from the many that are
daily heard Of: