The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1896-10-21
THE HORRORS OF WAR.
MEDIEVAL BARBARlSM OF WEYLER
AND THE SPANiAROS.
Gen. Lee has Sent his Report OF The Status
in Cuba, but the Department of State
W;thholds 1t from the Public.

| Gen. Lee has sent ms Report OF INC statN
in Cuba. but the Department of State
| W;thholds it from the Public.
New YORK, Oct. 15.-The followin!
private letter has been received in this
city from g reliable correspondent in
Cuba:
HAVANA, Oct. I, 1S9G.-DearSir II
it's issue of September % the Phildel
phia Press, under the heading
''Ameeicans Bleeding in Cuba, prints
an alleged interview with an Ameri
can citizen said to have arrived recent
ly from this country, and who, after
graphically describing the horrors o.
the Cuban war, and how the lives and
property of the American citizens are
endangered by this state of things
makes scathing remarks and severely
criticises the weak policy Of the Unitec
States Government for not taking
hand in stopping all these outrages
which are being daily committed at its
very doors IL all this he is absolute
ly correct for nothing can surpass the
iniquities, the untold crimes and out
RACES which are constantly being per
petrated by the bloodthirsty and fero
cious Spanish troops all around the
country, as testified TO by truthful cor
respondents, who have been constant
ly reporting all these horrors. But
where Mr.. Mannix (for l believe 1t IS
that gentleman who has written the
article) has made sure misstatement
is in his comments regarding Consul
General Lee, when he says: when
Gen. Lee was sent to Cuba Spanish Of
fcials seemed to think that American
rights there must be respected, and
such respect must be enforced. 1t was
thought that he would make report
to this Government Of the facts that
he could discover and that he would
be backed by this Government in his
demands for protection. Time went
on aud no report seems to have been
made that gave any idea OF the real
situation of affairs. Gen. Lee was ex-
pec.ed to maintain the dignity of this
Government in Cuba, and he has re-
ported within short time that the
relations batween 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 COM
plant is made Gen. Lee is said to 60
to Gen. Weyler and ask concerning
the abuse that is complained Of.
Now all this is unfair aud does a
great injustice to Consul General Lee.
In the first place Geu. Lee sent his re-
port to the Government concerning
the state of affairs in Cuba two months
after his arrival here. | cannol give
you the text nor the nature Of the re-
port, but, as you may prersume, 1t IS
a di plomatic secret, but can say this
much. that it contained ample and suf-
fcient information on the conditions
Of things in the island to guide the
Government in its future course IN lis
relations with the Spanish Govern
ment. In the second place he has
maintained the dignity OF the Amerl'
can Government and people, for in
all his dealings with the Spanish
authorities he has always impressed
them with the force of his character,
placing American interests above
all considerations. and whenever he
has any communications to deliver to
the authorities which are always
couched in the most severe and vlgor-
Gus terms he always hands them per-
sonally in order to show them the in
terest he takes IN having the affair
promptly and satisfactorily arranged,
and to argue whatever difficulties
should arise.
In the third place, it is absolutely
false that when a complaint IS made
to him he first goes to Gen. Weyler to
get information about it. because this
would seem to simply that he subordi-
Iates all his actions to the Spanish
side Of the questions, and is influenced
by the reports that Weyler may give
him of the facts, when it is just the
contrary. Take the Govir case as an
instance. Long before the facts were
known in the States he was already
making his Investigations on certain
information furnished him, which
greatly assisted him in the work of
finding out the truth. When, in 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 to Weyler just a
day before he received instructions
from Washington TO Investigate the
matter.
Lastly, regarding his being on terms
of friendliness with Gen. Weyler, it
is but atural that in a diplomatic way
be should appear to be so, but in the
natural sense Of the word Gen. Lee
cannot be on terms of friendship with
Gen. Weyler, "Un General D'Abat.
toir,n as Rochefort styles him.
Ia making the above statement [
am solely guided by sense OF Justice
towards Consul Lee, whose firmness Of
character, integrity and stanch Amer
icanism have won for him the es-
teem of his fellow citizens here who
know they have a firm supporter Of
their rights and a trusted friend IN
case OF need.
am in position to affirm the above
fact, and having been honored with
his confidence for some time [ can
testify that MS conduct in the defence
OF the American interests has always
been firm, energetic and digniGed,
and that he is "the right man in the
right place" It is no fault OF his if
ne is not properly backed by his Gov
ornment and is left alone to fight his
y IN battles here. for am convinced
that if he We're sufficiently supported
the American people would see the
stand he would take would be for
them, and there would not be any
more disparagiug remarks about hin.
Referring to the story of the shoot
ing of 81 prisoners in the Cabana for
tress. | think you can now affirm that
it did happen, because for some time
there have been no public executions,