Mexico weekly ledger., 1897-03-04
LEES O BOILS
| When He is Forced to See Americans
Robbed and Murdered by the Span
iards-Lee's Resignation.

NEW YORK, Feb. 24.-The Havana
correspondent of the Times says:
"Gen. Lee to-day, in discussing his
future course in connection with the
arrest of Americans, said:
"Ia am under orders from Washing
ton, and 1 must obey instructions from
headquarters. The Department au-
thorizes me to act a certain way, and
1 but carry out my orders. came
here unprejudiced and determined to
form my opinions by what came d.
rectly under my observation.
"sFrom the moment I landed, my
American blood began to boil, and If 1
stay here much longer and am forced
to witness all the indignities heaped
upon my countrymen without re-
~straint, it will literally all boil away.
They trample on our flag, hiss us on
the streets; Americans are murdered,
robbed and imprisoned; indignities are
heaped upon our women, and every
atrocity conceivable for a Spaniard to
put upon Americans Is thrust upon
u.s."
GEN. LEES RESIGNATION.
NEW YORK, Feb. 24.-The Journals
Washington special quotes Consul
General Lees cablegram, resigning
his post in Havana, as follows:
Havana, Cuba-To Secretary of
State, Washington, U. s. A: My res
ignation mailed per steamer.
(Signed) LEE.
The above cablegram was received
at the State Department yesterday.
1t vas in cipher.
AS soon as Secretary Olney reached
the Department he dictated an answer
to Gen. Lee, which was rushed with all
possible speed to Havana.
In his dispatch Secretary Olney re-
quested Gen. Lee to withhold his res
ignation until something could be done
in the Ruiz case, and intimated to the
sturdy Virginian that his resignation
at this time would cause untold
trouble.
AMERICANS IN IMMINENT DANGER.
HAVANA, Cuba, February 24.-The
situation here is critical. Every SOL
dier and every camp in Havana knows
| of the threatened breaking off of rela-
tions between the United States and
Spain, and they are preparing for
it. The work upon defenses is being
pushed on with great energy, and it is
rumored every five minutes of the
day that General Lee has received his
passports and that war is declared.
Americans are focking in from the
country, and if one-half the Ameri-
cans who want to leave for the United
States on the Mascotte this moor
board her she will sink.
The position of u citizens is most
critical. The rumor, whether true or
false, has gone abroad that the Amer
lean Government would not inter-
vene; that Americans can be MUIR
dered without perfect impunity, SO
long as the trade interests of the
country are not interfered with.
Unless something firm and decided
and strongly American is done by the
Government at Washington, Ameri-
cans are in great danger of their
lives. The murder of Ruiz and the
demand for the release of Scott are
the sole topics of conversation.
General Lee has not sprung al is
sue upon the department. He has
adopted the only purse an honorable
man could under the circumstances.
He has informed the people of the
United States what is being done and
what is being left undone by their
representative in their names.
The issue is clear. The country
knows the facts. Will the people per-
nit another murder? Will they allow
General Lee to leave Havana for want
of support? While the country has
been stirred to the core and all men
of flesh and blood and sinew have been
boiling at the news of this terrible
atrocity in the killing of Ruiz, the
State Department and Olney have re-
manned absolutely passive.
The issue, General Lee thinks, is
now clear. 1t is whether law-abiding
American citizens residing abroad are
to be protected, or whether we ri to
serve notice that they a be murder
ed and tortured with impunity.
Hundreds of cablegrams are pour
ing in on General Lee from every
quarter of the globe, congratulating
him upon the stand he has taken,
those from the United States promis-
ing patriotic action in Congress.
WASHINGTON, February 25.-Rep-
resentative Sulzer, of New York, to-
day introduced a bill declaring war
between Spain and her colonies and
the United States.
The bill provides 'sthat war be de-
clared to exist between the Kingdom
of Spain and her colonies and the
United States of America and their
territories, and that the President is
authorized to use the whole land and
naval force of the United States to
carry the same into effect and to is
sue to private armed vessels of the
United States commissions or letters
of marque and general reprfsal in
such form as he shall think proper
and under the seal of the United
States, against the vessels, goods and
effects of the Government of said
Kingdom of Spain and the subjects
thereof" I
CONGRESS FOR WAR.
WASHINGTON, February 25.-There
is a feverish feeling here. Two-thirds
Of both branches of Congress are
ready to declare war on Spain. Only
the hand of Cleveland maintains the