The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-03-03
GEN. LEES CABLES.

GEN. LEES CABLES.
The course which our Department Of
State has thought proper to pursue in the
matter Of General Fitz Lees communica-
lions TO it from the island Of Cuba is
simply incomprehens.ble 1t put out. in
semi-ofiicial way. denial af.er denial
that General Lee had reszceI his post
of Consul at Havana. This was done in
the face of repeated statements tele-
graphed from Havana that General Lee
was outraged at the refusal Of the Gov
eminent TO sustain him in his demands
upon Weyler to accord to arrested Ameri-
cans the rights guaranteed to them by
the treaty, and that he contemplated
resigning. or actually had resigned.
But now that we have General Lees
letters ana kilograms, it is seen that the
statements that have come from Havana
were substantially true. When Lee tele-
graphed the department Il cannot stand
another Ruiz murder" and IF you sup
port my demand for Scott's release. and
he is released, the trouble will terminate.
If you do not, l must depart" he condi-
tionally severed his relations with the
Government, in case the Government did
not sustain him in the position he had
taken.
The state Department could Of course,
say with truth that General Lee had not
resigned, because resignation implies acts
upon two sides to make IT complete. But.
under all the circumstances of this case.
its conduct was TOO close akin TO quibbling.
We are very sorry to say that the ad-
ministrations course throughout this
whole incident has been incomprehensible
to us. General Lees position was exactly
what It ought to have been. lie ought
to have demanded Of Weyler in the most
positive and peremptory terms that
American citizens should have the treat
ment which the treaty guarantees TO
them. when Weyler failed TO accord
them that treatment. he should have tele-
graphed information Of that fact to Wash
ington and the administration. instead Of
backing and filling with him. as it seems
10 have done. should have cabled the Queen
Of Spain at Madrid that unless Weyler
released the Americans within twelve
hours a fleet OF warships would be sent
to Havana with instruction 10 lombard
that city until the Americans were re-
leased. That is what Andrew Jackson
would have done, ana that is what this
nation expects its administration 10 do
under all such circumstances.
We say the administration Seems 10
have backed and filled" with General Lee.
We cannot state the case more strongly
than that. because. although Congress
called for all OF the correspondence with
General Lee. the Department has strange
ly sent in General Lees cables only with
out its replies 10 them. Our Washington
correspondent well says that this IS like
hearing one side OF conversation by tele-
phone What could have prompted the
state Department to such a course is be-
yond comprehension. Mr.. Olney ought
TO have known that his failure 10 send
in his cables to Lee would subject him
to the gravest suspicious OF being un-
willing TO have his record shown TO the
people 1t will have this effect aud Will
seriously add to the bad impression the
public has already found In regard 20 the
matter.
We cannot forbcar 10 remark further
upon the inhumanity of the Spaniards. as
General Lees cables show II. lie tells
us Mr.. Scott was kept SSs hours in solitary
confinement in a cell five feet wide aud
eleven long. that had neither chair. able.
nor bed In 1t. and with water on the floor.
and that he was never given water to
drink but once in twelve hours. ana once
he VA kept without 1t for two days. And
on what charge was he arrested and held?
Upon the charge OF having Cuban postage
stamps in his house. Suppose the charge
were true, was there anything in the
offence 10 justify such punishment as this
on the mere suspicion that he might be
guilty? II he had been actually guilty,
day IN Jail and a fine OF $40 would be
thought by civilized people a sufficient
punishment after he had had a trial. and
been proved guilty.
The exhibitions which recent events
have made OF the barbarous cruelty OF
the Spanish character would have been
incredible until the exposures were made.
They are five hundred years behind the
rest OF the world in most things. and in
their ferocty and cruelty have the me
thods OF = savage.
TILLNAS REFORMING NE SENATE.
IL was all very well for Mr. Hale to
put on fine show Of Indignation when
Senator Tillman said that the great