The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1897-03-03
Lee and the Administration.
Not Supported IN His Effort
to Protect American
Citizens.

to Protect American
Citizens.
New York Sun.
The underIings of the administra-
ton are suggesting by hints and
shrugs, if not openly retailing. the
falsehood that Gen. Lee is impetuous
and imprudens. a veritable Hotspur
in temperament. and has allowed his
sy1npathies for the Cuban insurgents
to lead him beyond the limits Of his
duty and authority. In another
breath they attribute his action to per-
sonal and political motives, having
for their aim another term as govern
or of Virginia
The intimations are thrown out
with an assiduity and an air of au
thority which show that the purvey-
ors of such slime have got the cue of
calumny from higher sources, and
are expected TO use it for all it is
worth TO cover the craven betrayal of
American rights and manhood by
their superiors. No charge, under
all the circumstances. could be more
cowardly, treacberous, and false
The consul general is Hotspur
only in his courage and patriotism.
He is by no means Sudden and
quick in a quarrel" but exceedingly
amiable and conservative in disposi-
ton and temper. Even under condi-
tions most likely to betray the char.
acteristic attributed to Gen. Lee, he
has never been provoked to anything
approaching rashness either in words
or deeds. He has been properly
secretive in regard to the differences
he has had with the State depart
ment, but doubtless it has been i'm
possible for him to conceal entirely
his dlsapprovals of the unulanly and
un-American policy which the admin
istration has pursued, in spite Of the
indisputable facts he has furnished.
showing the bitter hostility of the
Spaniards to to all American citizens
within their power, and their re-
lnorseless persecution. He has re-
NAMED in his Office only with the
hope that he could prove serviceabie
to his oppressed countrymen, and
that the administration would sooner
or later accept and act upon the facts
he had conscientiously gathered and
laid before it.
In the latter expectation he has
been previously disappointed He
had probably found at last a fatal
error in his original assumption that
the President and Secretary Olney
wished the necessary evidence of the
violation of our treaty rights on
which to base demand upon Spain
for discontinuance of the outrages.
a full redress of the grievances of the
victims, and the maintenance Of the
honor OF this nation His only blum
ders have consisted in the entertain
ment of this assumption and his re-
luctance to reliuquish it.
No intelligent person who has
closely observed the systematic
course pursued can believe that the
administration, at any time within
the past few months at least, intend
ed to assert the rights of our flag or
protect the persons and property of
our citizens on the island Gen Lee
was sen. to Cuba merely to play the
lackey and carry out cowardly and
disbonorable policy, with the hope
that his high character would secure
for such policy the respect which it
could not have acquired from a man
less distinguished for integrity of
purpose and manly courage. Cleve-
land was as much mistaken in his
selection of al agent for such pur-
pose as the agent was mistaken in
Cleveland. It seems that the Presl.
dent did not wish TO know the full
facts, and the best evidence that he
did not wish the country 10 know
them is furnished by the strenuous
efforts made to conceal them alter
they had been collected and reported
to the state department.
All the information the foreign
committee of either house have been
able to secure has been wrung from
reluctant hands. There has been no
free conference between either com
mittee and the White House, as
would have been the case had there
been an honest desire on the part Of
the administration to uphold the dig
nifty and reflect the wishes of the ma.
ton. Not even warship has been
permitted to approach the island,
though at no time during the 10
roare' NOR 6,d I}avoc or Grant fail fo