Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-07-24
The Demand for Lee.
ATLANTA Journal.)


In every part of the United States there
was strong popular demand when the
war with Spain began that General Fitz-
| hugh Lee should be given d high COM
mand. The people of the United states.
without regard 20 section or party, be-
| lieved that General Lee should be so
| honored. for several reasons.
| They knew that he possessed military
| ability Of a fine order and that he mad
had quite as much experience in actual
war as any man in this country. They
honored Lee for his conduct as our Con-
] sul-General at Habana, which was at once
! courageous and prudent. He upheld tho
| honor OF our government there under most
| trying circumstances
| When President Mckinley appointed
Lee to a or-generalshp the act was
unanimously approved throughout the
| land. General Lee has not had an oppor-
| tunity in this war TO show what ne can
do In a campaign, but Ii may come TO him
yet. He has, however. been OF great SER
vice In putting troops into shape for SER
vice. There Is now considerable conJec-
ture as 10 the part which General Les
will be called upon to perform when hos
tilities have ceased.
That ne should be made Military Cover
nor OF Cuba seems to be generally con>
sidered the proper thing
He Is better acquainted with the condi-
lions OF the Cuban problem than any
body else In the United States he has tho
nerve and the good judgment to 6eai sue
cessfully with such complications as may
arise when we take possession OF Cuba.
II is conceded now that we must do that.
and IL is Of great Importance that we
should have the right man at the head of
affairs there. The Chicago Chronicle
cannot be accused of partially toward
- tA A.. -. .ss..
leader insisting that nobody but General
Lee should be considered in connection
with the military governorship Of Cuba.
The Chronicle expresses surprise at tho
report that this position may be given TO
General James III. Wilson, OF Delaware.
General Wilson was distinguished Union
officer in the civil war, and was appointed
a major-general OF volunteers in this war
at the same time as General Lee. The
Chronicle says:
"By all consideration, both OF fitness
and sentiment, that position belongs to
the man who is universally admitted to
be most conyersant with the situation
the man who faced danger and death In
the interests OF his country
and the lives Of his countrymen. and who
left the island only at the commapd OF
the President.
1T is not necessary 10 recite the ser.
at Habana. Every one knows OF them.
For weeks he was the central figure In
the events that preceded the war. The
eyes Of the American people were focused
upon him. and under that searching
scrutiny his conduct was without a flaw.
He served his country with fidelity and
that earned for him the VIM
dictive hatred OF the Spanlards--hatred
that manifested itself In the deliberate
slight put upon him by Blanco at the
time or his departure. He Is. above all
others. the American whom the spanlards
hate and the Cubans trust.
He quilted Cuba with Spanish 1eefy
ringing In his ears. He should rsturn ~
IL as Military Governor OF the island. To
pass him over In favor OF any other man
would be the rankest Observation-Disclosures
which would be Resented by the American
people-Republicans as well an Demo-
Gratis. There Is enough sentiment left in
this country 10 Insist that tho demands
of poetic justice shall be satisned-.thst
the man who left Cuba, Missed by the
spaniards. shall return to II as the ruler
and Governor OF the island. Netting less
will do.
General Wilson may be en- excellent
officer. and an administrator Of ability.
We have no desire TO disparage his mer-
Its. But II he combined the military
genius Of Napoleon with the statscraft
Of Richelieu his claims to supreme Gem.
mand In Cuba would not weigh as mitch
~ hair In the balance against the con-
siderations which demand the appoint
ment Of General Lee.
The demands Of justice and the senti.
ment OF the American people will not b
satisfied with any proposition which does
NOT include the selection Of Fitzhush Lac
as Governor General OF Cuba"
TO all Of which we say amen ana smenl