The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-08-14
THE MISSION OF GEN. LEE.
HE Is PREPARING FOR 1T AND WILL
EXECUTE IT FAITHFULLY.

Remarks About Battle Cries The
HerOic Part Played by Some of the
Women Who Have Nursed the Sick
In the HOspituIs-Other Matters OF
General Interest.
Fernandina, Fla, Aug. 1s.-I am glad to
see that the Morning News does not en-
dorse Gen. Young's rather strong criu-
cisms on the Cubans. When the war first
started, judging them by the general run
Of cigar makers at Tampa, had formed
a rather low estimate of the Cubans,
but not so low as that now held by Gen.
Young. After Gen. Fitzhugh Lee estab-
lished his headquarters at the Tampa Bay
Hotel he was almost constantly surround
ed by the better class of Cuban refugees
from Havana. In the day time they were
mostly Cuban officers and soldiers and at
night the ladies and their civilian escorts
were present In large numbers. Among
all these found a high state of refine
ment and practical good sense. The la
dies were especially bright, and seemed
to have clear and patriotic ideas about
the war and its purposes. These people
I found as unlike the West Tampa and
Ybor City masses of Cubans as night is
different from day. In their hands any
form of government in Cuba would be
judiciously and humanely administered.
But in the hands of the rabble that
swarmed around Santiago and of which
Gen. Young saw so much that was dis
tasteful, no safe system of government
could be established.
Ard t. a. l. e
Lee and his mission. Many people are
worrying because he has not been put in
the field TO fight the Spaniards. This
worry As quite needless, as Gen. Lee
knows what his mission Is to be, and he
is daily preparing himself and his splendid
corps for its accomplishment at the prop
er time, and in the way originally intend
ed. No man is more popular with all
classes, Cubans and Spanards, in Ha-
vana, than Gen. Lee. When he goes there
as temporary military governor with an
army of defense and not invasion, he will
harmonic and sreunite the better classes
of Cubans and Spaniards, and establish
peaceful relations between them. His Of
fetal conduct as consul general was most
discreet and humane, and he win go back
with hands unstained with the blood of
Spanish or Cuban foes, and be in con-
dition to do justice to all classes in put
ting Cuba on the right track to secure
peaceful and permanent form of govern
ment. In due time enough of the cultur-
ed element will be found to assume full
control Of governmental affairs.
People who object to the battle-cry of
Remember the Maine" by the avengers,
must bear in mind that battle-cries, like
this have prevailed in all wars, and many
Tines have stimulated soldiers to deeds of
daring not otherwise attempted, and to
victories not to be won without some such
H.. -
Mlrabeau b. Lamar, of Georgia, whose
fame win be forever linked with the his
tory of the young Texas republic, realized
the value of such an inspiration. and wAen
at the head of his sixty horsemen, in the
battle of San Jacinto, he rose IN his stir
rups, waved his sword above his head, and
cried out: Remember, men, the Alamo!
Remember Gohad, Fannin, Bowie and
Travis Charge, and strike in vengeance
for the murdered of our comrades" The
troop swept down upon fated Santa Annals
forces like a whlrlwind leaving dead and
MANNED Mexican soldiers in Its track There
are historians who claim that this gallant
charge led to the final capture of Gen.
Santa Anna and part of his army result
ing In the cessation Of hostilit!es and the
establishment of the republic of Texas, of
which Gen. Lamar became an honored
president
In my last letter I spoke of the heroic
women who go to the battle fields to
nurse the sick and wounded soldiers, I
should have added a word in praise of
wives, mothers and sisters of soldiers who
have done such noble service in the camps
here in Florida. Conspicuous among
these brave and patriotic women have
been Mrs. Gen. w. w. Gordon at Miami
and Mrs. Col. Moulton at Jacksonville.
They have not been alone in their devo-
ton to the sick and wounded soldiers
When Mrs. Gen. Fitzhugh Lee and her
daughter came to Jacksonville they at
once Joined in the good work. Mrs. Dodge
of the Windsor Hotel at Jacksonville,
Mrs. Julia d. Little of the Hotel Miami,
at Miami, and Manager Thompson,s
daughter of the Strathmore Hotel, at
Fernandina, have also been conspicuous
workers. And into the hospitals and
camps at all these points has come a
steady stream of delicacies and needed
hospital appliances from the various la
dies relief societies all over the country.
Many of the wealthiest and most cultur-
ed ladies of the land have gone into the
hospitals and nursed with their own
hands and their own supplies the sick SOL
diers quartered therein. Like angels of
mercy they have helped thousands of our
scattered sick and wounded soldiers to
better bear the pain and suffering allot-
ed them as heroes and patients.
Sidney Herbert.