The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1898-04-23

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lieutenant's breast. 1t was a severe
wound, for the heavy steel head could
not be reached by the surgeon But the
wound healed over. and the steel hap
pened to be new and clean, and there
fore did not induce blood poisoning. For
some years it troubled Lieutenant Lee
but was finally absorbed and passed into
the blood.
There were five of the Lees of Virginia
wearing the United States uniform when
South Carolina fired on Sumter. Captain
Sidney Smith Lee was the senior, and a
commander. high up on the list, in the
navy His eldest son. also named Sid
ney Smith. was a young watch officer in
the same service. His second son, FltZ
hugh, was a lieutenant in the army Then
Robert f. Lee was q lieutenant colonel
of cavalry, and before he resigned was
colonel Of the First Cavalry. filling the
vacancy caused by Colonel Summers
promotion to brigadier general. G. w.
Curtis Lee was lieutenant of engineers,
William H. FitzhuSh I.ee-"Rung." his
intimates called him-had left the army
year before. So all tho Lees. old
enough had seen service before 1861
AS the eldest OF the sons Of Light
Horse Harry Lee, it was felt that the
first move toward resignation must come
from Captain Sidney Smith Lee. He
was the head Of the house and family OF
Lee and his movements would be Il guide
bi action for the others. No man held
his distinguished name and aristcCratic
nn-age in higher honor than Captain
Lee. and whatever he might do would
DO tho right thing for all of his blood
and kin Captain Lee was handsome
man, whose stately and somewhat
naughty manner had been intensified by
years of high rank and command. He
was an arstocrat and the proudest OF the
Lees Like his brother Robert he had
married into family that was among the
Hottest in Virginia for hundred years.
They all waited and watched the trend
and course Of events The Lees would
follow Virginia alone, and they waited
for her word When it came, first Sid
ney Smith, then Robert, G. w. Curtis,
Sidney Smith. .Jr., Of the navy, finally
and last Fitzhugh, all quilted the service
OF the country whose foundations their
fathers and grandfathers had helped to
lay. OF the awful pain and regret all
felt especially the seniors) at the dis
solution OF the Union as they deemed it,
there is ample evidence extant. But go
they must Virginia had at last spoken.
She was their cherished mother Her
word must be oheyed. and it was.
AS soldier. FitZhugh Lee was among
the very first of that gallant lot OF young
general officers who helped to make
'Stuart's Cavalry" the famous corps it
became, under it's brilliant young Vir-
ginia chieftian and head. AS a leader
Fitzhugh Lee was. perhaps. tho most
popular officer in tho corps, after Stuart
repeated words, showing his apprecia-
ton, which is indeed high praise when
Stuart commends an officer as he does
Ftzhugh Lee
General Lee is no ordinary man I'm
der his frank bonhommie he has quick
ness and accuracy of Judgment that has
thus far never led him into a mistake
or a bundcr in war or peace. His career
as consul general and United States COM
missioner extraordinary at Havana has
lcon q marvel OF prudence and boldnGss
combined, which has delighted his friends
and won tho commentator of all Ameri-
cans Ho alone knew how to conquer
Tho open aversion-nln.Gst hatreh-that
Captain General Weycr felt toward our
country and its representatives. What
eyer hc has asked for, Martinez Campos
Cleveland surely builded wiser than he
knew when ho clothed General l'itz Lee
with almost absolute authority, to say
and do in the name of the republic what
he saw tlt when tho slow processes of
state department diploma were made
ulatc and ii WAS Il matter OF life and
death that haste should DO made, and
that right speedily.
That tho crucial period OF his official
ifo ii now at hand ia beyond question.
He has avoided the tortuous ways of
diplomacy, and when there was occasion
has spCken with 4 soldiers truth and
frankness just what he had to say. and
ho has won the confidence of those whom
it was most necessary to win by this
course.
In all the urfriendly criticisms of
American officials that have appeared in
the Cuban and home press OF Spain there
has never appeared an unfrienaly line
touching General Ice. Nothing could
better illustrate how admirably and
bravely. yet prudcntly, has he borne him
sell. Ho has the fullest confidence and
trust Of all Americans at home in his
discretion as we'll as his patriotism. And
no matter what the stress may be, those
who know him best feel sure that lie
will only add new luster to the traditions
OF courage, truth and honor. which in
the storm and stress of the two centuries
OF the republic have made llustrious the
proud heritage and name of the Lees.