The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1898-03-07
MONDAY. MARCH :, 1898.
The Demand for Lee. recall.


News that Spain had demanded the
recall Of Gen. Fitzhugh Lee was cabled
from Madrid yesterday in a press dis
patch filed at 4 O'clock in the morning.
The information was confirmed by the
State Department last night Under
present circumstances this action on
the part OF the Spanish government Is
significant and startling enough TO set
the country on edge.
We have learned upon the most relia-
BILE authority that il had been known To
the President and Acting Secretary Day
Tor two days preceding its ventilation in
Madrid Therefore, the development
may be taken as a sinister commentary
upon the bona hdes Of constantly re-
lterated statements at the State De-
partment that al the news in the pos
session Of the Administration was being
given out and nothing concealed. Here
is the most important incident for q
week vigorously concealed, and that
fact is justification for believing that
other things proper and necessary foI
Congress and the nation to know are
also being withheld.
What has Gen Lee done that he
should become especially obnoxious tc
the Havana authorities, or to the Sa-
gssta cabinet, just now? The only
offense that We can conceive him guilty
OF, beyond being an American. a soldier
and a gentleman, is that the Spaniards
have learned reliably that he has told
Mr. Mckinley the truth about the
Maine massacre. We do not doubt that
this is at the bottom Of the demand
because we have had every reason tc
believe that a report from Gen. Lee
placing responsibility for the crime
where it belongs. had been received al
the White House many days ago. The
exceptional opportunities for learning
Administration secrets which the
Spanish legation always has enjoyed
render ii probable that the substance. if
not the text. Of the communication has
been in the possession Of Senior Sagasta
for more than q week
There is q necessary deduction which.
81 The same time. Is disagreeabIe one.
II Gen. Lee has conveyed the truth tc
mir Mckinley. the latter has known il
fully and finally for some time. yet has
allowed. II not authorized, Secretary
Long TO represent that the Government
had knowledge upon which to base the
assumption that the responsibility al
Spain had been eliminated from con-
sideration. Upon this apparent diver
eence If fact and declaration we think
that comment Is unnecessary and might
be- inadvisabie this morning. 1t viii in
eEitabIy lead 10 a condition Of incre-
dulity in the public and Congressional
minds as 10 any future statements en-
anatine from the Administration. and
Viii be- likely TO cause a change Of
policy on the part cf senators and men,
bers who have hitherto restrained
themselves, under the impression thaf
Mr. Mckinley was dealing frankly viii
them. and with the country.
The latest alfront is but another evi-
dence that Spain is viciously deter
mined 10 force our hand and compel Us
10 hostilities. II our authorities were
not more interested for the success o.
the Spanish Cuban bond deal than fol
any other earthly thing. the obviou:
policy would be to recall Woodford
Lee and everybody else, send Du Boss
and his associates home. recognize Gu
ban bellieerency and terminate tn,
matter
But that would also put an end to the
hopes or the Spanish bond robbers.