New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-04-13
THE CONSUL-GENERAL SERENADED.
ONE OF THE MOST REMARKABLE DEMoNsTRA-

ONE OF THE MOST REMARKABLE DEMVFSifsA
TIOHs EVER SEEN IN WASHINGTON
Washington. April 12-The greeting that has
followed Consult General Lee since ne set foot
on American soil his return from Havana
eliminated tonight in what was In many ways
one of the most remarkable demonstrations this
city has ev ? seen. From the moment he
alighted N tho railway station In the afternoon
ho was surrounded by n cheering crowd that
followed him TO the State Department. and
the spectacle Of Army and Navy officers and
Government employees cheering outside the
very door of the Secretary Of State was wholly
unprecedented in the history OF tha, staid De-
partncnt At night the people turned ont In
thousands when serenade was given TO Cen
eral Lee at his hotel. and stood for hours in the
street waiting glimpse Of him.
The night demonstration was almost as sud
den and unprecedented as that which had
greeted General Lee at the station and the State
Department The United States Marine Band
had been secured from the barracks and the
list Regiment band. under Professor Fanciulli.
formerly conductor of the Marine Band. came
over from New-York on an afternoon train. The
crowd assembled without calling. and by s
o'clock Was FIVE thousand strong In the streets
about the Shoreham Hotel where General Lee
Is staying. Before the close It was twice that
size
II VA, after before he appeared on Of
the small corner balconies. accompanied by a
committee OF the Union Veterans Legion and
the Confederate Veterans Association. which
we're Jointly in charge OF the affair. The bands
struck up The Star Spangled Banner and
there was a burst Of fireworks from the neigh
boring houses. while red. white and blue lights
famed AT intervals along the street. throwing the
group on the balcony into sharp relief against
n background Of flags The crowd yelled itself
hoarse calling for Leo by name and demanding
a speech The speech was brief and so much
broken by applause that the crowd caught prob
ably little more than its general drift General
Lee said
After all the speeches have been forced to
make in tho last two days. | can hardly hope
/ To- make myself heard over this great gathering.
! can only assure you that such a great demon
stratlon seems TO me out OF all proportion TO
the simple fact Of my humble presence here.
and frank TO say | don't see that de-
serve it, having only tried 10 do my duty an
American. whore circumstances placed me.
The crowd broke out afresh and there were
yells: That's IT," That's what you did" Gen
cral Lee continued
have to thank you most heartily for this
splendid Endorsement OF my course. 1t is a thing
that can hardly come to.a man mere than once
I'm i lifetime. and 1t moves me more than can
put In words.
You can act pretty quick cried a man in
the crowd. and then some one yelled War,
nght" and the cheering drowned everything
/ else.
Il have not come to talk war" continued Gen
cral Lee but II war comes. in n few days or In
"A few weeks the present crisis has proved that
f. will find us a united people. and the only CON
test win be to who can carry the flag furthest
and fastest There Is one thing. in concluslon-I
! want to thank my good Ncw-York friends who
have come so promptly 10 the front to night IL
ia ONLY another evidence that NewYork is
/ ready as she has been I'm the past. to stand by
Virginia and If the trial comes | can assure
Won all that Virginia Will be found standing
| shoulder 10 shoulder with New-fork.