The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1898-08-04
THE DEMAND FOR LEE.
The Chicago CrOnicIe Contends tie
Should be Made Military Governor
of Cuba,

In every part of the United States,
says the Atlanta Journal, there was 4
strong popular demand when the
war with Spain began that General
Fitzhugh Lee should be given a high
command. The people Of the United
States, without regard to section or
party, believed that General Lee
should be so honored for several
reasons.
They knew that he possessed
military ability of fine order and
that he had had quite as much ex-
perience in actual war as any man
in this country. They honored Lee
for his conduct as our consul-gen-
eral at Havana, which was at once
courageous and prudent. He upheld
the honor of our Government there
under most trying circumstances.
When President Mckinley APP
pointed Lee to ma or-generalshi
the act was unanimously approved
throughout the land. General Lee
has not had an opportunity in this
war to show what he can do in
campaign. but it may come to him
'
service in putting troops into shape
for service. There is now consider
able conjecture as to the part which
General Lee will be called upon to
perform when hostilities have ceased.
That he should be made mill tarv
governor of Cuba seems to be gen
orally considered the proper thing.
He is better acquainted with the
conditions of the Cuban problem
than anybody else in the United
States: he has the nerve and the
good Judgment to deal successfully
with such complications as may
arise when we take possession of
Cuba. 1t is conceded now that we
must do that and it is of great i'm
portance that we should have the
right man at the head of affairs
there. The Chicago CrOnicle cannot
be accused of Partially toward
Southern men. and it is out in 4
strong leader insisting that nobody
but General Lee should be considered
in connection with the military
governorship of Cuba.
The Cronic!c expresses surprise at
the report that this position may be
given to Gen. James II. Wilson, of
Delaware. General Wilson was Il
distinguished Union officer in the
civil war and was appointed major
general of volunteers in this war at
the same timeas General Lee. The
Cronicie say:
by all considerations, both of
fitness and sentiment, that portion
belongs to the man who is universally
admitted to be most conversant with
the situatiOn-the man who faced
danger and death in protecting the
interests OF his country and the lives
OF his countrvmen, and who left the
island only at the command of the
President.
1t Is not necessary to recite the
services of Fitzhugh Lee as CONSUL
general at Havana. 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 earnestness that earned
for him the vindictive hatred of the
Sophisticated that manifested
itself in the deliberate slight put
upon him by Blanco at the time of
his departure. He is. above all
others, the American whom the
Spaniards hate and the Cubans trust.
He quilted Cuba with the Span
ish jeers ringing in his ears. He
should return to it as military gov
ernor of the island. To pass him
over in favor of any other man
would be the rankest iniuStice-in-
justice that would be resented bv the
American people--republicans as
well as democrats. There is enough
sentiment left in this country to
insist that the demands of poetic
justice shall be satitied-that the
man who left Cuba Kissed bv the
SpaniardS shall return to it as the
ruler and governor of the island.
Nothing less will do.
General Wilson NAV be an excel
lent officer and an administrator of
ability. We have no desire to dis
parage his merits. But if he COM
blned the military genius of Napol-
con with the statecraft OF Richeiieu
his claims to supreme command in
Cuba would not weigh as much as
hair in the balance against the con-
slderaiions which demand the ap-
polntment of General Lee
The demands of Justice and the
sentiment OF the American people
Will not be satisfied with any pro p
osltlon which does not include the
selection of Fitzhugh Lee as gov
ernor-general of Cuba