Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-05-18
NO POLITICS IN VIRGINIA
Pending War Sole Topic of Conversation,
Says Governor Tyler.
Prompt Response to Call for VOlun-
teers-Gen Fitxhugh Lee as
a Cavalry Leader.
Special Correspondence of The Evening Star.

RICHMOND, Va, May IL. 1898.
For the first time in long PERIOD" said
Governor Tyler of Virginia to a special
correspondent for The Star, there is no
politics in Virginia. All the talk is about
the war.
"I1 response to the call for volunteers
the young men throughout the state have
been even more prompt in answering than
was anticipated, and the executive depart
menr of Virginia is overwhelmed with bust
ness growing out of these responses.
LAS a matter of fact, companies of volun-
teers arrive in Richmond faster than those
having the responsibility in the matter
can provide for them, and even while we
are talking, late though it is in the even
ing, some of the latest arrivals at Camp
Lee have not yet had their supper.
There have been some repetitions from
among those offering their services to fight
against Spain, but not more than three or
four rer cent, l think.
In reply to questions, Governor Tyler
said he could see no reason for the earnest
and even vehement demands on the part OF
some newspapers that President Mckinley
shall order an invasion of Cuba by our
armies at once.
Those critics to whom reference has been
made, continued Governor Tyler, fail TO
take into consideration that it is no easy
matter to put force of 125, 600 men in the
field ready for active operations.
They forget, or at least they do not
seem to be aware, that it takes time to
| make tents and uniforms and to provide
the many other things absolutely necessary
for the use of the commissiary department,
and without which the invading force can
| rot hope to be successful
Asked if he believed the rumor, as print
ed in an afternoon paper in Richmond yes
terday. that the President was about TO
issue call for 100000 additional troops,
Governor Tyler said he did not. He GER
tainly had no information of that kind as
yet.
prominent citizen of Richmond and a
former officer in the confederate army in
| talking with The Star correspondent about
| the war, said he was glad to see that there
was such Willingness on the part of those
who fought in the confederate army to
| take up arms for the government in the
present war between the United States and
] Spain. He further remarked that he was
delighted to observe that many of the
young ladies, not only in Richmond but in
| other parts of Virginia, are wearing hats
| trimmed with red, white and blue ribbon
and ornamented with small United States
| flags.
Former Deeds of VaIOr.
Talking along a similar line, Rev. DIR.
I ]. William Jones, the well-known historian
| of Virginia, who served four years under
General Robert E. Lee, said:
| Il have nothing to say to lessen the zeal
of those who rally around our common flag,
| but would not allow the memory of 1851
| Go to perish on account of this or any other
war.
I'VE are too prone to exaggerate the
| things that are nearest us. / wouldn't de-
preciate the victory achieved by that gal
| liant sailor, Commodore Dewey. 1t was a
superb victory, and get when We speak
| of it as the greatest victory ever achieved
| by American seamen we draw 1t little too
| strong. When We study the war of 1872,
and realize the difference in the ships. the
~ nj he
that surrounded the fighting in those days
we will, think, find a parallel.
Il was at Norfolk a few days ago and
saw those magnificent battle ships lying at
rest in Hampton Roads, and l was struck
with one fact in connection with them.
They were all modelled, not after Ericsson 5
monitor but after Brooke's Virginia These
modern fighting machines are not the re-
suit of evolution from the Swedes idea
but are designed after the idea of Commo-
dore Maurys able assistant
therefore it was John NJ. Brooke who
revoutionized modern naval warfare and
when ! saw those massive ships floating so
quietly in Hampton Roads my heart leaped
with pride when l though of the fact that
1t was through the genius of Virginian
that these things were brought about.
L have nothing to say to detract from
the zeal manifested by the young men now
gathered at Camp Lee. The boys there as
sembled will do their duty, but after the
victory is won q take it that will be the
NSuie VI thS iiSutJ tHty Will not De dDle
show achievements superior to- or even
equal to, those of the fair-haired mothers
darlings of 1861 who became veterans after
four years arduous service. Those boys
made history which is unequaled"
Rushing Work on Battle Ships.
Information has been received here that
the contractors for building the Kearsarce
and Kentucky are anticipating orders from
the government to hurry those Vessels 10
cOmDefiOn with ba MY
patch. Under ordinary circumstances tho
two battle ships would not be ready to 60
into commission for more than a year An
officer of the company said today that by
working on them night and day they ccl;li
be completed in six months.
In order to accomplish this however it
would be necessary for the government to
enter into new contract with the ship
building company, making provision for q
heavy increase in the cost of the shirs
The great activity in American ship yards
mas created a great demand for skilled
Workmen, and to provide a night and day
force to work on the battle ships would en-
tail, 1t is said, large additional expense
in wages.
1t goes without saying that everybody
here is talking about Fitzhugh Lee, and
last evening one who knows him well said:
II the boys want to fight; want to be
Spaniards that there is something in them
above the mercenary; want to let the Dons
see that the spirit of re and '62 burns as
brightly and as fiercely as ever, all they
have to do is to follow the gallant Fitzhugh
Lee, and he'll never send a man where he
won't lead.
| There is so much to tell of Fitzhugh
Lee, but briefly the history of the cavalry
| of the confederacy is the war history of the
| man. He is inseparably and heroically con-
| nected with it. To leave him out of a cav
airy charge is to leave a vacancy indeed.
He was at the first Manassas battle and
went to the front, as he did ever after
From captain he rose through the various
grades to major general, which place he &C.
cupies again, and will again distinguish.
Lee was desperate, daring, bold and cour-
ageous, but never reckless. l. have seen
Lee and Stuart go into battle Singing, and
as they charged; sang with bullets flying
about them; sang even as they ducked to
dodge vicious saber cut In camp he ha Id
a band, known as Fitzhugh Lees Minstrels,
and many were the entertainments they
gave
War Incident