The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-06-04
FROl1 PEACE TO WAR.

riDgs towns like sseep anc then lest 20
having inus deprived them Of their Hvsli-
hood. refusing 70 make arg provision to
supply them with food ard clothing. ard
81 many Instances cutting OF from them
supplies that had been forwarded to them
from America. II fact, these attempts 10
relieve the reeoncsntrados seemed 20 an
ger the Spanish authorities and iuaame
;hem against Americans to the very last
degree Of bitterness
Fortunately the United States had az
this time in Cuba as her chief repressE-
tstige a man whose cool head and brave
heart knew well how to deal witt am
Guilty and danssr-Consul General Fitz-
hugh Lee. His brilliant campaigns rs
chief 81 the Confederate cavalry had won
for him the admiration alike OF friend
and foe and his subsequent admiuis,ra-
ton as governor of Virginia during he
trying struggle with the "Readtusters"
in that state had still further marked him
as leader Of men, with great force OF
character and executive ability He was
ser; 20 Havana by Cleveland. and Nc
kiniey. fnding him peculiarly qualified
go deal with situation that was daily be-
coming more complicated and critical.
wisely retained him there. SO well did
he bear himself In sustaining the credit.
dignity and honor OF the nation. that he
won applause from all parties, and when
the gathering clouds OF war necessiiated
his withdrawal from Havana. his journey
from Key West TO Washington was one
long ovation.
Early In January there was violent riot
Ing in Havana. Gen. Lee kept the gov
eminent fully informed of affairs there.
though he said very little about the dan
gers to which II was afterward learned he
had been personally subjected. Hardly 4
day passed that he did not receive threats
more or less definite OF assassination.
About the middle OF January he reported
the situation as very serious, and the At
lan,ic squadron was ordered southwark.
For time the turbulence subsidized. and
on January "a the United States battle
ship Maine was ordered TO Havana, with
tho emphatic assurance that she went
there as friendly vessel. just as the
warships Of other nations go TO Oriental
or other harbors.
Meanw lille an inciden, occurred at Wash
ngton which did not help 10 heal tie
growing breach between the two coun-
tries. Minister De Lone Spain's repre-
sentative. wrote a letter to his friend
Canalejas n Spain, severely critieizing
President Mckinley's course with refer
ence to the measures then pending in
congress looking 10 recognition Of the
Cuban Insurgents belligerants The
writer stigmatized Mckinley as weak
and catering 10 the rabhie." and as "a
low politician who desires 20 stand with
the t.ngoeS Of his party" Through act of
indiscretion or dishonesty on the part Of
De I.ome's secretary. the letter vas made
public. and at once created the widest
excitement The president took 4 dtgns-
fled stand In the matter. Minister Wood
ford a; Madrid was instructed TO present
a fIl, statement of the affair TO the Span
ish government This was done. where
upon DE Lone was reca.,ed and Spain
afterward espresso! regret. Polo Ber-
nabe was appointed as DE Lomes sue
cess0r. and diplomatic relations went on.
Hardly had the country settled down
from the excitement caused by De Lome's
pe;tlsh iudIscre:ioa when the battlesh.p
Maine, while iying peacefully IN Havana
harbor. was blown 10 atoms on the ever
Ing Of February Is and 2ss Of her officers
and crew Killed.
A detailed account OF this awful tragedy