The daily morning journal and courier., 1898-04-13
IN HONOR OF LEE.
Remarkable Demonstration in Washing
 ton Last Night,

ton Last Night.
 Washington, April 12.-The ovation that has followed Consul General Fitz- hugh Lee since he set foot on Ameri- can soil on his return from Havana eliminated tonight in Washington in one of the most remarkable demonstra- tions the city has ever seen. The mo- ment he alighted in the railroad sta- tion in the afternoon he was surround ed by a 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 that staid department. At night the city turned out in thou sands when serenade was given Gen. eral Lee at his hotel and stood for hours in the street waiting for a glimpse of him. The night demonstra- tion was almost as quick and unpre- meditated as that which greeted Gen. eral Lee at the depot and at the state department. The Seventh regiment came from New York to serenade him. Before the close of the demonstration the crowd numbered in the thousands.
 The bands struck up Star Spangled Banner" and there was a burst of fire works from the neighboring houses, while mountains of red, white and blue lights famed at intervals along the street, throwing the crowd on the ball. cony of the hotel into sharp relief against a background of flags. The crowd yelled itself hoarse calling for Lee and demanding a speech. The speech was brief and much broken by applause. General Lee said:
 After all the speeches I have been forced to make in the past two days I can hardly hope to make myself heard over this great gathering. I can only assure you that such a demonstration seems to me out of all proportion to the simple fact of my humble presence here, and I am frank to say I don't see that I deserve it, having only tried to do my duty as an American where cir cumstances placed me-
 The crowd broke out afresh and there were yells That's it.'' That's what you did" General Lee continued: 1T have to thank you most heartily for this splendid endorsement of my course. It is a. thing that can hardly come to man more than once in a lifetime and it moves me more than can put in words"
 You can act pretty quick" cried a man in the crowd and then some yelled War, fight" and the cheering drowned everything else. T have not come to talk of war;" continued General Lee, "but if war comes in a few days, the present crisis has proved that it will find us a united people and the only contest will be as to who can carry the flag farthest and fastest.
 There is one thing, in conclusions I want to thank my good New York friends who have come so promptly to the front tonight. It is only another evidence that New York is ready as she has been in the past to stand by Vir- ginia and if the trial comes, I can as- sure you all that Virginia will be found standing shoulder to shoulder with New York" The speaking and music were followed by a brief recep- ton, to which a few score gained ad- mittance in the rooms of Representa- tive Connell of Pennsylvania, from whose balcony General Lee had made his address.