Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-03-08
Intense Feeling Aroused By SPANS Re-
quest for General Less Recall.
DISPATCH EXTRA IN GREAT DEMAND
Crowds Around The Bullstin-Roard
Until QuistiEs News Comes.
INTERVIEWS on THE SITUATION.
Generals Maury md johnson Think
There VIII Likely he Trouble
a..,,ess-Men Against war-views
OF Our Military Leaders.


Richmond yesterday when the announce
ment was made I'm the extra edition O
the Dispatch that the Spanish Govern
ment had requested the recall from Ha
bana of Consul General Lee. and though
popular feeling ran very high, healthy
conservatism underlay the sensation
Born Of supreme confidence In the govern
ment and In General Lee at this june
ture, and in the ability OF the country 10
cope with any force that might be OPP
posed to II I'm case OF war.
without regard TO party utilization, the
highest praise was bestowed on General
Lee. who, it is said, has done more dis
tinetive work 10 protect the interests
abroad Of American citizens than any
Minister OF this country for the last fifty
years.
The Dispatch extra alone conveyed the
news OF the extreme gravity o. the situa-
ton. and the large edition printed early
In the morning was soon exhausted.
There was such demand for the paper
in all parts Of Richmond and Manchester
that the newsboys could hardly meet It,
while the clerks at the counter were
kept busy. .....
Eager. anxious crowds gathered round
the Dispatch bulletin board, from which
the latest developments were heralded'
and it was only when the announcement
was made in the afternoon that Spain
had receded from her position that the
extreme tension was relieved.
Then men discussed calmly the situa-
ton in its many phases, and the views OF
military men. of the men at the head OF
financial institutions, OF leading politi-
clans, and others, were carefully gathered
by Dispatch reporters, and are given be-
lows
OUTLOOK FAVORABLE FOR WAR.
And war is still the cry" exclaimed
General Dabney II. Maury, the veteran
OF two wars and Oldest Confederate Off
Ger Of high rank in Virginia, as he ex-
tended his hand TO the Dispatch man who
sought an expression from him touching
the threatened trouble with Spain. Gene
raj Maury said the outlook seemed very
favorable for war. He did not see ex-
actly how either country could back out
now, as matters had gone so far. The |
General thought in case of war England |
would probably aid Spain. The veteran |
said as far as he was concerned, ne would |
like to see A war, and he would very |
much like to be in Cuba just now The /
present generation wanted war. You |
young fellows" he said, never heard a |
cap pop. and you are all anxious TO get |
In a war"
Speaking of General Fitzhugh Lee, the
Did soldier declared that the Consul |
General had conducted himself admirably |
but that it was no surprise to him. Old |
Bob" himself, he said, couldn't have |
done better than "Fitz." Lee always
conducted himself we'll in any emergency,
land showed that he had a level head"
1.-THE PROBABLE RESULT.
When asked as to the probable length
Of a war with Spain, General Maury did
not declare, as have some, that it would
bS an affair OF day or two. He said
the Spaniards were a proud people and a
lighting race. The result of the whole
the General declared, would be
that the United States would come into
of Cuba and some of the other
Islands down there, each one of which
was very Gibraltar for US. The United
States was at present in q very good con-
|
money interests were against hostilities,
but when the great masses of the Ameri-
can paople became aroused. such an in
teyest would not deter them.
General Maury thought one result of
the recent catastrophe would be that the
United States would construct more YES
sells of less tonnage and fewer of the
great and unwieldy battleships of which
the Maine was a sample.
A COLLISION INEVITABLE
General Bradley T. Johnson was next
called upon by the reporter The General
said he thought a collision between the
warships OF Spain and this country was
inevitable. Conditions were such now in
Habana harbor that the least thing
might cause shot from one Of the men
of>war.
Fiszhugh Lee General Johnson said,
was the very best man that could have
boen found to be placed I'm Cuba TO rep
resent the United States. Lee. he de
,lared. was the bestowed man in this
country to-day.
In the event of war with Spain, Gene
-al Johnson thought the latter country |
would have no allies. Certainly, he said,
he would receive no aid from England,
france, or Russia He could not tell
What Germany might do. A war
|
n Ha5ana harbor. The Spanish fleet
here would be sunk in about thirty
and the United States troops
would be landed in Cuba and would take
ossession OF the island.
NOT THE soUTHS FIGHT.
General johnson said that he was OPP
osed to this country engaging in a war, |
nd as far as he was concerned he did
ct intend to go, and he didn't care who
new IL. He was over the age" any
Iay. He did not wish to see the South
inter- into any such war. 1t was no
ght Of ours, he said, and we were in no
ondition TO send on the young men OF
he South to engage in warfare. The
outh was Just beginning 10 build itself
D now. and was recovering from the
lst war. He wouldn't give the lives OF
hree Virginia or Maryland boys for all
Spain. Three such young men, he de- {
Jared were worth $4,000 TO the COM
lunlty in which they lived, and they
oCldn't be spared. However. he recog-
tied the fact that the entire country
as wrought up just now with these
'ariike feelings, and he had no doubt
nat the young men OF the South would
{ among the first to offer their services ;
NO OCCASION FOR WAR. :
MIR. Virginius Newton, president OF the | =
irst National Bank, on being asked for :
is views OF the situation and the posi- =
ility OF war, said: v
Il do not believe In war. Nor do / be-
eve che occasion for such declaration
Az arisen, or will arise. / feel the full n
II confidence in General Lees conduct n
5 diplomatist. and that ne will do no. 4
iing~say nothing that will make rim @