The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1898-03-14
POPULAR GENERAL LEE.
Our Consul at Havana q Ma
tional Hero.
HIS DISTINGUISHED SERVICES.

The Administration Has Great Conscience
In Him and Would Noe Permit Him ID
Resign = Circumstanoss e Consul Gen,
srsl Williams Recall.
WARRINGTON. March lI.-[Special. +
General Fits Hugh Lee has become . ma
tional hero. The intimation given week
ago by the Spanish government that his
recall would be gratefully received and
the prompt and firm refusal Of President
Mckinley to do anything Of the sort, oou-
pied with the presidents warm words of
praise Of the consul general, have produced
profound impression upon the country
General Lee has borne himself at Havana
with great dignity and oalmness. He has
been q most useful consular agent with
diplomatic powers. Every American who
goes to Havana comes back full Of admira-
ton for the doughty general.
General Lee has been in Havana as con-
sui general nearly two years, or since
April, 1895. With the exception Of two
short visits to this country he has been at
his post all the time. He has served
through troublous times and with infinite
credit to himself. He has been subjected
to great dangers, not, rs the sensational
papers would have 1t, from Spanish guns
or swords, but from yellow fever and
smallpox. On several occasions he has been
forced to take vigorous steps to protect
Americans and American interests, and IL
cannot DO truthfully said of him that he
ever neglected any Of his duties or let slip
by him any chance to impress upon the
Spanish officials the fact that Americans
are entitled to and are sure to have
the protection Of their government. 1t
IL an open secret that General Lees SYM
pathies have been with the insurgents
struggling for their liberty, and while
II u believed he has always kept within
the limits of proper action from the
diplomatic standpoint every one knows
where his heart Is. For this the Spanish
do not like him.
Recall OF Ramon Williams.
tits almost forgotten that General Lees
predecessor, Ramon Williams, wns recalled
from Havana at the instance of the Span
fish government. Mr.. Williams offense
was the same as General Lee's-too much
earnestness and energy in protection of
Americans. The particular case which led
to the recall or resignation of Mr.. Williams
was the imprisonment of two American
sailors charged with being flibusters. Mr..
Williams demanded their release and fol-
lowed the matter up with SO much energy
that the Spaniards took umbrage. Our
government has since demanded indemnity
for the imprisonment Of those Sailors but
up to date Spain has not satisfied the
claim. Spain never pays anything till she
Is compelled to pay.
Despite Mr.. Williams fate General Lee
has performed his duty in the most vigor-
Gus fashion. The first time it became nec-
essary for him to make an issue with the
Spanish government was when DIR. Ruiz,
naturalized American citizen, was bru-
tally murdered In prison in the suburbs
Of Havana. The American public is not
likely soon to forget the Ruiz case, and
General Lees earnest effort to secure JUS
tice. On account of his work in this case
General Lee had a slight misunderstand-
ing with former Secretary of State Olney
and would have been recalled had not
President Cleveland insisted that General
Lee should remain at his post. Spain has
agreed to pay $50, 900 indemnity to the
family of DIR. Ruiz, but the money is not
as yet forthcoming.
At tho time the Ruiz case was attracting
SO much attention Charles u. Scott,
genuine American, son of u New England
sailor, was in prison on trivial charge.
His family had not been allowed to COM
municate with him for ii days, despite
the fact that our treaty with Spain pro-
vided limit of three days for imprison
ment, "incommunicado," as the Spanish
say. General Lee vainly demanded that
he be allowed to communicate with Scott,
and when the Spanish officials persisted in
their refusal the consul general cabled the
state department. that he would not stand
another Ruiz case and threatened to re-
sign if something vigorous were not done.
Secretary Olney carried the case to Madrid,
and soon afterward Scott was placed in an
ordinary prison and was then expelled
from the island.
Wanted to Resign.
General Lee has not been anxious to re-
main at Havana. He at one time bad
planned to come home and stand for SEN
ator from Virginia. President Cleveland
personally begged him mot to back out
now" and the Virginia warrior sacrificed
his personal inclinations to serve his coun-
try When President Mckinley came in
year ago, General Lee expected to be re-
lieved, but the new president also asked
him to stay, Democrat as he was, and Gen
eral Lee reluctantly consented.
Perhaps no other act OF President Nc
Kinley so well demonstrates his farsight-
ednesss and understanding of the Ameri-
can people as his insistence that General
Lee remain at Havana. Even as early as
n year ago the president foresaw more or
less trouble at Havana, and he knew that
1t would be a good thing for this country
to have at that post man of well tested
courage and experience. Nor was the pres
ident unmindful of the fact that General
Lee was Democrat and that he had served
conspicuously in the Confederate army.
President Mckinley told number of his
friends that IL trouble of serious nature
were to come at Havana 1t would give him
great pleasure to stand by General Lee and
to emphasize his approval of the consul
generals conduct. "That will show all
the world" said the president, THAT har-
mony is completely restored between the
north and the south In our country and
that Americans are as one.'
Mr.. Mckinley could not have builded