The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-04-14
LEES TRIP TO THE CAPITAL.
Some of the Things He Told Col. Nc
Lendon on the Way.

Iendon on the way.
Col S. G. McClendon. division counsel at
Thomasville for the Plant System, passed
through the city yesterday on his return
home after his trip to Washington with
Gen. Lee. Col. McClendon says there was
the greatest possible enthusiasm displayed
all along the route, the entire people be-
ing anxious 10 pay a tribute to the consul
general. The largest crowds were at
Savannah and Richmond.
Gen. Lee would not talk for publication
upon the Cuban situation before he had
rendered his report to the state depart
ment. He talked freely to his close friends,
however, and Col. McClendon got great
deal of Information from him about Gu
ban matters, Gen. Lees personal feelings
and his opinion upon the course lhdt
should be pursued by the United States
After he had appeared before the pro-
per officials at Washington ana reno -r-u
his report, his friends considered they
were free to talk about what Gen. Lee
had told them, as he had given TINS as the
reason why he could not himself talk at
greater length about Cuban matters.
While en- route from Waycross to SaVan-
nah on the special that carried the con
sular party to Washington, Col McClen-
don stated to a representative OF the
Morning News that he had had con-
versation with the general, but that ne
could not say Anything just then ABOUT
what he had been told.
Col. McClendon said Gen. Lee talked
entertainingly about his experiences in
Cuba When he was asked about the re-
port that he had wired President McAla-
ley to hold up his message until last Mon
day instead of sending it to Congress last
Wednesday, as had been his lhtentloh'
Gen. Lee confirmed it, saying he, had SO
cabled the President. He said ne deemed
such course expedent, as the conulIrohe
of affairs and the suppressed teehng On
the part of the Spanlards IN Havana 10
ward Americans were such as to make ~
unsafe for the message to go in while
they remained on the island. He wanted
il withheld until they could all get away
as the tone of the message might nave
been such as to have Infatuated the Span
iards.
Gen. Lee said that on the whole the
treatment of Americans by the Spanlaros
was courteous, that it was seldom they
did anything that might even Suggest Vlo-
lence. About the crowds that assembled
upon the wharves to watch and jeer the
departing Americans, the general SAID
they were the canaille.
A cabalistic message had been agreed
upon by Gen. Lee and the consuls on the
island by which the time for their depar-
ture was to be indica ted. Sending such
a message plainly and openly would not
have been feasible, so Gen. Lee wrote the
consuls that they were TO understand an
order for them to leave the island when
he wired relief supplies exhausted" The
receipt of this message, which was sent
out just before the flag was hauled down
from the American consulate, gave the
consuls the cue for immediate departure.
Gen. Blanco is liked by Gen. Lee, and
the consul general is sure he could have
had nothing to do with the destruction of
the Maine, although he feels satisfied that
it was done by Spanish officers.
The old warrior of the Confederacy
wants to go back to Cuba, but it must be
at the head of an srmy of 25,OOO. He
thinks with this number Of men he would
be able to pacify the island in a short
while His idea is that the Spaniards
should be told to get out. The Cubans
| should then be allowed to organize their
| own government, that at present in
| charge of affairs not being thoroughly
capable or organized on the best plan.
There are many Cubans of wealth and
| position, who have left the island and are
scattered over the world. These men
would return, Gen. Lee believes, upon the
! restoration of peace, and they would be
| equal to the difficalt task of wisely gov
erning a country. He does not favor the
recognition of the existing government
| but thinks the United States troops should
be withdrawn upon the establishment OF
| just and wise administration.
The special train in which the consular
| party Travelled over the Plant System and
| the Atlantic Coast Line from Tampa tC
| Washington, made a remarkably quick
| trip. The distance is ,063 miles, and the
| actual running time required for the train
to make the trip was only twenty -four
| hours and nine minutes. The stops along
the line consumed over two hours, the de.
| mands for the general being irresistible
| Twenty-six hours and eighteen minute ties
was the time that elapsed while the party
| was en- route. For the whole distance the
| speed was forty-four and one-third miles
| an hour. Gen. Lee was greatly pleased
| with the courtesy of the Plant System
| through which the special was run. Col
| McClendon represented the road, and
| was Gen. Lees host on the trip.