The Globe-republican. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1889-1910, 1899-04-20

Fitzhugh Lees Advice on Giving Advice
| In appointing Gen. Fitzhugh Lee as
consul general in Havana, President
Cleveland made one of the most pop
ular coups of his regime. There is a
man." said a noted official, when he
heard of Lees appointment, who, in
looking after the interests of his coun-
/ trymen. cannot be blinded, and he has
more sand than any man 1 know"
| General Lee was universally liked
| In Havana, and his administration was
J regarded with general satisfaction in
the United States. American residents
In Cuba felt no alarm as to their safe
ty, and he succeeded even in winning
the admiration, if not the friendship,
of the enemy.
When he was in Havana, Mr.. Alvord
calling upon the consul general one
day with proposition he believed to
be opportune, found him urbane and
happy as usual, ready to joke and tell
stories while he rapidly did a great
| deal of work.
General, l have a suggestion to
make that l think will please the
world" said Mr.. Alvord.
Hold up there, Blancor' exclaimed
the general. Never make suggestions
One time when l was a raw lieutenant
just out of West Point, riding across
the plains with my troop, 1 caught
sight of some Indians in a little woods.
Hastily l rode up to the colonel, and
said enthusiastically, Colonel, l sug-
gest that I take a few troopers and
slug the Indians in that copse.'
Your suggestion is approved re-
piled the colonel; pick out your men
and go for them
Il selected about fifty good troopers
and made a rush for the Indians. 1t
seemed as if every blade of grass and
every branch on the trees turned in
to war-paint and tomahawks. A show
er Of arrows laid several of us low,
and the rustling of the leaves showed
that the Indians were in force and
we'll armed. One arrow went through
my own body, and fell in a faint to
the ground. Several hours after. was
lying in the field hospital just as the
colonel went by.
'Hello! he exclaimed What officer
is that?'
The orderly saluted and replied:
That is young Lieutenant Lee, SIR
"'Ahem" calculated the colonel.
That is the d fool who suggested
the thing
80" continued Lee impressively,
don't suggest anything. Do what you
are told to do, and let it go at that
Gen. Merritt's Twenty-Seventh Letter.
The appointment of General Wesley
Merritt, who is second only in rank to
the commanding general of the army,
to command the troops sent to the
Philippines was resented generally by
his friends and the men who had
served under him. He would be far re-
moved, they argued, from any posi-
BILE chance of obtaining distinction,
and the presidents policy was wide
ly regarded as an act of injustice to a
brave and eminent officer.
Merritt's appointment, however, is
one more proof of what is constantly
claimed, that the president is a wise
judge of men. No one better suited to
the delicate and unique commission en-
trusted to him could have been found.
He is to the army what Admiral
Dewey is to the navy-an officer with a
record for gallantry and for successful
achievement second to none person
ally popular, and enjoying to the full
est extent the confidence Of his officers
and his men.
General Merritt is graduate Of the
Military academy, and his active serv-
ice began with the breaking out OF the
civil war. during which he attained a
higher rank than any other officer OF
his age. and was known as the Boy
Brigadier." But he was a boy only in
appearance and age. He had mans
intellect and judgment. and it is re-
corded O. him that he never disap-
pointed his superiors. Early in life
he learned that lesson On which all
military discipline is founded
obedience: he never questioned orders
or fretted while under them. Major