Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1902-12-17
CUBA SHOULD BE OURS.
Gen. Fltzhugh Lee Tells of Affairs
Before the War.

before tne war.
New York, Dec. 14.-General Fitz.
hugh Lee addressed members of the
Patria Club last night on The United
States and Cuba" He said in part:
Cuba was never SO well governed
by Spain as she is today. Congress
wearied of wars in Cuba and passed
resolutions recognizing the right of
the belligerency of the revolutionists.
Then came war.
II want to say that l reported to
President Cleveland the exact con-
dition of affairs that existed there.
I reported the rebellion with all its
brutalities and horrors and told him
that it would continue for several
generations If not brought to a speedy
end. Mr.. Cleveland paid no attention
to my reports and it was not until
that great man, now sleeping his last
sleep in Canton, Ohio, took charge of
affairs in Washington, that these afro
cious conditions were brought to an
end.
Cuba is well worthy of the atten-
tion OF the American people. II is
the richest spot on Gods green earth.
No country can ever rival Luba in it's
products. II has been waiting for
half a century for American energy
and enterprise. II we had not sacri-
feed wisdom for sentiment we would
own Cuba today. When we did have
Cuba we should have held on to it.,
but some of the people wanted to show
the world that they were acting for
numanity's sake and not for the pos
session of territory.
Prior to the war with Spain, when
I was consul general in Cuba, there
were repeated attempts to assassinate
me. Wherever l went | had to sit
with my back to the wall and my
hand ON my six-shooter. I received
20 and 80 letters day in which I
was threatened with all manner of
deaths. Some threatened to waylay
and strangle me; others to string me
up to the nearest lamp post, and still
others to tie me to horses tail and
drag me around the streets of Ha-
vana. Five Spanish women called at
my Office one afternoon and handed
me q letter from some Spanish Off
GERS in which they threatened to
come to my office. tie me hand and
foot, put me aboard the Maine and
drive me out Of the harbor. Received
reports that even the Cubans wanted
to kill me because they believed that
by so doing war with the United
States would surely result.
when some of these reports were
current a man came into my Office
one day with the purpose, as l
thought, of killing me. He moved
toward me inch by inch, and just as
he came within reach I had him COW
cred with my gun. l asked him what
he wanted, and to my surprise he said
in English: I have just come from
General Gomez's camp, suffering from
a wound in the thigh. I want to leave
Cuba. want to 60 back to the Unit
ed States l asked him where he
came from and he said in the draw
liest kind of a way, from Kansas.
"That man was General Frederick
r. Funston. So you see, had much
to do with the latter's capture of
Aguinaldo."
General Lee then related incidents
that following the blowing up Of the
Maine and told Of General Blanco's
actions after the catastrophe.
81 want to say here and for all
time" he continued, that Blanco and
his officers had no more to do with
the blowing up of the Maine than
had the people of New York City. It
is my belief that some of the young
officers left in the arsenal by General
Weyler blew up the Maine. It was
they, am sure, who planted the mine
that sent the Maine to its destruc.
tion."
In conclusion, General Lee advocat-
ed an increase of the navy, owing to
the growing interests Of the United
States and because 'in view Of re.
cent events we may be in deep water
before we know It."