The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-02-15
Says Breach Between the Sec.
lions is Healed.
CUBA is IMPORTANT.
Isthmian Canal Will Add to Its
Desirability.
Doesn't Believe Spanish Sane
toned Destruction of Maine.

Fitzhugh Lee, a veteran of two wars.
| first as a general commanding a corps
in the Confederate army operating in
and about the capital of the Confeder-
acy, and 80 years later prominently
identified in the thick of the contest re-
sulting in SPANS defeat in the west,
spoke Friday evening to a great audi
ence of 1000 people gathered in the To-
peka Auditorium. His speech was with
out notes or manuscript, but it was de-
livered with SO much force and earnest
ness that he held the rapt attention of
mis- auditors. He graSpS the main facts
of history of the United States with
such ease that there is not the slightest
hesitancy in his handling the subject,
Peace and War in the United States
and Cuba"
Gen. Lee has the department of a SOL
der in every move he makes. He has
well-modulated voice for public speak
ing, expressive gestures and power OF
description that is enrapturing. Ns
When Gen Lee entered the Auditor
ium, followed by several hundred veter-
ans he was given greeting tnat
amounted almost to an ovation. With
him was General Wilder S. Metcalf, re-
Gently appointed pension agent, WHO
presided and other former soldiers, both
of the Rebellion and the Spanish-Ameri-
can war. Back of him the Grand Army
posts filed in to the tap of the drum
and took their places on the platform
order and announced the Topeka Ladies
quartette composed of Mrs. L. s. Ferry,
Mrs. Frank Thomas, Miss Laura Taylor
and Mrs Frank Foster, who sang DIX
lie" and responded to an encore with
My Old Kentucky Home" Then Gen.
Metcalf introduced Gen. Lee, who, when
he came forward was again given APP
plause that kept him bowling acknOWl-
edgment of the compliment for several
moments. One of the first things he did
was to thank the members of the G. A
r. for the attention which he had re-
ceived at their hands And forgive
Them said he, for shooting at me dur
ing the war. If 1 had known them ear
lier as well as do now l don't believe
there would have been any war. was
one of those who tried to make two re-
publicS grow where one had grown be-
FORE and have noticed that the second
one hasn't grown very much since left
it in 1867.
General Lee reverted to the discovery
of the western world by Christopher
Columbus in the fifteenth century, re-
marking that Spain of that time was
the same as the Spain of the nineteenth
century. Running briefly over the
founding of the American colonies he
devoted particular attention to the rev.
dictionary leaders: Washington, the
Adamses, Patrick Henry, Hamilton,
Franklin, Madison and jefferson. Then
the brilliant victories of the American
navy over that of Great Britain IN the
war of 1912 We're noticed
The results of the Mexican war in the
acquisition of territory to the United
States were touched upon, but the ex-
tended mention which the peaker made
concerning the men who received their
preliminary training for the great civil
conflict of a little later in that war was
of especial interest. He was generous
in his praise of those who came out of
that contest prepared for the terrible
struggle between the north and the
south.
'sThe war between the two sec
tions' was The way in which he first re-
ferred to the great civil conflict.
Slavery said he, did not have every
thing to do with that war. In the Phil
adelphia convention of 1857 two con-
structions were placed upon the Con
stitution and the men in that conven-
ton did not decide the question there
but left it to those who came later. But
L know now that / voice the sentiments
of the whole south when l say that
there is no worthier object than the
building up of the great glory of Amer
lea and the blessing of humanity. There
were soldiers on both sides who dis
tinguished themselves for their valor
and courage; and know the gallantry
of you men, turning to the Grand
Army veterans, whom then 1 didn't
want in my front and certainly not as
now in my rear.
General Lee described in detail the
battles of Thermopylae, Waterloo,Bala-
klava. and the charges of Burnside at
Spottsylvania Court House and that OF
Pickett at Gettysburg as the greatest
age
Then he launched into consideration
of the troubles leading up to the eman-
cipation of Cuba from the tyranny of
Spain Ninety miles from Key West
lies an island that is filled with fruits
and flowers Cuba lies as a sentinel
of the great American Mediterranean.
the Gulf of Mexico. She is so situated
that she could protect the trade of six
states and so is of great interest to the
United States. The United States said
that it did not object to Spain having
possession of Cuba, but it would not
allow any other country to come in.
Cuba is now more essential than ever
milan canal.
1T is one of the most valuable islands
on the earth: no land can rival it in
the production of sugar and tobacco
They plant cane only once every six
or eight years, and the soil is practical
Iy bottomless-as good today as it was
when it was discovered. There is some
thing in the air that gives to the to-
bacco leaves a peculiar aroma and pro-
duces a tobacco that never has been
rivaled. When she becomes an Ameri-
can state. territory or protectorate. she
will be one of the grea test islands in
the world. You can plant an orange
grove there with the absolute certainty
that you will raise a crop; and veg
etables, all you have to do is just take
them out and put them in. Cuban can
send out vegetables all the year round.
Under Spanish rule the Cubans be-
came restless. the dissa tisfa ction
spreading until the revolution of '6S be-
gan. Then after that came the last