The Batesburg advocate. [volume] (Batesburg, S.C.) 1901-1911, 1902-12-24
GEN. LEE ON CUBA.
An Address Before the Patrioa Club
of New York.
FLOWING UP OF THE MAINE.
to Mckinley.

General F'itZhugh Lee addressed the
members of the Patrica club recently
of New York on The United States
and Cuba" He said i'm part:
Cuba was never so well governed
by Spain as she is today, Congress
wearicd of the wars I'm Cuba and pass
ed resolutions recognizing the right of
bellgerency Of the rcvolutionistS.
Then came the war.
Il want to say that | reported to
President Cleveland the exact condi-
tiun Of affairs that existed there
reported the rebellion with all its
brutalitics and horrors and told him
that it would continue for several
generations if not brought to a speedy
end. Mr.. Cleveland gave no attention
to my reports and 1t 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. 1t is the
richest spot on Gods green earth. No
country can ever rival Cuba In its
products. 1t has been awaiting for
half century for American energy
and enterprise. II we had not Sacri-
liced 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
humanity'S sake, and not for the pos
session Of territory.
Prior TO the war with Spain when
| was consul general i'm Cuba there
were repeated attempts to aSSaSSiratc
me. Wherever | went | had to sit
with my back to the wall and my hand
on my six shooter. ! received twenty
and thirty letters a day in which |
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
dTag me around the street ..S.u,;,a ma.
flee one afternton and handed me a
letter from some Spanish officers 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
ever the CubanS wanted to kill me be-
cause they believed that by SO doing
war with the United States would
surely result"
When some OF these reports were
current, man came into my Office
one day with the purpose. as |
thought, OF killing me. He moved TO-
ward me inch by inch, and Just as he
came within reach | had him covered
with my gun. | asked him what he
wanted, and to my surprise. he said
in English. j have Just come from
General GumoZ'S camp suffering from
wound in the thigh. | want 10 leave
Cuba. | want To 20 back TO the Uni
ted States. | asked him where he
came from and he said, in the drawl-
lest kind of way. From Kansas. =
That man was Frederick A. Funston.
So you see | had much to do with the
later capture of Aguinaldo"
General Lee then related the Incl
dents that followed the blowing up of
the battleShip Maine and told of Gen.
BlancO'S action after the catastrophe.
II want to say here aud for all
time" he continued, that General
Blanco and his officers had no more t.
do with the blowing up Of the Maine
than had the people of New York
| City. 1t is my belief that some OF the
young officers left in the arsenal 10y
General Weylcr blew up the Maine"
In conclusion Gen. Lee advocated
an increase of the navy owing to the
growing interests of the United States
and because, in view OF recent events
we may be in deep water before We
know -"