The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-01-29
SPIRIT or xzu PRESS.
Editorial Opinions Of the Lending Journals
Upon Current Topics-Compilod Every
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RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE EXECUTION
OF SPEAKMAN AND WYETH IN CUBA

From the N Y. World.
The readers of this journal will remember
the earnestness with which, in the month of
April last, we urged the administration at
Washington to warn by proclamation the
thoughtless and unrefecting, and even the
rejecting portion of the country. that Presi-
dent Grant would not oountenance or en-
courage but would discountenance and pre-
vent, all movements within the United States
of a hostile character, in respect to Cuba, on
the part of those who, unmindful of their
own and their country's fame, presumed thus
TO disregard the laws of the land and our
treaty obligations. What we said then suffi-
ciently displays our motive. We apprehended
that the boyish utterances of Grant about
<'Free Cuba" the extravagant conduct of
Rawlins, the witless laundering of Ores
well on the same subject, and unmis-
taxable manifestations of sympathy else
where, would make many persons think
that the administration would wink
Mt piratical schemes against Cuba, the
result of which would expose our young men
to the terribly quick and severe punishments
which nations are prone to infiict on all who
sake insurreetionary part against the govern
ment The administration refused to issue o
proclamation, and the official correspondence
respecting Cuba, lately transmitted to the
Senate, gives the reasons therefor as assigned
in a note to the Spanish Minister of April II,
1869. This note bears, we think, evidence
on its face of o reason, not assigned in the
writing, which made the issue of such pro-
Clamation an impossibility at that time. The
reason was the willingness of the President
to see acts done which the proclamation
would tend to prevent. We do not accuse
President Grant of willingness to see the
laws or treaty pledges set at defiance. His
greenness then was such that he probably
had no Just perception of such matters, any
more than he had of revenue matters when
he made. or attempted to make, Mr.. A. T.
Stewart Secretary of the Treasury The
reasons for refusal given in the note are that
when President Fillmore acted, in 1851, there
were undisturbed peace and quiet on the
island, but threatened piratical movement
from this country. In April last the attitude
was reversed. There were rebellion and in
surrection in the island, but no impending
invasion from outside. Therefore, no need
of proclamation. And yet, in subsequent
sentences of the note there is an admission
that unlawful enterprises against Cuba, insti-
gated by those engaged in the insurrection,
may be undertaken, since such ventures
<'always and everywhere occur with the oppor-
tunity. Now, we submit that to rejecting and
just President the existence of the great first
cause of illegal enterprises from our shores
to wit, an insurrection IN the island-would
have been sufficient inducement for an effort
TO discourage the illegal acts on our own soil
which were as sure to come as effect to follow
cause. And so the result proved; for at about
the very time the President was refusing the
application of the Spanish Minister, an expe-
dition was being organized in New York,
which did set sail from this city, and ended
most painfully for certain persons on board
the vessel called the Grapeshot. We refer to
the execution at Santiago de Cuba, June IT,
1869, by the Spanish authorities, of Speak
man and Wyeth, for which we can but think
the administration is in large degree re-
sponsible.
The facts respecting Speakman, as detailed
in the official correspondence before us, are
that he was native of Aurora, Indiana, aged
thirty three years; that in New York. during
the latter part of April, he shipped as sailor
on the schooner Grapeshot, bound on an
honest voyage Gas he supposedly for Jamaica.
He went on board at Hunters Point, and in
the lower harbor of New York the schooner
took on board from o steam-tug fifty armed
Cubans and munitions of war. He then first
suspected dishonest voyage, protested, and
asked the captain to pat him ashore in the
tug; but the latter refused, insisting the
schooner would 60 direct to Jamaica. Wher
off the eastern end of Cuba, the Cubans tool
possession of the schooner and of the cap
tain, who at last promised to run he
to land at Bailiquiri. This was done; and tn,
men and cargo landed. Speakman wished t.
return to the schooner, but the captain
ordered and put him ashore. The men moved
inland; soon had an encounter with Spanish
troops; their leader, Smith, was killed; AM
then the Cubans took to their heels, leaving
few Americans defenseless. Speakman de
clared, Just before his execution, that whel
put ashore he had no gun, but picked up one
and having never fred a shot gave hims sel
APP soon after to two unarmed men he met
He was taken to Santiago de Cuba
subjected to private examination be
fore the Fiscal in presence of a
interpreter, declared an enemy of Spai
taken with arms in his hands, and, in cor
fornity with the decree of Captain Genera
Dulce of March "a, 1869, was executed With
fourteen hours In letter to his wife
written just before his execution, Speakma
said the owners of the Grapeshot shave take
my life." He bids her find them out; get
''good lawyer" he will prove q contraC
between the owners and the Cuban Junta t
land the Cubans in Cuba aud then recove
damages of the former. Speakman insiste
that he did not embark against Cuba volur
tarily, but was the victim of a eollusio
between the Junta and the Grapeshot.
On the same schooner was Wyeth, frol
this oity, who was induced by Antonio
Jimenez, the originator of the expedite
nnder the Cuban Junta, to go to Falmouth
Jamaica, free of charge, for the benefit of h
health. He was put ashore with Speakmal
subsequently taken prisoner and executed.
Now, proclamation of warning from Pr
sident Grant would very likely have arrestt
the attention of Speakman and Wyeth, al
doubtless hundreds of other Americans, al
thus prevented the Cuban Junta from
ludin0 them In THAR terrihIe death in Cuha