The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-10-24

Atrocities-Mr. Fish I'm the Way.
From special correspondent at Havana we
| give to our readers this morning statement
| OF the circumstances there attending the
arrest, imprisonment and release of Mr.. Hen
derson. another HERALD correspondent de-
tailed to the island of Cuba to ascertain and
report as far as practicable. the exact state of
the insurgents, and, generally, the condition
of things on the island. We extend our thanks
to the Captain General for his courteous and
| hospitable treatment Of Mr.. Henderson
throughout these proceedings and for the as
surance given him that there were no objec-
tons to his seeing the insurgents if he could
reach them, and for the warming that there
were almost insuperable obstacles TO DO over
come in the adventure. And we would espe-
cially acknowledge the friendly consideration
of the Captain General in the letters given
Mr.. Henderson, introducing him to the Com
mander-in- Chief of the Spanish Army Of OPP
erations and to the Governor of Puerto
Principe and other officers, with safe con-
duct en- route With these passports we learn
that our correspondent would leave Havana on
the 2Sd instant for the army headquarters at
Puerto Principe, and would accompany one of
the columns traversing the revolutionary Sec
ton of the island in pursuit of the insurgents
Thus far, then, we run before the wind. 1t
appears that, from the frank avowal of the OBJ
jects of his mission, Mr.. Henderson was at
once placed under the protection Of the
Captain General; and as, in any event,
our commissioner was bound in honor
to scrupulous neutrality in reference
to the Cuban beligerents, no further assur-
ance in his behalf, we presume, will be re-
quired by either party. Prepared to meet the
incidental dangers, he also comprehends the
delicate responsibilities of his undertaking, and
he will not fail in them. He was arrested in
Havana because he had been seen in commu-
nication with Cubans in New York, and, con-
sidering the notifications of the Cuban insur-
rection and the numbers of Cuban exiles and
sympathizers in this city, it is hardly matter
of surprise that, from having been seen in COM
munication with Cubans here, Mr.. Henderson,
with his appearance in Havana, was watched
and at length arrested under the presumption
that he was Cuban emissary.
But while this presumption may be pleaded
under the circumstances, the fact upon which
it was formed is suggestive of q system of
| Spanish espionage over the Cubans in this
! city worthy of the old Venetian Council of
Ten, or of Fouche under Napoleon I. The
Spanish authorities of Cuba may plead the
necessities of a state of war, involving the
safety of their government, and yet, in this
revelation that any American citizen. after in
terchanging in this city few passing words
with Cuban known or suspected to be hostile
to Spain, who ventures to appear in the city
of Havana, places himself in immediate danger
Of arrest, we have state of things disclosed
which, though it may be justified within the
pale of law, is extremely offensive to free
people
And this Spanish espionage, not only over
the stranger within our gates, but over our
! own citizens here has been for four years
actively pursued, to the great annoyance of
many persons going to Cuba innocent
of any affiliations or designs with
the insurgents and the misfortunes
of many unoffending American citizens
in the island have doubtless resulted from the
suspicious thrown about them by Spanish
emissaries in this city or in some other city of
the United States where Cuban sympathizers
ore known to exist The truth is that, while
the people of this country universally SYM
pathize with the cause of the Cubans and as
universally believe in manifest destiny" we
| have ignored the Cuban rebellion in its preten-
sions as belligerent, and neither the Spanish
government nor its agents in Cuba can Justly
complain OF any neglect on our part of our
obligations to Spain as friendly Power. On
the other hand, however, we may fairly contend
that, as the Cuban insurgents still hold the
field, after four years struggle against the
fleets and armies Of Spain, the time has come
when we may properly concede to said insur-
gents the neutrality of belligerent rights.
Their claims are at least as good to this sort of
federate States, when belligerent rights were
accorded them by England France and Spain
And such, we suspect, is really the opinion of
General Grant.
From special Washington despatch, pub
lished in last Tuesday HERALD, it appears that
as long ago as the 23d of December last Gen.
eral Grant gave hintto our Secretary of State
on Cuban affairs, which, had it been actively
followed up, might have resulted in definite
settlement of the Cuban question. On the
day named the President received an appeal
ing letter from Mrs. Dutton, sister Of DIR.
| Houard in reference tn his imnrisopmant ly
the Spanish authorities of Cuba, and this letter
was referred to Secretary Fish with this strong
| endorsement
| hope the Spanish government will give Dr.
| Houard his immediate release The atrocities
already inflicted upon American citizens have
| turned the whole country against Spanish rule in
Cuba to such degree that the people are scarcely
lx.x.