The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1873-04-16
Letter from the N. Y. HeraId'S Cor.
raanondent. O1KellY.

NEW YoRK, April 15.-The New Yorl
Herald publishes tomorrow, a long lette
from OfKelly, dated at the residence O
the Governor, Cuba, Libre, March 14th
he states that General Garcia, com
mander of the Eastern Department, say
reconciliation with Spain Is impossible
except on basis of independence, ThC
only terms the Cubans have to offer arI
that the Spaniards shall 60 away
and leave Cuba TO take care Of thI
future. They have no faith in thI
permanent establishment Of the Spanish
Republic. O'Kelly accompanied Garcia'i
force Of 700 armed men, about one-thirC
whites and majority Of the other two
thirds other than black, on an expedition
during which several small engagements
were fought with the Spanish troops with
varied success. Thereafter he visited
President Cespedes, who said to him thai
the present government Of Spain may last
few months, but before four months
you will see a struggle between the Mon
archists and Republicans. It is impos'
sible to say how the Republic may affect
the cause Of Cuba. 1t can make no dit
ference 10 men in arms, for they will &C.
cept no conditions from Spain but indie.
pendenCe. We aresepRrated from Spain
bv an ocean Of bloodshed and
cruelty unnecessarily uaad bv the
Spanish Government in their ettorLa
to subdue US. The blood of our fathers
brothers and helpless families, slaughter
ed In cold blood, forbids our ever accept
ing any conditions from the Spaniards
They must go away and leave US in peace
or continue the war until we are all dead
or they have been exterminated. At pres
ent we look upon all SpRniards as enemies
and treat them 80, but If those Spaniards
who remain would receive the same
treatment as other citizens; no authorita-
tive proposition ever made for the pur-
chase Of independence for a certain sum
Is 10 be guaranteed by America. But II
such solution would be accepted by
Spain and the sum required reasonable,
the Cubans would be willing TO accept
the terms In order to end the war. They
desire peace and TO the reconstruction Of
their homes and the well.belng oil the
country, but before everything they want
independence. II Spain will continue
tho war, they will fight until the country
Is a desert. Cespedes believed that
the public opinion Of the world would
not be long in coming 10 the aid Of the
Cubsns. He said tho prospect for Cuba
was very favorable, as the Spainisrds are
everywhere abandoning the towns and
enCamping in the interior because they
have no longer the strength to defend all
the country. In his opinion they intend
retiring to the sea coast, and trying to
maintain themselves, but as soon as
Cubans can procure cannon and organize
thoroughly their army they will attack
the Spaniards in the towns. There was,
says Cespedes, a moment about year ago
when we were reduced to terrible extremi.
eies and wanted everything-Clothes,
ammunition and arms-but to-day we have
all these things, and in great part taken
from the enemy. II the war continues we
hope to profit by experience Of the past
and to continue our system Of attacking
the enemy which has produced such good
results, in fact we are now living on the
enemy. In the beginning we acted with
too much generosity, setting at liberty
the Spanish prisoners, even after the
proclamation Of the Spanish Gov
ernment, that all taken in arms wonld
be shot and the women captured in the
insurgent districts subject 10 ten years
imprisonment or deportation. Several
times have made efforts 10 induce the
Spanish Government to carry on the war
in a civilized manner, but without result.
The Spaniards have resorted to the most
barbarous expedients to subdue US.
Six different commissions have left
Havana with the intention OF assassinat-
ing me. Three returned, having aban-
dOned the enterprise, and two OF the
others are supposed to have perished.
The third was the man who presented
himself to enlist In the body guard oil Gen.
Quesade. Something suspicious about
him caused his arrest and he confessed
his mission and was Immediately hanged.
Cespedes in conclusion stated the force Of
tho Cubans at 10000 to $4,000 armed men
in the field, with about an equal number
OF convoyarers and servants, who perform
service In the army. The strength Of our
forces Is liable to great auctuation, In the
moment Of defeat large numbers dispense
and desert and when any success has been
gained our army Is suddenly augmented
to an extraordinary extent. We have
been lately receiving large concessions
from the Spanish ranks, principally from
the Cuban volunteers, many Of whom
came over with arms and ammunition.
Nearly 1000 presented themselves in the
district Of Bayanio. and similar things
happened in Mayari. He believed that
all the Cuban volunteers will eventually
side against Spain, and then the triumph
OF the Cubans will be assured.