The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-04-12

antipodes.
The Peril Of Our Cuban Commas.
siOncr-A Gail for Help from tho
| British and American Consuis.
The dispatches from the British and Ameri-
can Consuls at Santiago de Cuba, published
in to-day's HERALD will place wildly before
the world the danger that threatens our
special Cuban correspondent, Mr.. O'Kelly,
now held a prisoner by the Spanish authorities
at Manzanillo, and will show the necessity of
some prompt and decisive action on the part
of the British and American governments to
prevent the consummation of q crime which
would disgrace civilization and leave an
indelible blot ON the honor of two
powerful nations. Mr.. O'Kelly is not placed
in peril by any act of his own or through the
violation of any law, but in consequence of
the unfortunate condition of affairs in Cuba.
If his life should be taken it would not be as
the penalty of any crime, or even of any in
discretion on his own part. 1t would be sacri-
feed because the war waged between the
Spaniards and the Cubans is one in which all
the laws and practices of civilized nations are
ignored; in which the necessity of keeping
the world in ignorance of the true character
Of the insurrection prompts that every tell-tale
lip shall be sealed in death; in which
tyranny and oppression uneasiy seek to justify
themselves by their excuses. 1t is therefore
doubly incumbent upon tho nation which
owns Mr.. O'Kelly as q subject to demand for
him fair trial and to protect him against an
unjust sentence. At the same time it be-
comes more imperatively than ever the duty
of the American government to intervene for
the purpose of ending barbarous war waged
at our very doors, and prosecuted in a manner
hazardous to the lives of our own citizens,
disgraceful to civilized land and destructive
of American interests
The message of Mr. Young the American
Consul, informs us that Mr. o Kelly is in close
| confinement at Manzanillo, in precarious
condition; that he asks to be removed to
Havana for trial, in order that he may employ
competent counsel to defend him, and that it
will need powerful influence to secure him
even this quota of justice. Mr.. Ramsden, the
British Consul states that Mr.. O'Kelly
reached Manzanillo on March 81, and was i'm
mediately arrested by the local Governor act
ing under superior orders; that his papers
we're seized and opened; that he is
being tried by military tribunal, and that
after all the evidence has been taken the Cap
tain General will be alone empowered to de-
eide what course is to be pursued Taken in
connection with these dispatches the intelli-
genco conveyed by our correspondent at
Havana is significant. In conversation with
the Captain General, Ceballos, our CORE
spondent was informed by that officer that he
knew nothing about O Kelly, while at the same
time General Ceballos contradicted his own as
sertion by avowing that two letters from
prisoners possession. These letters, if they
exist at all, can only be personal communi-
cation to MI. O'Kelly or o communication to
the HERALD, and not any contraband informa-
ton. The statement Of Consul Ramsden shows
that Mr.. O'Kelly returned Of his own free will
within the Spanish lines and entered Manzanillo
on March 81, whereupon he was Immediately
arrested. 1t is not possible, therefore, that he
could be acting in the character Of a spy,
especially as, if he carried any contraband
correspondence, he could easily have made
his way to New York without risking the
hazard of capture Captain General Cebal-
los further condemns Mr.. O'Kelly because he
refuses to answer all interrogatories. In this
refusal our correspondent proves his fidelity
and his honor. He sought the insurgent
lines on the mission entrusted to him by the
HERALD, and the information he has secured
belongs to us alone. No person has q right to
rob us of it under any pretence of authority.
But apart from this, Mr. OKelly entered the
Cuban camp as q neutral, and was received,
protected and trusted there in that capacity.
If he should now betray what he has there
seen he would prove himself deserving
of the character falsely given him by
the Spaniards. lie would then stand in the
position of spy The fact that he refuses
to betray the confidence of the Cubans at the
hazard of his life ought of itself to convince
the Spanish authorities that he has kept honor
with them as well as he keeps honor with
their enemies, and that his position is hon
estly that of a neutral.
When the Captain General further refuses
to give our correspondent information because
the latter would report everything to the
HERALD he unwittingly exposes the weakness of
the Spanish case. Secrecy can only be de-
sirable to cover up illegality and injustice. If
Mr.. O'Kelly had been really guilty Of
the offences imputed to him, and if
the motives and acts of the Spanish
o,tborit;ac had haen honorable and
lawful, there would be no occasion to fear
the fullest publication Of the facts. Indeed,
in such an event the wider the publicity given
to the truth the more emphatic would have
been the justification of the Cantain General