The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-04-29


The Bourbons cannot agree and the Bona
partists are without head Why, then, should
republicans wait? The Bordeaux compact
alone prevents them from acting. When that
compact shall cease to be binding, why should
not the strength Of parties be fully tested and
an end made of the present uncertainty :?
During the coming Summer and Autumn
France will be the scene of much political
activity, if not of political strife. But the
promise is good for the Republic; and the
triumph of the republican cause in France will
be republican gain to the rest of Europe.
The imprisonment Of. Our Cuban
Commissioners.
We publish in to-days HERALD communi-
cation from Mr.. O'Kelly, our special commits
sioner to Cuba, giving the history Of his
adventures within the Spanish lines from the
date of his arrival at Manzanillo On his volun-
tary return from the Cuban camp up to the
10th of April. The main facts were previously
known, but the Details which are graphically
related, viii be found of much interest
While the Spanish authorities may have been
justified in the TEMPORARY detention and
examination of a neutral after his return from
the insurgent lines for the purpose of assuring
themselves that he carried no contraband in
formation and had not forfeited the character
he professed to bear, the treatment to which
they have subjected our correspondent, the
needless protraction of his Imprisonment and
the seizure and violation Of his legitimate
papers, afford conclusive evidence that their
desire is to delay, if not to suppress
the information he has gathered rather
than to simply protect themselves against
violation Of the laws of the
island. Mr.. OKelly's mission was well known
to the Spanish authorities before he started on
his hazardous journey They were aware that
he visited Cuba Libre for the purpose of re-
porting faithfully and impartially the condi-
ton and prospects of the rebellion. He made
no secret of his business and his intentions,
but brought them officially to the notice of the
Captain General and of his subordinates in the
government If he was violating any law in
his proposed visit to the Cuban lines, the
Spanish officers were made aware of his
design, and it was their province and their
duty to prevent its execution. They per-
mitted him to undertake the journey and to
leave their own lines for that purpose with
out molestation. They even told him that he
was at liberty to go at his own risk Of being
killed on the way, and, when questioned as to
his treatment should he return, they gave him
to understand that he would be in no danger
if he could prove that he had faithfully OBJ
served the character OF neutral. Under these
circumstances we insist that they have no
right to subject Mr.. O'Kelly to unnecessary
of good faith and OF honor to do so.
When first arraigned before a military
court, without counsel to defend him, igno-
rant of the charges brought against him and
refused the privilege of the presence of his
Consul, Mr.. O'Kelly very naturally refused to
plead or to recognize the authority of the
tribunal. 1t appears that this refusal occa-
stoned some embarrassment to the authori-
ties, and the result was an attempt to Grim
mate the prisoner in some manner through
evidence given against him, 50 as to enable the
Court to act upon some definite charge To
this end his private papers were opened and
examined by the Court, but they appear not
to have contained the wished for proof of the
completely of the accused in the rebellion.
witness was then found in the person of a
negro girl to testify that she had seen Mr..
O'Kelly in camp with Cespedes in a spot
which he had never visited. Understanding
the object of this sort of evidence the prisoner
withdrew his objections and recognized the
Court. The case against him, whatever it
may be, was then forwarded to Havana,
and if the Captain General regards
trial as necessary he will SO announce. If
otherwise, we presume Mr.. OKelly will be set
at liberty. The outrage has already gone far
enough, and if the new Captain General has
any respect for his own reputation and for the
honor Of his nation he will put stop to it
forthwith. There is not a shadow of evidence
to implicate our correspondent in any manner
with the instruction. He went to Cuba in
the true spirit OF an enterprising journalist.
He prosecuted his work faithfully and in the
broad light of day. He returned to the Span
ish lines after his task was completed. trust
ing to Spanish honor and chivalry to respect
his rights even as he had respected the rights
and feelings of the Spanish nation We are
quite confident that he can stand in no peril
OF his life, for he has committed no offence
against the laws but his continued imprison-
ment is an objectionable outrage under the
circumstances, and will be SO denounced by
every civilized nation and by every honest citi-
zen. 1t is against this outrage that we now
protest, and we call upon the republican Cap