The New York herald., 1873-04-09
|'KeIly, the Imprisoned Herald Cor
respondent in Cuba.

respondent in Cuba.
Owing to the fact that the cable between
Key West and Havana is out of repair and
that quick communication is restricted to the
trips of a small steamer between the two
points, we have been unable to learn anything
further that is definite about the position of
our faithful commissioner at present impris-
oned by the Spaniards at Manzanillo. Our
anxiety on the matter is very great. We have
small belief in the honor of the Spaniards,
who have made themselves the enemies of
humanity by this brutal arrest. There are
men lost to all sense of honor who yet have
the qualities of prudence highly developed.
To murder prisoners of war in cold blood or
to garrote the native suspects in rebel
lion, to confiscate estates and assassinate boys
are achievements wherein the brutal passions
may with some safety be INDUCED. Mr..
O'Kelly, the HERALD commissioner, it will
not be so safe to murder, and we think we can
trust that Spanish shrewdness will overawe
Spanish bloodthirstiness in time. There are
Indications it is true, that Captain General
Ceballos may deserve to stand in the character
of Pontius PLATE, when that cowardly Roman
washed his hands of the blood of an innocent
whom, in Difference to the mob, he was about
to have crucifed. If it is true that he tele-
graphed the vague instruction to Manzanillo
to let the inquiry proceed and not to trouble
him further, does it not appear that he has
given them hint to do deed from the
responsibility Of which he would endeavor to
say afterwards he had washed his hands?
But it is too late for him to take that course.
He is responsible; Spain is responsible,
and both will be held to accountability.
he was warned at once of the arrest, but four
days afterwards told our correspondent at
Havana that he had only just heard of it. It
seems as though he would have been glad that
his subordinates had slain the agent of the
HERALD before communicating with him.
There is fine piece in Shakespeare that fits
the occasion exactly, where Manas, on Pom
peys galley, whispers to the latter, pointing
to the triumvirs,
Let me cut the cable
And when we are put of, fall TO their throats
Pompeys reply to this too talkative scoun-
y
All this thou shouldst have done,
And not have spoken ont. In me, tits vany;
In thee, u had been good service.
We are aware that the Captain General was
at once informed Of the arrest studied
attempt at vagueness that superserviceable
tool might understand according to the un-
spoken desire, and not from the words, will
not shield him or Spain from the penalty of
murder, should murder be DONE In him
"'tis villany," though in his miserable subor-
dinates he might stupidity believe at had
been good service"
1t is reported here that Admiral Polo de
Barnabe, the Spanish Minister at Washing
ton, has telegraphed to Captain General Ce-
ballos demonstrating against executing Mr..
O'Kelly. This course would be highly credita-
BILE to the Admiral, and may, if it has been
done, recall the authorities in Cuba to q
broader view of the situation than men with
mental horizon, would be likely to realize.
But the appeal goes further still. The Cap
tain General will learn from Madrid what the
government of the Spanish Republic has to
say upon the matter of taking the life of the
representative of an independent American
journal and the citizen of nation not afraid
to demand satisfaction for wrong In view of
these things we rest confidently in the belief
that Mr.. O'Kelly will return shortly to de-
tail his story Of the insurrection
in Cuba in the columns of the HERALD.
Spanish bluster may attempt to obtain that
news from him, but it will fail even under the
terrors of threatened death, as it failed before
to prevent his going through the Spanish
lines, as it failed to prevent him from return
ing to them. The attempt to blot out this in
telligence by staying its possessor would not
prevent the truth from being made known.
The Spaniards may as well be men of sense
for once and let OKelly go.
The New Dict Kitchen.
Those who labor anonC the dependonf moor