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

open manner. and the Captain General and all
business no was resolved to perform. He de-
parted from the Spanish lines without disguise,
ne re-entered them without concealInent
There is nothing Of tho character Of the spy in
all this. Moreover, the mission he was on
was made legitimate by the words and acts
OF the highest Spanish authority. He was
invited, as it were. 10 pursue the
very inquiry he had undertaken, for it has
been asserted again and again by the Spaniards
that nothing like dangerous instruction
exists on the island Of Cuba; that the So
called rebels are in fact only few bush
rangers and robbers who skulk in the woods,
and never dare to emerge from their hiding
places The plea used against the recognition
OF the Cubans is chat the rebels hold no towns
and no territory and have no organized
government When Mr.. O'Kelly first reached
Havana Captain General Ceballos declared
to him, Il command here, and am obeyed
implicitly in all parts of the island" Acting
upon this authority the Captain General in
vited our correspondent to travel wherever on
the island he might desire. There was no
limitation then TO his rowing commission.
Z" You are at liberty to travel wherever
you wish at your own risk" were
General Ceballos' words to Mr. O'Kelly;
''you can 60 TO Puerto Principe, San
tiago de Cuba or wherever else you like
and will not be interfered with; but cannot
give you any papers to protect you or any
special authorization Of any kind. The uise
OF your passport will suffice to enable you to
pass through the country with perfect safety"
Later the Captain General wrote to Mr.
O'Kelly:-''As I have already had the pleasure
to tell you verbally, you will be furnished
with the competent passport to travel through
out the island, as could be done by any Span
ish subject or stranger and be assured that
you will not be molested, nor will your
trip be fruitless, as in our towns you can &C.
quire news relating to the instruction by con-
sulting the thousands of the surrendered who
fight in our ranks or live quietly in their
homes, pardoned by the Spanish govern
ment." We insist that this authority given
by the highest officer on the island, who him
self declared that his orders received implicit
obedience everywhere was o full justification
for Mr.. O'Kelly's visit to the insurgent lines
and precludes the charge that he was engaged
in an illicit transaction.
We do not believe that the Captain General
or the Spanish government will be base enough
to take Mr.. O'Kelly's life. It is possible that
to W. ~
information as he has gathered in
the Cuban lines; but in this at
tempt they will surely fail 1t ap-
pears, however that those who best know
the Spaniards in Cuba entertain serious ap-
prehensions for our correspondent safety,
and it is just possible that he might be MUIR
dered under show of trial and condemnation
in order that the information he has gathered
may not be given to the world. The crime would
be fatal one to it's perpetrators. An assassina-
ton SO dastardly, unjusti6able and cruel would
arouse the honest indignation Of the whole
civilized world. Already the barbarities prac-
tised in Cuba have revolted humanity
and other nations look on with frown-
ing brows and compressed lips at the
scenes enacted in the devoted island In the
United States popular sentiment is with the
Cuban cause, and would be aroused in no
ordinary degree against the Spanish govern
ment by the murder of an innocent
man, whose mission is one in which
the whole people have an interest.
The cause Of Mr.. O'Kelly is the cause of the
whole American press; for if he should be
sacrificed tomorrow some other faithful cor
respondent might be the next victim. We be-
lieve, therefore, that the crime contemplated
by the Spaniards, if committed, would
occasion an outburst of indignation that would
compel the recognition Of Cuban independence,
and that the very murder committed for the
sake Of safety would be the signal for the
overthrow Of Spanish rule on this side Of the
Atlantic.
NJ