The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-01-25
Q q B "A.
Vaccinations of a Gagged
Spanish Editor.
THE VOz DE CUBA AND MR.. 0'KELLY.
The Claims Commission and American Subjects
Enlarged Propsrties-The Infamous
Coolie Traffic earth Of War News
Insurgents Swarming Around
Cities-"Let Them Come"

LOU Aucm Vom6.
HAVANA Jan. 49, 1873.
An article In late issue of the yoz de cuba, COM
'mentlng upon the publication Of the first letter Of
the NEW YORK HERALDs special respondent in
this island, Mr.. James J. OKelly, in which he Is
styled second edition OF Mr.. Henderson, an adj
venturer and reporter less scrupulous and more
incorrect than he. contains the account OF polite
call made by Mr.. O'Kelly upon its editOr-in-chief,
Senior CONT so incorrect and misrepresented that
your correspondent cannot allow 1t TO pass without
correction, however proftess ana useless it may
be to please the Spanish Havana journalists The
only manner to excite in them agreeable emo
tiens would make 1t necessary for independent
respondents to wear
ROsE-COLORRD RETROSPECTIVE EYEGLASSES
retrospective to chant continually, a. they do,
the past glories Of Spain, and rosecoiored to see
its present decadence and the 'black" hue of its
institution cOuleur de rose.
The p0z, In the article referred to, stating the
glee with which the Cuban journal La Repoh1cton
had referred to Mr.. OKely's. letter, commences by
asserting that Mr.. O'Kelly called at its office to
beg that 1t would advise the government through
its columns of the utility OF providing him with
safe conduct by means OF which he might more
readily reach the insurgent camp The Voz allows its
to its answer, stating that Mr. OKeily retired crest
fallen and disappointed, and perhaps repentant
OF ever having dared to ask the aid of men Of
honor to carry out an undertaking which Is no less
q stupid farce than was Mr.. HendersOn's attempts.
But that, inspired alone by his daring, perhaps Ill
advised or ignorant of the dlgnihed character OF
the Spanards, who never allow themselves to be
the object OF foreign curiosity and h00suntile
malice, he decided to travel
SAT HIS OWN RISK"
without any other permit than the usual travel
ling license. The V0z. as it is TO be expected,
sharply crticses Mr.. O'Kelly's statements and his
pretensiOns, inferring that he Is already hostile to
the Spanish cause, ana anxious to favor that Of the
insurgents all his reports, and to convey this
idea incorrectly translates an expression OF Mr..
O'Kelly, Businesses where Cuba libre deies the
arms OF CASTLE" into fortresses," &C., makes 1t
text for gratuit0us conclusions, atributing to Mr..
OKelly the intention Of desiring to convey the idea
that the Cuban patriots held in their possession
q number OF fortresses and finally emits its cate
gorical opinion that it is time to put stop to such
impudence. But to return to our starting point Of
the call made by Mr.. OKey, accompanied by your
resident correspondent, upon the editOrinchief of
the TOz de cuba. The call was made without any
particular object other than matter Of courtesy
from one journalist to another, and was not the
only call Of that nature made by Mr.. OKely and
your correspondent during the formers stay in
Havana. No request was made either directly or
indirectly to the editor OF the Voz to use his infu
In any manner whatever to further Mr.. O'Kelly
in his object Of obtaining safe conduct as your
correspondent but too well knew that the Voz has
NO INFLUENCE WHATEVER WITH THE AUTBOKIrIKs.
Naturally the conversation turned upon the
affairs OF the island, the massacre OF the students
neo In irnnn ifv nf DrQ INF
the tragedy, and. finally upon Mr. O'Kelly's plans.
Contrary to his since published statement the
editor was then very well disposed and en- thusi-
astic regarding Mr.. O'Kelly and his projects and
during the conversation made the following re-
mark in reply to Mr.. OKellys stating that General
Ceballos had refused him safe conduct
'IF WERE CAPTAIN GENERAL
would take you by the hand and show you every
thing that could be SEEM" and other words TO the
same effect In a recent subsequent conversation
with your correspondent Senior Cont insisted that
we had asked mis- influence to heye the Captain
General alter his decision. The stsrthy editor is
very much at fault in this matte, aasOur CORE
spondent remarked to- him, It would have been
preposterOus for him to presume anything Of the
sort, as we well knew %hatrhe gos tie cuba was
not looked upon very avoSably 81 the authorities,
and its influence was nilou0nd would not ask
GRAPES from thistles" ~'fgs from thorns."
To this no answer could be made. During this
latter conversation it restea somewhat upon the
social question in the island, the contemplated re-
FORMS &C., and the editor OF the Voz very frankly
gave his views, stating that public opinion was
favorable to
THE SOLVING or THIS QUESTION IMMEDIATELY,
but that some twenty thirty OF the slaveocratic
oliQarchy OF Cuba, on account Of their wealth and
interests at stake obstinately resisted all express
sion Of this opinion; the public press was gagged
on account of the censorship, and the articles
written by himself In support OF and TO aid the
public opinion regarding the projected reforms had
not passed the censor, and only distant and dark
illusions to the subject had been permitted; nor
had the censor permitted him to publish transa-
ton Of Mr. Hendersons letter as was ms intention
effect to the Voz's readers. The foregoing state
ment was not made s,a rosa.
Regarding the sub-cOmmissiOn OF American
claims against Spain appointed to act in this city,
and which Is commencing to attract the attention
terested in it, The Darto has an article explaining
Its creation and nature and naming the commits
sioners appointed to act agreeably TO the instruc-
tiOns from the Commission at washington, ex
planning that their functions are limited and
are only to take testimony, obtain d0cu-
ments and papers to file at washington and
otherwise to act under instructions from the
superior commission. The Dtoy1O asserts that the
claims which have already been presented have
been OF citizens living notoriousy here as Spanish
subjects, although some may have purpOsely pro-
vided Themselves with second nationality to serve
their private ends, and advises the commissioners
sTs case Ss naTon
ality-not his actual, but that to which he was en-
titled when he suffered the damage, &c.-t0 reject
II at once and leave It's claimant to the mercy OF
the Spanish tribunals and authorities. 1t pre-
Judges that all claims will be presented by self
styled American ctttzens-a rather strange conclu-
sion in regard to such well known claimants
% DanfOrd KnOWltOu. Peter ", King. TAYLOR, Story