The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-05-04

this country and Europe.
MIR. O'Kelly, the British Gunboat and
tho spaniards.
Among many curious phases of the rule of
Spain in Cuba the fear exhibited by the
Spanish officials of the HERALD correspond
ent, Mr.. James J. O'Kelly, is the most re-
markable. He quietly returned to Manzanillo
from the insurgent lines, where he had been
performing his simple duty, and through the
British Vice Consul made known his presence
to the Spaniards He was straightway hur-
RED to dungeon-this dangerous man of
peace and impartiality. Don Whiskerandos
de Swashbucklero had double guards placed
over him, and if diabolical frowns would kill
man Mr.. o. Kelly should have died on the
first day. They were five days making up
their minds whether they were not afraid to
allow Mr.. O'Kelly's kilograms to pass. They
have feared, in fact, that Mr.. O'Kelly would
be able, in fairness, to tell more of the in
surrection than they desired, and 80 they
were afraid to let him 60. Mr..
O'Kelly's letter from the headquarters of
the insurgent President, Cespedes, has
shown the clear frankness of our correspond
ent's views, and would with any people, short
of Spanish officials, have induced the sensible
action of freeing q man against whom they
have no case. They now find themselves face
to face with o difficulty of another sort A
British gunboat has dropped into Manzanillo
and demanded Mr.. O'Kelly's removal to Ha-
vana and the ameIoration of the unwhole-
some conditions of his imprisonment We are
not yet informed of the reply of Don Whisker-
andos de Swashbucklero. who misrules for
Spain in Manzanillo, but we feel very certain
that he will be led to consider gunboat argu-
ments with as much alacrity as the circum-
stances require The British government has
acted commercially. The Captain General in
reply to the demand has descended to the
smallness Of transparent subterfuge. He,
General Pieltain, is the republican military
commander there, and supreme in authority
He may not, to be sure, dare to call his soul
his own in face OF the bloodthirsty volunteers
of Havana, who murdered the students; but
he is the military MASTER and has no need to
behind farcical form of military regulations,
inapplicable to the case Of Mr.. O'Kelly.
II there is anything wanting to complete
the picture Of governmental folly which this
whole question presents it is that the Spanish
government in Cuba should affect to despise
American public opinion, which its every
act shows it to fear. Taking advantage of the
fact that Mr.. O'Kelly's release could not be
officially forced by the American government
it presumed that his character as an Ameri-
can journalist would prevent the British gov
ernment whose subject he is, from interfering.
Its ignorance Of the fact that no government
on earth is more jealous of its honor than the
British was lamentable 1t now has to deal
with the Power that sent an army into Abys-
sinia to rescue English subjects from the
barbarian Theodorus. The republican gov
eminent Of Spain, under which Cuba is at
present ruled, has not been recognized BY
England, and no tortuous diplomacy is pos
sible. The navy, with its rifed guns, is the
only means of communication possible be-
tween England and Spanish authority in Cuba
at present What new device the Spanish
authorities may invent to evade their respon-
sibility we cannot say, but none would be too
ridiculous TO imagine. The Captain General
has led the way in this Sinking matter; but
if the commander Of the gunboat Plover SENDS
as the captain of British man-of-war sent
before to the Governor of Manzanillo, this
message, Bring the British subject you
hold prisoner on board by such an hour, or
l shall lombard the town." the evasion,
trickery and Sinking will be ct an end, and
Mr.. O'Kelly will be free. The British govern
ment is by this time aware that Mr.. OKelly
has acted in no way to invalidate his claim TO
its protection that he has carried out his
mission to Cuba strictly as a neutral and a
gentleman, and that nothing but a ridiculous
Spanish fear of the truth being told actuates
the authorities in OBTAINING him. We shall
not, therefore be surprised to learn that such
o message has been sent and promptly COM
piled with.
The WEEK IN WALL STREET closed upon
feverish stock market, but with an easier and
more cheerful condition of affairs in the