The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-03-03
being treated = an enemy Il the spanish troops


factionists he was unwilling to commit himself 80
o. 70 give cause for further agitation on this sub
Jet. He told me, however, that was ct liberty
to proceed a. my own risk without interference 70
any part OF the island pleased. Not wishing to
embarrass the Captain General have preferred
to run the additional risk rather than expose him
to any trouble or censure for his Kindness to men
At this point the new Archbishop who has been
appointed by Amadeus. a la Harry the Eighth, en-
tered the audience chamber, and General Morales
left me with the gentleman In black. The Attorney
General assured me that there ''would be
CERTAIN REGRET FELT If 1 SHOULD BIZ KILLED
not very deep sorrow, for, after all, was ofn
particular account interest to the Inhabitants Of
Cuba" Still my death seemed In some mysterious
way to t0reshad0w trouble. III, In an engagement
with the troops bullet should kill you by acc-
dent, or even by design-lor do not conceal nom
myself that II the Spanish soldiers should see you
among the insurgents they would say, There is
that American, let US bring him down. ana they
would shoot At you rather than at the Mambesi-if
you should happen to be killed in one Of these en-
counters the insurgents would carry or your body
and accuse the spanards Of having assassinatcd
You, and the American press would make
AN 0UTCRY AGAINST OUR BRUTALITY"
mo; It. ts well understood that q war c0rre-
spondent Is exposed to all these dangers. There
Franco Prussian war" RI
"Here 1t is, however, different"
~ am aware OF this; but there are positions In
which we must only think Of our duty without TAX
ing into account the danger. Like soldiers, we
journalists must execute our orders at whatever
cost.n tfff tn
r'If you were to go as
CORRESPONDENT TO ST. DOMINGO,
for instance, with the army Of Baez and one Of the
opposing generals should capture you, do you
think, that your character as newspaper corre-
spondent would protect you :"
"Possib1y not; but suppose Spain does not wish
to be regarded as occupying the same place In the
pale Of civilization as st. Domingo" if
The Attorney General perceived he had made q
mistake in what he had intended to be crushing
Illustration OF the right OF the authorities to shoot
me. He turned the conversation ut once into q
complimentary vein, and as was myself the OBJ
ject, had to admit myself routed after the first
discharge. Seeing there was nothing TO be gained
by remaining, salute ed the man in black and made
my bow to General Morales. The General was
deeply engaged with the Archbishop, but he rose
politely and advanced to dismiss me with the
friendly courtesy that he has manifested on oil oc-
caslons.
asked him II my telegram could go by
ALTERING THE WORD "ARREsT'' TO "DETAINED.v
He replied that 1t could, and drawing the paper
from his pocket banded y 70 me, assuring mo Of
the same time that might always count upon his
friendship. Which struck me as very polite from
a gentleman who had just informed me that he
would be obliged to shoot me under circumstances
very likely to occur.
In view Of the expressed determination Of the
authorities to impose death penalty on my pro-
ceeding to the interior on my legitimate business
resolved to apply to my Consul, officially demand
ing protection. Not that l expected to get very
much Of it, for C0nsus, like other folks, have their
own fish to fry. But was anxious to know ex-
acty how far private interests would be permitted
to weigh against public duties. 1 therefore ad-
dressed the following letter to the Consult
e rt- HOTEL. ADELE LEsCAIILE. |
SANTIAGO DE CUBA, Feb. s, 1881
F. RAMsDEN Esq, British Consult
SIR--1n view OF the threat to shoot me made by
the authorities in case should fall IN with the IN
surgents during my passage through the interior
spanish troops feel It necessary to call upon you
the representative OF the British government, to
afford me protection while engaged in my cgit-
mate business. have come to this country as q
journalist, to examine into its political and social
condition, without In any way mixing myself up
In order that may be able to form correct idea
OF the true state OF affairs shall be obliged to
visit the interior and even tue disturbed districts
The Spanish government has frequently asserted
that
THERE EXISTS NO ORGANIZED MsURRECTroN,
holding possession of important districts. and that
with the exception of some rowing bands the pOpu-
laton acknowledges the rule of Spain. without
expressing any opinion to the correctness 0 this
statement, claim that as the authorities deny the
existence OF any organized state of war, they can
trcugS the Island without curtang me In my
right to proceed on my business
FREE FROM ALL ARBITRARY INrERPERENCE,
which right, assume, will be guaranteed to me
by the British government. In the telegram which
you sent me to Palma, informing me OF the resolu-
ton OF the authorities to treat me as spy in cer
tain possible contingencies, you make use OF tho
words 'leaving Spanish lines" which convey the
sense that beyond o certain point there must be
insurgent lines, thereby contradlcting the con-
stantly repeated statements OF the Spanish gov
ernment that the insurrection is unable to main
tain itself In any fixed zone, but has been reduced
to fugitive condition II the instruction occu-
pies liked and determinate territory request to
exact points where the Spanish lines terminate. II
the authorities persist IN declaring that the Spanish
government is acknowledged inal parts OF the
Island then l1
INSIST ON MY RIGHT TO PROCEED
to whatever point of the country may choose with.
that you viii ask oiilcaI explanation Of the threat
to shoot peaceful neutral as q spy, made by the
& s e re
to believe, from conversations with Spanish army
officers, that I am to be shot Without question 4
no human more right TO impose a. death
sn2a' have S9 ny Jr vs vsn the n'f Sont 'Ai
the immediate suburbs OF the city. In either case
am exposed to the danger. OF encountering In
surgent bands, and II this should, unfortunately,
happen, according to the argument Of the au-
thorties, they would De justified In ordering my
immediate execution. am unable to understand
what motive the authorities con have for
PRETENDING TO LOOK UPON NE AS SPY,
after having officially recognized my position as
neutral, engaged In the business OF my profession.
or that acknowledgement you are officially aware,
as had the honor Of showing you the letter Al:
rected to me by the Captain General, In which my
peaceful character as newspaper correspondent
the decision or Intention OF the Spanish auth0rt
ties intend to insist my right to proceed, and
] therefore request that YOU vii tske whatever
ton. nave the honor TO remain, respectfully
yours, JAMES J. O'kELLY.
To this letter received the following diplo-
matte (l) reply. It il much too good to be thrown