The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-02-15
THE HERALD COMMISSION TO CUBA,

The wonderful enterprise OF the NEW YORK
HERALD should be the occasion for national gratu-
lation and pride. Nothing like 1t has ever before
appeared in the world Of journalism. 1t has dts
tanced all competition; even the London Thunderer
Is no longer rival And fresh rom its African
conquests with chaplets woven by admring ma
lions green upon its brow, 1t looks around for other
dark, benighted and ignorancecursed countries to
penetrate and write up for Its multitude of readers
In all civilized countries. 1t is not surprising that
should select Cuba, the Queen OF the Antilles, as
aproper theatre for the display Of its exploring
ambition. 1t has been known In this country that
somewhere on the island there Is body Of patriots
whom the Spanish authorities are pleased to
denOminate insurgents, and still more pleased to
kill and quarter whenever one OF them falls into
the hands Of the cutthroat robbers called the
Army Of Spain. These insurgents have been bat
Ting freedom for the last four years. and holding
At bay the forces that SPAN has sent against them
They are fighting with determined heroism
that merits the applause OF the world, and the
HERALD has determined to know more about them
With this object in view it despatched Mr.. James
J. O'Kelly TO the strongholds Of these insurgents
with instructions to make note Of his discoveries.
MI. O'Kelly asked for passports to enable him to
proceed from Palma SorianO to the interior, and
received from Morales permission to proceed as
follows :-"You can leave Palma and 60 where you
like ON the understanding that If the Spanish
troops ind you among the insurgents, or If you
afterwards appear within the Spanish lines, you
will be treated as spy"
The HERALD addresses General Morales an ed
torial paragraph, in which it says
the HERALD Commissioner receives any injury
at your hands without violating the laws OF your
country you will be held to strict accountability,
and viii be made to suffer the penalty OF tAe out
rage, not in the island OF Cuba alone, but every
inch of soil that owes allegiance to the spanish
nag.
This looks like business, and suggests the concu-
sion that the New York HERALD, rising by regular
gradati0ns from morning newspaper to an insti-
tuition, has at last become a government, pow
erful in men and money, and, having
gained great triumph in Africa, has
determined to add indefinitely to the
grandeur OF Its exploits and the ustre OF its fame,
by overwhelming Cuba with the prowess of Mr..
James ]. O'Kely's pen. We confess our admira-
tion Of the HERALD's persistency and pluck, and
are confident that 1t il its mission to demonstrate,
beyond all controversy that the pen is mightier
than the sword. The HERALD, in closing Its ed-
tortal upon the subject Of Mr.. O'Kely's mission,
which reads like pronunctamlento, adroitly calls
to its assistance the American press to fight its
battles, and proclaims to General Morales and his
associates that II any injury bcialls Mr.. O'Kelly
while he obeys the laws OF Cuba, that the Spanish
nation VIII be made to pay the penalty Of the out
rage.
From the st. Louis Globe Feb. Ill
The NEW YORK HERALD, OF the 7th instant,
prints q double-leaded editorial, expressing q
very emphatic opinion as to the intention OF
the Spanish authorities in Cuba toward its
special correspondent Mr.. James J. O'Kelly. Of
course the mission OF o newspaper correspondent
In Cuba is to investigate the situation Of affairs, to
Ian ko oil no inf
ton ne can obtain. In pursuance Of this object
Mr.. OKeily, applying through the American Con-
sui TO General Morales, the commander OF the
Spanish forces In the Eastern Department. for per-
mission to pass the lines, received the following
brief and explicit message:-
General Morales tells me that you can leave
Palma and 90 where you like, on the understand
Ing that II the Spanish troops find you among the
Insurgents or II you afterwards appear Within the
Spanish lines you will be treated as spy.
As both Spaniards and Cubans save the expense
OF maintaining the wounded and all dif1icut ques-
lions OF parole and exchanges by putting to death
any enemy who happens to fall into their hands it
Is almost supernuous to add that General Morales
threatens Mr.. O'Kely with death.
To thus the answer Of the NEW YORK HERALD is
equally plain. 1t says to General Morales:-"Do
any injury to the HERALD Commissioner while he
oSeys the laws OF your country, and your nation
will pay the penalty Of the outrage" And the
HERALD has the advantage OF the position In point
Of reason and In point OF strength. No definition
OF the word "spy" could make q spy Of Mr..
VKeny:-
II in reality Cuban spy, he would be liable to
lines. II suffered BY the Spanish authorities TO
depart as an innocent man, and to enter the terri
tory occupied by the insurgents on q publicly
adjudged spy on his return, for he would then be
on his way h0me and would hold no further COM
he be adjudged spy II found with the insurgents
rs his intention to visit them Is known. and he
carries to them no unlawful aid or Illicit inlorma
ton.
In truth, General Morales threat gives the lie to
the whole Spanish pretension that there is no in
surrection In Cuba worthy OF the name, and that
there Is no feature OF the struggle now going on
sufficiently Important to justify the notice Of
foreign Powers. For four years we have heard the
same story, and to-day the insurrection is as
strong as ever, and the subugation OF Cuba is as
far from being completed as ever. II the
Spanish statements OF the case were not all
lie they would be glad to place the
means OF confirmation within the reach OF
all the world, and especially. In view Of the
threatening attitude OF the American people and
the growing pressure on the government to inter-
fere, they would particularly desire to withhold
from Americans NO attainable evidence OF the
strength OF their position. The silly threat of Gen.
eral Morales to shoot Mr.. O'Keily was as stupid as
It was futile; there can be but one construction
placed Its purpose, and II it is carried out 1t can
be followed by only one result.
The HERALD says truly that its answer 'fs no
Spanish threat. The American press is stronger
than the American government; it Is the repre-
sentative and mouthpiece Of the American people,
who hold the government In their hands Shoot Mr..
o'Kelly as spy, and subservient State depart
ment would be but reed in the way OF the storm
or indignation that would sweep over the United
States and declare war against the Assassin
Power" And the American press, In the face Of
such an issue, would lay aside professional
jealousy ana personal anmosty, and stand by the
HERALD IN demanding prompt and summary
punishment for the insolent indignity offered to
them and the people whom they represent.