The New York herald., 1873-02-13

The difficulties which ore placed in the way
of the HERALD Commissioner in Cuba, and the
threat by which the Spaniards seek to impede
his progress, are not surprising to any one who
understands the character of Spanish rule in
the Antilles. The hold of Spain upon her
remaining West India possessions has been SO
weak for many years that it has been her
policy for long time to build up system of
isolation for Cuba and Porto Rico. Even
after four years of war, which continues to
desolate the fairest parts of the Cuban isle; in
spite of repeated official declarations that the
insurrection was at an end, the world is in
ignorance Of the real condition of affairs.
The revolution has not succeeded nor yet has
it been subdued. Horrible stories of butcher
les and barbarities on both sides have reached
us from time to time From all that the
world can learn of it the struggle is one which
shames humanity Even o rigorous censor
ship of the press and the terrible death which
has constantly menaced the newsgatherer in
Cuba have not been able to conceal this much
of the truth. Willing, however, to dis
believe everything except what we found
to be beyond question, we despatched
our first Commissioner 20 the island.
Thinking that he had not probed the insurreo-
ton and its attending cruelties to the bottom
we sent another man to take up the work
where the first had left it
Our second Commissioner is now strug-
Cling against every obstacle in order to
complete his mission-even in face Of
threatened death as q spy. It is useless
to waste words in proving that Mr.:
OKelly is not spy. he is not seeking for
information for the benefit of the enemy, but
in the interest of humanity. The Spanish au-
thorities and the Spanish people respond by
asking us what right we have to interfere in the
affairs of Spain or her colonies. We acknowl-
edge the pertinence Of the inquiry, and our
answer is the response which the highest civil
ization demands and justifes. As rule, one
nation, or the people of one nation, have no
right to interfere in the internal affairs of an
other; but every rule has its EXCEPTIONS
The condition of Cuba is one of those excep-
tions. Under the law of nations interference
is sometimes as much duty as non-interfer-
ence is at other times. Every European gov
ernment has recognized this principle-the
allied Powers against Napoleon, and Spain
herself against England, when her IA
nous Armada went to pieces.
In our own civil war we recognized tho
principle to its fullest extent by giving every
civilized nation ample opportunity for
watching our conduct Of the war against tha
so-called Confederate States The condition
Of the insurrectionary States and every move
ment Of our own army, even, was open to the
scrutiny of the whole world. The governments
and the people of Great Britain, France and
Spain, if they desired it, could be as fully iu-
formed of the status of our rebellion at every
step as was the Cabinet at Washington,
Charges of butchery and barbarity were met
by revealing our affairs to the whole world.
The representatives of foreign journals were
not only welcomed in our lines, but afforded
safe conducts to and from the lines Of the
enemy. Intended movements upon this or
that point and the plans of campaigns were
the only things that were matters of secrecy.
We do not ask the Spanish authorities for in-
formation on any military points. Our ques-
tions are based on higher and nobler grounds.
Our Commissioner is empowered to solve
more important propositions. How and why
are the Spaniards in Cuba conducting their
war? How and why is part of the island in
insurrection against Spanish dominion2 Is
there truth in the stories which are constantly
coming to our ears? Do the Spanish soldiers
murder women and children? Are like
accusations against the Cubans true2
Is every rule of civilized warfare set
aside and is the struggle fendish and
monstrous on both sidesp Can the revolution
succeed, or is it only foolish and purpose
less struggle? Can Spain subdue her in
tractable subjects, or is her endeavor to sub
due them only waste of blood? These are
questions to which the world has o right to
an answer. Civilization is an arbiter for
nations as we'll as for men, and compels every
government to exercise its functions with
due regard to humanity and justice. No
people, not even the Chinese, can shut them
selves off from the the rest of the world.
In attempting to do it Spain only shows
how far she is behind the civiliza-
ton Of other nations. The United
States cannot afford to allow such policy
to be pursued by neighbor SO contiguous az
the island of Cuba. Thousands of our peo-
pie have made that country their temporary
home, and our flag must protect them there
as well as here. Our money is poured into
Havana in stream which supports Spanish
authority in Cuba. If we went elsewhere for
our sugar Spain would find the island burden,
as it was before the Cuban planter began to
drain us of our wealth. In hundred ways
we are interested in the condition of Cuba,
and cannot afford to let it be a terra incognitG
to us. Its affairs are, to a great extent, our
affairs. and the American people are never
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