The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-05-22


morning have two points of striking and re-
markable interest One these is to the effect
that Mr.. O'Kelly is on his way from Santiago
de Cuba to the capital, and the other an
nounces the arrest of Mr.. Leopold A. Price,
an American citizen long resident in Cuba
and for some time the HERALD correspondent
in Havana. In the kind treatment extended
to Mr. O'Kelly Immediately after the order
for his removal to Spain and his being
brought to the chief city Of the island,
where he can find more comfortable provision
for the voyage, we recognize friendliness
OF feeling which would not have been shown If
the Spanish authorities in Cuba had regarded
the order of the home government as unfriend-
ly in spirit. With these brighter indications
looming up in sky that was certainly dark
enough, we are inclined to take brighter
view Of the whole subject We think we may
at least expect fair trial for Mr.. OKelly
in Madrid, and speedy acquittal must
follow the impartial trial Of man who
has done no wrong and offended no law.
The only danger to be apprehended is from
too much intermeddling and over-oficiousness
in the Spanish Governor now commanding in
Cuba. The arrest Of Price shows that this
danger is one not to be despised or under
valued; and while we think it can bring no
harm to our correspondent, who for more
than two years has done his duty with sin
gular caution and discretion, we attach i'm
portance to it as evincing the dangerous spirit
which we fear.
So far as we can learn no charges have been
preferred against Mr.. Price, and even the
State Department and the American Consul
General in Havana are ignorant of the cause
of his arrest. We know Of no reason for this
action, except that he is the representative of
this journal, commissioned by us to send to
the HERALD the latest news from the Antilles.
Whatever may be the charge-and it will
probably involve his friendliness or unfriend-
illness to the Cuban cause-his arrest shows
lamentable incapacity on the part Of the
authorities in Cuba They are aiming blow
at the HERALD, and based as their action must
be upon false charges or no charges at ALL it
cannot fail to be futile and fruitless. 1t is no
easy task to drive the representatives of an
Independent American journal from any
country. Captain General Pieltain cannot
make the island of which he is the temporary
Governor terra incognita to other
countries. The ubiquitous newsgatherer
and the insidious interviewer will con-
tinue to hold footing in Cuba, as everywhere
else. Every attempt at the suppression of the
truth in regard to that province, either by the
imprisonment or Punishment of the repre-
sentatives of American newspapers, will only
revert upon the head of the official who
attempts it, for the Spanish government is not
likely to look with favor upon the laundering
imbecility of men who can commit offences SO
foolish and so outrageous as this official has
committed against citizen of the United
States in the case Of Mr.. Price.
We had hoped that no further complications
would grow out of the charges preferred
against Mr.. O'Kelly. In his case there was at
least tentative and tangible ground for
inquiry. He had penetrated the insurgent
lines and obtained information in regard to
the actual condition of the instruction; but
he did it in his simple capacity as q news
gatherer, and in dignifed manly and
straightforward way. But the case against
him failed from its own inherent weakness,
and from the friendliness recently exhibited
toward him we were led to believe that
the action of the Ministry in ordering him
to Madrid was only formal method for his
discharge. 1t cannot be that these kindlier
acts belied kindlier purpose, and that we are
wrong in the expectations which were
grounded upon recent good treatment Of our
commissioner But we are met by further
complications even before Mr. O'Kelly has
left the island on his way to Spain. When he
arrives in Havana he will find another HERALD
prisoner, held by the same power which holds
him, and his long voyage will be imbittered
| by doubts us to the fate Of his fellow in mis-
fortune.
| The arrest of Mr.. Price, following so closely
upon the order for Mr.. OKellv's removal to
part of the Cuban authorities toward the
United States. AS if grieved by the escape of
Mr.. O Kelly from their CONTROL they seek a
new and most unexpected occasion to insult the
American people. An American citizen living
quietly with his family in Havana, and taking
no interest in Spanish or Cuban affairs, except
as his duties as the representative of the HERALD
required, is suddenly dragged from his home
and cast into prison without explanation and
without cause. The Outrage upon the rights
of American citizenship is unmistakable, but
whether it is not intended as much as an insult
to the Spanish as to the American government
is problematical It is plainly cas,ls bell,
and seems intended not only as piece of bra
vado toward both governments, but as q
| palpable effort at embroiling the two countries
in war. The Spaniards in Cuba have some
how imbibed the fatal notion that the Ameri-
can people will not fight, and that it is safe to