The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-05-20
The Poiicy OF spain I'm Ordering
O'Kelly's Removal What - AZ
Meanings

O'Keny's Removal What IL Its
Meanings
The action of the Spanish government in
ordering Mr.. O'Kelly's removal to Spain,
whatever may be its purpose, is not based on
wisdom and sound policy. Unless we accept
as q solution of the order some such intention
as that foreshadowed from Westinghouse
desire to extract from the HERALD commits
sioner such information as he may possess in
regard to the insurrection-it is not easy to
discover in it any well defined purpose. The
laws of Cuba are certainly rigorous enough to
punish Mr.. O'Kelly if he has been guilty of
any offence against the Spanish authorities in
that island. Not even the shadow Of an Of
fence-nothing sufficient to base a charge
upon-has been shown against him. So futile
had proved every effort Of the Spaniards in
Cuba even for holding him prisoner that it
was generally believed he would soon be re-
leased and permitted to return. These ex-
pectations are dissipated for the present by an
event SO unexpected and-unless the Spaniards
hope TO make of Mr.. O'Kelly what he has
never yet been, a spy-so purposeless as to
make comment upon the subject mere specu-
lation.
Assuming it to be the purpose of the new
government in Spain to extract information
from the HERALD commissioner, which he has
not yet been able, owing to Spanish control
over his movements to give to the HERALD, it
is easy to forecast the result, SO far as he is
concerned. A man who has shown the calm
courage, intrepid purpose and impartial be-
havior which he has exhibited, will not forget
his duty in Spain any more than in Cuba.
From the beginning he has turned neither to
the right nor the left, but has devoted himself
perform. AS the representative of leading
American newspaper he was entitled to diff
ferent treatment from that which he received,
and in any other country than a Spanish
province no obstacles would have been thrown
in his way. But it is too late in the history of
civilization for even Spain to disregard the
rights Of the newspaper press, and it is incon-
sistent with liberty of speech and opinion that
the representative Of public journal should
be turned into governmental informer. In
seeking to extract private information from
Mr.. O'Kelly Spain insults the intelligence of
the age and disgraces herself. He will prove
recreant neither to us nor to himself, and, the
pretence that he has broken any law of Spain
or of Cuba being swept away, the Spanish Re
public will occupy the base position before the
world of seeking to subvert the principles
upon which all republics are founded, and of
employing an inquisition as fearful as any
ever adopted by the most despotic of rulers.
All the world knows the terrible meaning
Of sending man as prisoner to Spain. The
case of Dr. Houard is still too fresh in the
minds of the American people not to be sug-
gestive to the readers of the HERALD Of the
sufferings and tortures which may be in store
for MIR. O'Kelly. Houard, though not
guilty Of any crime, was manacled and
placed in the hold of ship, where he
suffered incredibly throughout long
voyage. In the prison where he was
placed after his arrival in Spain his condition
was no improvement upon what it had been
in the ship. Every case where the Spanish
| government interposes and orders prisoner
to Spain is attended by crueltes and enor-
mites which q less barbarous nation would
never think of employing. We cannot suppose
that President Figueras would order Mr.
O Kelly to be ironed and treated with the
rigor of a condemned and dangerous convict,
but the Ministry well knows that it would re-
quire more than the power Of the Spanish
Republic to secure him from brutal treatment
If this order is carried out His cell OF Fort
Corona was selected apparently because it was
uncomfortable and unhealthy. Soon after his
Incarceration the brutality of his keepers
manifested itself in annoyances seldom prac
tised by soldiers or jailers in civilized coun-
tries. A mitigation of his disagreeable i'm
prisonment was but recently secured for him,
though he has been held for weeks and months
without any reason or excuse for his deten-
ton. Now, he is to meet new and unexpected
misfortunes at the hands Of ON irresponsible
sea captain and an equally irresponsible
guard. The voyage from Santiago de Cuba to
Cadiz can hardly fail to add another harrow
ing and characteristic chapter to the history
of Spanish cruelty and barbarity.
Barbarity always formed On important fea-
ture in Spanish policy. Ill treatment of the
innocent and guilty alike has always taken the
place of the administration of law and Justice
Life and liberty were always held at the nod
and within of Spanish royalty. Even obscur-
ity was no safeguard against the selfish and
cruel commands of grinding despotism.
When Spain obtained new dynasty better
things were hoped for, but the young King
was powerless against the old and hideous bar
barism. Is the Republic to be the representa-
tive Of what is worst, instead Of what is best,
in the Spanish character? Is the world to
discover that Seiaor Figueras is only name,
and that barbarism is still enthroned? Is it