The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-02-08

the refusal was only on public grounds and
expressed the complimentary wish that he had
been the first Commissioner to undertake the
task. Mr.. O'Kelly was advised that he could
be supplied with Q competent passport TO
Gravel through the island" as any subject or
stranger could do; land be assured" wrote
the Captain General to our Commissioner,
''that you will not be molested nor will your
trip be fruiMess, as in our town you can
acquire news relating to the instruction by
consulting the thousands of the surrendered,
who fight in our ranks or live quietly in their
homes. pardoned by the Spanish govern
mont Any other course you adopt
must be understood tn be at your own
risk" 1t was hoped that Mr.. O'Kelly might
avail himself of this advice and collect his
"facts" concerning the rebels from Spanish
sources, preferring ease and safety to the
hazards Of seeking more reliable information.
The hope proved fallacious. Mr.. O'Kelly
pursued his journey, and ON his arrival at
Santiago de Cuba it was found that he had
resolved to penetrate to the camp of the
revolutionists The. compliments rendered
him by the Captain General. the advice he had
received from that high authority to collect
his facts from sources within the Spanish
lines, the passport he held in his possession,
were all positive evidence that he was not re-
garded as spy, but as gentleman and
man of veracity and honest purpose. Yet
when it was ascertained that no fear of
danger and no love of ease could tempt him
to leave his duty unaccomplished, he was told
by General Morales, that should he visit the
insurgents and return within the Spanish
lines, or be subsequently captured, he would
be treated as spy and Immediately shot.
And this, although he holds in his possession
passport emitting him, in the written words
of Captain General Ceballos, to ''travel
throughout the island" The design of the
threat is evident. The Establishments of the
Captain General having failed to turn our
Commissioner from his task, the brutal menace
of Morales is called in to accomplish the
same object 1t will be equally ineffective.
Mr. OKelly will pursue his purpose to the
end, and the Spanish authorities will be too
prudent to modest him, except by such indirect
obstacles as they may be able to throw in
his way.
We now appeal to President Grant.
We present the case of Mr. O'Kelly as
additional and conclusive evidence that the
Spanish accounts of the hopelessness of the
rebellion are unreliable; that the Spanish
authorities fear the disclosure of the truth;
and we appeal to President Grant, in the name
of the American people, to take this Cuban
question under his own control and to insist
upon the adoption of such policy as will
be creditable to us as q nation and just toward
a neighboring people who have been for nearly
five years struggling bravely for their freedom.
If Secretary Fish is to remain in the Cabinet
against the wishes Of the people, at least let
him be counselled to shape his policy toward
Spain in accordance with what is known to be
the popular sentiment. The generous i'm
pulses Of President Grant lead him to
sympathize with Cuba. When the gallant
Rawlins lived the President had an adviser
whose views on this subject were in accord
ance with his own. The last words of the
dying soldier to Secretary Creswell breathed
spirit of noble patriotism and courage
which form strange contrast to the cold
words of Secretary Fish. eyes, have some
thing more to say. There is Cuba--poor
struggling Cuba want you to stand by the
Cubans. Cuba must be free. Her tyrannical
enemy must be crushed. Cuba must not only
be free, but all her sister islands. This Re-
public is responsible for that I am passing
away, but you must look after this. We have
been together; now you must look to this"
The voice of the Presidents nearest and most
valuable friend calls to him from the grave.
Let us hope that he will at last adopt as his
own the generous words it utters-" Cuba
must be free