The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-01-09

cat His Own Riskr'
'I do not pretend to know what he means
by travelling at my own risk, but intend to
find out exactly what that phrase means"
Such is the manly expression with which our
Special Commissioner to the island of Cuba
comments on the letter addressed to him by
Captain General Ceballos, and in which the
phrase occurs. This uttered in the full con-
seriousness of the great duty he has under
taken, is worthy the consideration of the
civilized world 1t is the calm resolve of
servant of public intelligence to accept what
ever difficulties are thrown in his way as
simply the incidents of his search 1t is as
far from braggadocio as from cowardice, for it
mirrors the dignity with which the independ-
emit press understands its scope and it's duty.
SAT your own risk" says the Captain Gene
raj, 'tyou must undertake the search for truth.
cat my own risk, them" replies the HERALD
Commissioner, II undertake it," The
representative of Spanish force in Cuba
dismisses the appeal for . safe conduct
with polite frown Of cynical superiority;
the representative of universal intelligence
accepts tho naughty refusal without meer in
return, but with quiet determination to pro-
coed infinitely more creditable and digni-
fied-A loyal determination which puts to the
blush the mistaken attitude of the Executive
of Spain. cat his own risk ~ What does ii
mean? We do not care to deal in enigmas;
but whatever the Captain Generals phrase
may convey, the world, that respects courage
in the cause of intelligence, will assuredly hold
him responsible for whatever danger or mis-
hap his phrase may point to. Under the safe
conduct of Spain we are certain that the dam
ger would have been diminished, or that pro-
lection should not have been applied for. The
refusal, in which authority distinctly appears
to wash its hands Of. any consequences that
may follow, WILL we are certain, prove of as
little avail in cleansing them by anticipation
as that operation once performed publicly by
the Governor of Roman province. There
could have been no loss Of dignity and no
assumption of unreasonable responsibility in
granting the safe conduct, while its deolina-
ton as expressed-'at his own risk" lis
ungracious, and almost an invitation to the
evils which it should be the duty Of on official
to keep in allegiance.
In another portion of the HERALD will be
found an interesting letter from our Special
Commissioners. The dark stain Of slavery,
which discolors everything Spanish, no matter
how radiant it might otherwise be, is examined
fearlessly under its many sombre hues. The
result of this examination is not encouraging
It brings out the fact that under the present
position of things progress is hopeless The
promised reform of gradual abolition is q dead
letter on the statute book, and made doubly so
by the recent bull-headed declaration of
Minister Zorrilla that no reforms will be
granted in Cuba while a rebel remains in arms.
Every incentive of cupidity is thus held out to
the slave owners to maintain the state of war.
On the rebels themselves its effect
will be the same. They have de-
clared emancipation and fill their ranks
| largely with liberated slaves. To them this
declaration conveys an actual assistance to
sustain the bloody and fitful struggle. For
five years they have carried it on, and will,
under the circumstances, doubtless be able to
|
the gloom of Spanish pride for the Iberians to
fold their arms beneath their cloaks and lower
their brows under the shadow of their SOM
breros while declaring that more blood must
be shed in Cuba before the slave can be per-
mitted to go free. Will it, however, be &C
cepted by the civiizd Powers of the
worldp It is notable that where a
rational being allows vanity to take
the place of common sense it re-
quires ten times the effort to accomplish
anything, particularly if the vain pretence be
kept up. Spain, recognizing the absurdity Of
desperate effort to crush out the Cuban re-
bellion. A column of twelve thousand men
is being raised in the Peninsula with this
object Apart from the difficulty and expense
Of finding even this small number of men to
face the vomito and the rebels, it will be seen
hereafter whether they will be sufficient to ex-
tirpate the latter. It is at least doubtful. On
the other hand if Spain stepped of its stills,
and with manly recognition of its true inter.
est, promptly manumitted all its slaves, might
it not save money and human life by defeating
the rebellion at q single dash of the pen
Grant and Louisiana-An Explana-
| U.a f.t ton. M III
According to our dispatches from New
Orleans, Pinchback, Acting Governor OF
the Kellogg faction, has opened his heart on
the origin of the difficulty in Louisiana He
coolly confesses that the trouble arose in the