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The Destiny of Cuba: Cubans

He spoke no English, and through the interpreter I asked whether his information was definite and certain. He said with gravity it was. Did he think the matter was of so much moment as to engage the attention of Cubans? He did. Indeed he knew it absolutemente. It was the thing of the day. Could I make the acquaintance of the partizan minister--extraordinary. There was a smile in the dark eyes that looked me over, and one of the men who understood Spanish sprang to his feet with an expression of disappointment, for he knew what I was there for, and before the interpreter could speak, shouted to me, "Why, you are yourself the man!"

We were all disheartened, and I had some labor to perform before it became clear to my friend that I had not been in association with any junta or committee in New York or Washington or Havana; had no representative prerogative, or capacity to exercise, save as a newspaper man representing the New York Journal, and was not stable in opinions, even as to the exclusive merits of the cause of Cuba.