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The Destiny of Cuba: Spanish

My reception by the Spanish officials in Havana--this arrival was after Campos, and before Weyler--was full of politeness, and seemed something more, even cordial. The high officers of Spain are educated men, though unfortunately they are not like the Germans of the same rank, accomplished in the English language. They are, however, trained men, and there is in their answers, to every-day inquiries for news, a diplomatic reserve, showing the care bestowed in their schools upon the art of not saying too much. A letter from the Spanish, Minister, His Excellency Depuy de Lome, gave the responsible men about the palace to understand that I was a "serious" man, and the word serious conveys in Spanish a high compliment. I have pleasure in the acknowledgement of my indebtedness to Captain-Generals Marin, Weyler, and their respective secretaries of state, and others, for their courtesy, and for confidences as their obligations would permit; and for painstaking to be obliging.

In the distinguished consideration with which I was received, the power of the press and the potency of the country of which I was a citizen, and its ponderosity in the neighborhood, were regarded. General Weyler gave orders that I was to be admitted whenever calling between the hours of two and three in the afternoon, and I never asked him a question that he hesitated to answer, though often his replies omitted the real matter of importance. There were disadvantages in these conversations because they were carried on through interpreters, and interpretation is often too discursive or timid, and it is hard to impart the precise meanings, especially when they happen to be both delicate and of moment.

The press of Havana took some interest in me, and La Discussion, one of the leading and most liberal journal of the city, interviewed me, and published a portrait, and thus it became known to the Cuban sympathizers that I was in Havana, and the extent and import of my mission were exaggerated, and after being passed along, the impression was made that much might depend upon the estimation I should form of the situation, economic, political, military and international.

One day--it was before the iron lines were drawn on all correspondents, and indeed all persons of whatever occupation, preventing movements into the doubtful country between the defined lines of the combatants--I was told, with ceremonies of mystery, that there had just arrived a man from the United States of extraordinary consequence. He had been sent by the Republican National Executive Committee to get into the insurgents' part of the country, to visit the mythical capital of the Cubans--Cubitas--to ascertain from original sources what was going on, and report to the party, so that the republicans would know from the inside what should be done in Congress and how to shape the platform at St. Louis. The confidential nature of this mission was insisted upon with a vigor that was nearly violent, and I was almost sworn not to tell under any earthly circumstances of any rumor that such a thing had ever reached me. Was this mighty missionary man in Havana? No one knew. Had he passed through the city on his way to the rebel camps? It was rumored that he had done so. I was asked whether such an enterprise would be important, and thought it would be very important, and instituted careful inquiries as to the whereabouts of the emissary, coupled with the suggestion that I would take pleasure in meeting the great representative man and having a conversation with him. I could possibly co-operate in the good cause. Upon this hint there was diligence among the Cubans, and after a couple of days a friend came in hastily and said: "He is here, he is here!" "Who is here?" "Why that republican party agent who has been sent to Cuba by the Executive Committee to get the bottom facts. He has been traced right here to Havana, and has not left the city. His name and stopping place are not known, but I shall get very close to him to-morrow."

This was encouraging; and I was told there were only two or three persons to see before it could be managed that I might meet the representative republican person face to face. The man who knew all about it was found, and it was fixed that I was to see him, and all should be made clear. A tall gentleman, with fine figure and eyes and princely manners, was introduced, and he greeted me with the stately grace of performing a function on which the destinies of Cuba might turn.