and many absurd theories and speculations were indulged in with regard to it. I was indignant, as I had been a number of times before, to hear President Davis, and others of the Confederate leaders, accused of being the instigators of the crime. I well knew that they were incapable of anything of the kind; and Mr. Davis, in particular, I had reason to believe entertained a high respect for Mr. Lincoln, and most sincerely lamented his death, and especially the manner of it, feeling that he, and the whole people of the South, would be, to a greater or less degree, held censurable for something they had nothing to do with, and which they were powerless to prevent.
A Hotel Acquaintance.
After I had been gazing out of the window some little time, watching the crowds of people passing to and fro along the street, an elderly gentleman came up, and after addressing a few courteous words, asked if I was a resident of the city.
I replied that I had arrived only a few hours before from Columbus, Ohio, but that I was a Cuban.
"Ah, indeed," said he; and, taking a seat beside me, he commenced a conversation, by asking, " What do your people think of our war?"
"O, they think it is very bad j but it is to be hoped that it is about over now."
"What do you think of the assassination of the president?"
"That is much to be regretted j but you know we Spaniards do not take such things quite so much to heart as some people."
"It will be a bad thing for the South, and especially for some of the Southern leaders ; they will be sure to hang Jeff Davis."
I thought that it was catching before hanging; but, concluding that, perhaps, it would be best not to put all my thoughts into words, I merely said, "I scarcely agree with you, sir. Why should one man die for the deeds of another?"
"O, those Southern leaders are all corrupt, and they sent Booth here with instructions to do this deed, for the purpose of enabling them to carry out some of their schemes; they are a set of fiends, thieves, and cutthroats, from beginning to end, and there is not an honest man among them."
This excited my anger greatly; but, considering, that, under the circumstances, discretion was the better part of valor, I
