The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-06-18

Arrest Oh the OuDan NVlu1Ster-In6 EuoCt
on the War and tho Administration.
The Spanish agents, despairing Of success
in their military efforts in the Island of Cuba,
and no doubt encouraged by the lukewarm
spirit of the administration in the Cuban ques-
ton, have transferred the scene of their efforts
from the once 'Ever Faithful Island" to our
own city of Manhattan, and through the
courts here have begun war upon
Cuba which is destined to rage with
all the fury of the law. In accordance, as at
first asserted, with private instructions from
Washington the Grand Jury Of the United
States Circuit Court of the Southern District
of New York has found true bills of indict-
ment against Don Jose Morales Lemus, Minis
ter Plenipotentiary from the Cuban republic to
the United States; Don Jose NJ. Basora, Do
minican Consul in New York and Secre-
tary of the Republican Junta of Cuba
and Porto Rico; Don Jose M. Mora, a
wealthy merchant of this city and mem
Der of the said Junta; Don Francisco
Fesser, another prominent member, and several
other persons, whose positions are unknown,
for having begun a certain military expedition
against a portion of the dominion of Spain.
Two of the parties, Mora and Basora, were
sought late in the evening at their residences
and incontinently locked up in the Ludlow
street jail. The Minister was sought and
found al his residence, where he declined to
permit the officers to arrest him, but gave his
parole to appear in the morning before the
court Accordingly all the parties appeared
yesterday before Judge Blatchford and were
required to give bail each in the sum of five
thousand dollars to stand trial, and in the
further sum of two thousand FIVE hundred dol
lars to keep the peace towards Spain.
The news of this high-handed measure OF
attempted executive repression produced quite
a sensation in Washington yesterday. Secre-
tary Fish was questioned as to his official
action in the premises, course which, as we
are informed, made him appear "a little bewil-
dered." Recovering somewhat, he stated that
he ''knew nothing Of the proceeding" and
that ''no orders had gone from the State
Department for the arrest Of the parties" The
| Spanish Minister had, however, an inklng, OF
| more, of the state of affairs in this city. Sc
that, If Mr. Fish did not issue the order o.
arrest, some other officer OF high standing
under the government, perhaps the Attorney
| General, did.
| As war movement in favor of the remnant
Of Spanish despotism in Cuba these proceed
| ings amount to nothing more than the meres
farce. If the case is ever brought to trial i
| will prove TO be as great mockery as were the
recent trials OF the Fenians for the at.
tempt TO invade Canada and conspiracy
to liberate Ireland from British rule. As q
political maneuvre to increase the public feel
ing in favor Of Cuba, and against those who
oppose the liberation OF that island, 1t may bt
turned to good account, and we shall not bt
surprised TO see IL prove powerful coadjutor
with the Cuban liberators, and productive O
| intense antagonism TO the course Of President
Grant and bis Cabinet In view OF the large
majority in Congress by which the resolution
in favor of Cuban independence was passed
the timid neglect of the administration to TAX,
action in the premises and give formal ex
pTtrsiOu w TIC pohNy VI 'hV NVuuhy hdS pIo-
duced general feeling Of disgust in the pub
lie mind. Any political party which should
to-day take up the cry of America for Ameri
cans, and come out in opposition TO the policy
which animates Secretary Fish In the Cubar
question, would sweep the masses from tn
ranks Of both of the old and WORKOUT politica
parties.
The indignity which has been heaped by Q
public arrest upon The Minister of young
American republic, duly accredited to oul
government to ask for that recognition which
the march of events and the fash of its owr
patriotic arms has entitled it to, and which
our own antecedents and national policy both
urge us to grant, places in a strong and often
sive light the vacillation Of the government