New-York tribune., 1880-04-06
TIE CUBAN EXPEDITION.
EXCITEMENT AT THE SPANISH LEGATION.
THE SPANISH MINISTER COMES TO NEw-YoRK-AT-
TITUDE OF THE STATE DEPARTMENT.
inY rrIRGR ApH TO THE TRIpuNE.l

THE SPANISH MINISTER COMES TO NEw-YoRK-AT-
TITUDE OF THE STATE DEPARTMENT.
iBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIDuSE
WAsurNGrov, April 5.-The State Department
aud the Spanish Legation in this city have receiver
no information since Saturday in regard to the con-
templated expedition against Cuba, except thhI
which The TRIBUNE of yesterday and to-day mas
brought them from New-York. The New-YOrk Sum
dav newspapers which arrive in Washington late
in the evening on tho day OF publication, are not
read except in few newspaper Offices until Mon
day morning. On learning the facts which IHE
TRIBUNE reporters had gathered on Saturday, ana
which were much more definite in their character
than anything he had been able to secure from any
other source the Spanish Minister. Senor DE NIgo'
started at once for New-York in order that he might
cooperate with Dstrict-AttOrney WOodford IN any
measures he might adopt to discover and DrIng 10
punishment the filbusters and to direct in person
the investigation which the Spanish anthorti'
have themselves undertaken. After Senior Dc Vi
qos departure, the Secretary of the Spanish Lcga-
tion called at the State Department with copy oil
THE SUNDAY TRIBUNE to ascertain If the comics
sions of General Carlos Roloif, one OF the avOwed
leaders of the movement, in his conversation with u
TRIBUNE reporter, were not Of such character MS
to warrant Secretary Evarts in taking some more
active steps to prevent the escape OF any eXpedtO'
or even causng the arrest of RoloR himself.
The law which Roloff has violated, if any, Is
section 8 9SG of the Revised Statutes. which makes
il n high msdemeanOr for any person within the
jurisdiction of the United States to begin, set on
foot provide or prepare the means for any military
expedition or enterprise" against any foreign
country with which the United States are at peace
1t is not customary in this country to take coguz-
ance Of verbal threats or expressions OF hosuHty
toward foreign country. If it were, the Govern
| II Ao,J ftI1 in 6pnlIDR
enthusiastic Irish Natonalists. 1t very probable,
therefore, that the Secretary of state will decide
that General ROl01 cannot be inericTcd with until
lo has been detected In some overt act. But his
freedom OF speech will probably cause him 10 Dc
closely watched. The Government of the Unlteu
States, from the time the Spanish Minister llst
mentioned his suspicious TO Secretary EYarts, has
repeatedly assured him of its willingness and
anxiety to do anything in its power to prevent tho
escape of any expedition hostile to Spain or its rule
in the Island of Cuba. but up to this time Senor
Dc VigO has been utterly unable TO produce any
evidence whatever on which the Government could
base such action as he desired. III the spanish MIN
ister or his agents would make an affidavit that they
knew that certain persons named were engaged
In fitting ont IN expedition against Cuba, that
would be all that wOuld be necessary The
PERSONS 80 accused would be arrested at once. Bat
the Spanish authorities have been unable 10 mako
any such afdavits. simply because they have known
almost nothing of what the Cuban patriots" have
been doing. The United States have no National
police to employ IN making an investigation Of sub
jccts on which ScnOr De YigO has only suspicious
and Secretary Evarts has no fand from which the
expenses oi such an inquiry could be paid While
it not doubted at the State Department that somo
movement is on foot among the Cubans in New
York. the opinion is still held that il is not one Of
very great importance, and that even # an expeI-
tiOn should escape it could give very httlo tionblc
to the Spanish Government