The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-05-04
From the New York Herald.


The Cuban junta, with its head
quarters in New York, represents the
legation of the Cuban republic abroad,
and the head of the junta, as 1t is
called, is T. Estrada Palma. Properly
speaking he is the delegate, and with
the members of his ministerial and
diplomatic household constitutes the
delegation of the Cuban Republic.
The term "iunta" has been applied
because such a body or council was at
tached to the diplomatic department of
Cuba during the ten years war. As
the authority of the junta frequently
restricted the action of the delegate
the promoters of the present revolu-
tion decided to eliminate 1t; yet the
name remains. and is used and accept
ed to designate Mr.. Palma and his as
sociates.
This junta, as the representative of
the Cuban Republic, acts on high au-
thority, for the delegation was APP
pointed on September 49, 1895, by the
constituent assembly that formed the
government and commissioned Maxi
mo Gomez chief commander of the
Cuban army. At the same time it
made Mr.. Palma delegate and Cuban
representative abroad, with authority
to appoint ministers to all governments
and to have control of all of Cuba's
diplomatic relations and representa-
tives throughout the world. Besides
this, Mr.. Palma is the duly accredited
minister from Cuba to the United
States, and in the event of the Cuban
Republic being recognized would be
received as such.
Under his authority Mr.. Palma has
appointed sub-delegates, or diplomatic
agents, in France, Italy, Mexico and
the Central and South American re-
publics. Cubas independence not be-
ing acknowledged by these nations, her
ministers are not officially recognized,
but are often unofficially received at
the back door" and exert an infu-
ence for the benefit of Cuba in the
countries to which they are appointed.
Mr.. Palma is in reality the head of
the Cuban revolutionary party abroad,
which is one of the three departments
of the Cuban revolutionary govern
ment, the two. others being the civil
government and the army of liberation.
This Cuban revolutionary branch
was founded by Jose Marti who is re-
garded by Cubans as the apostle and
master mind of the Cuban revolution.
CENTER OF AUTHORITY.
Mr.. Palma is not only the head and
front of the tunta, but he is the one
person in whom it's authority is CEN
tered. He was born in Cuba about six
ty years ago, and in his tender youth
imbbed the spirit of liberty for the
island, a spirit which grew with him
until it influenced his every word and
act, and finally received his entire de-
votion. So direct, gentle yet deter
mined are his methods, and so unas-
suming and plain is he in speech and
manner that he soon became known
as the cuban Franklin and more
firmly has the name become attached
to, him since the potent influence OF
his diplomacy has been felt through
out the world.
During the ten years war Mr.. Palma
was president of the Cuban Republic;
was made prisoner by Spanish troops
and sent to Spain, where he was i'm.
prisoned until the close OF the conflict
While in Spain absolutely suffering
under the hardships of Imprisonment
he was offered freedom if he would
swear allegiance to the Spanish crown
NO" was his answer. "You may
shoot me if you will, but if l am sho
it will be as the president of the Gu
ban Republic"
Besides Mr.. Palma, the only mem
bers of the delegation appointed b.
the Cuban government are: DR.. Joa
quin ID. Castillo, the sub-deegate
Benjamin j. Guerra, treasurer of tn
Republic abroad, and Gonzalo de Que
sada, charge d'affaires at Washington
DR.. Castillo is vice delegate an,
would take Mr.. Palmas place in cas-
of his death or inability to act BE
fore entering actively into the Cubal
revolution he was a surgeon i'm tn
United States navy and was aboar
the cutter Rodgers on her Norther
expedition to the relief of the Jean
nette. He was a leading physician il
Cuba, and wrote treatise on yelIoN
fever that gained for him the title q
Member of the Academy of Science il
Havana.
When the present revolution brok
out DIR. Castillo was appointed Surgeo
= general of the Cuban army, with tn
title of brigadier general He was af
terward transferred to his present DOS
in the United States.
Mr.. Guerra, treasurer of the Repub
lie abroad who has charge of all TN
foreign funds raised for the revolution
is a Tobacco merchant of New YOrl
who has been one of the most activ
spirits in the Cuban revolutionary par
ty since its formation. He was int
mately associated with and much re
lied upon by Jose Marti in his grea
work of organization.
Gonzalo de Quesada, charge dat
faires, is lawyer, a graduate of III
Columbia Law school, and a writer {
note.
Mr.. Horatio S. Rubeps, who was "A
intimate friend to Jose Marti, gives Ii
services free as counsel to the iunt;
He is the head of it's law department
He and the assistant counsel Mr., Leo
]. Benoit, are graduates of the Colun
bia Law school. With them is assC
ciated Mr.. Charles Richmond, chic
clerk of the department.
Besides these, there are as secretf
ries TO the delegation DR.. ]. A. Cor
zales Lanuza, Eduardo zero Budue
IN h IN NN5A