The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-04-13
From the Tlmes-IIerald.

old man. the Benjamin Franklin of
Cuba. As Franklin pleaded in the
courts of Europe for recognition OF the
freedom and independence of the United
States, so Palma has pleaded In this
country for the recognition of Cuba.
Like all Cubans, he has seen dark days,
and his pleading has seemed in vain.
But hope is brighter now and better
days are dawning
Palma's present position In the
struggle for Cuban independence is that
of head of the diplomatic service and
delegate or chief OF the revolutionary
clubs. "Why doesn't he go home and
fight if he is 50 anxious for Cuban lib
erty?" Is question that has been
asked about him more than once. But
II Is easily answered Palma has
fought for his country and his flag.
He has seen his mother practically
murdered by Spanish marauders; he
has seen his estates confscated by
Spanish officials Twenty years and
more ago he led Cuban troops against
their Spanish oppressors; later he
served as president Of the republic.
While in that Csition he was betrayed
and captured and spent some years in
a Spanish dungeon. Through one and
another of these experiences he has
ltdtutu Nit dSt NHtlt Ndl bt VI
more service to his country in a diplo-
matte way than in the field. He has
left the fighting for younger men, and
as minister plenipotentiary to this
country he has done his native island
a service which probably no other
could have done.
LITTLE KNOWN.
Comparatively little is known by the
American public of the personality of
Tomas Estrada Palma. No complete
sketch of him has ever been published
Yet there is no man whose life has
been more intimately associated with
the modern history Of Cuba, none
whose career is more characteristic of
the heroic sacrifices willingly made by
the patriots of the island in their ar
dent and arduous pursuit Of liberty.
Slightly built and below the average
height the frailness Of Minister Palma's
physique is what first impresses one in
his appearance. He looks old in the
sense of one who has gone through a
great deal and suffered much, but the
casual observer would allow for prema-
ture aging and hardly compute the
years of his life at So. His features
are not regular, his complexion has the
dingy look of old parchment marked
with light brown freckles like the
specks often seen on ancient doCu-
ments. His straight, dark hair, now
grizzled and no longer thick is some
what long. His dark brown eyes are
not strong, the left being marked by
peculiar drOop. His struggling gray
mustache, with a wide parting under
the nose. fails to hide the thin-lipped
mouth. The loss OF two front teeth
IN ofnd la 80, ,erth ,f hn IA
by compressing the lips, and adds to
the appearance Of premature age.
Altogether there is something sinister
about the ordinary appearance of this
experienced revOlutionist But there
is a change when his face lights, as he
wakes eloquent over the bitter wrongs
of Cuba. Mr.. Palma speaks English
with some difficulty and with a marked
accent. But his speech is most eX-
prcssive and in his own tongue he is
an orator of convincing force.
ELOQUENT ON CIrBA'S WOES.
lie talks freely to those he can trust,
and seldom makes mistakes in that
matter. At such moments his eyes al
most blaze and his face glows with en-
thusiasm. He seems another man from
him whose appearance a moment before
was commonplace, if not actually re-
pellant. The almost furtive look, due
to years of intrigue and conspiracy,
and the shadoWing of Spanish spies,
disappears at these times and the real
man shines forth. 1t is then that one
realizes the amount Of nervous energy
confined in that insignificant, weak
looking frame and understands tht
powerful magnetism which has made
Palma one of the greatest Cuban in
t!uences. 1t is then that one sees why
his is a name to coniure with among
his countrymen, and one feared and
hated by Spanish tyrants who have
failed utterly in their many attempts
to seduce him.
1t was on July 9, 1885 that Thomas
Estrada Palma was born on the larg.
est of his fathers estates at Bayamo
in the eastern province of Santiago dc
Cuba. His father was one of tht
Wealthiest and most respected land
owners in Cuba. His holdings com
prised hundreds of thousands of acres
most of them devoted TO the breedinE
and rearing of cattle Besides the ia
come from the herds, the estate yield
ed large revenue from the sale o.
mahogany and other woods found il
it's forests, and had also a sugar mill
One indication of the estates grea
extent may be found in the fact tina
the mere privilege of gathering th'
honey from it was sold for $500 year
There the boy was brought up in lux
ury until old enough to study at tn
hest school afforded by Havana.
STUDIED AT SEVILLE.
While Palma was still a boy hi
father died Soon after he went TO ii
himself for the law by study at tn
University of Seville. Graduated Their
and admitted to practice Estrada Wen
back to his mother at Bavamo.
He never practiced law. Little obser
walton OF conditions in Cuba was need
ed to convince him that where Corrup
ton held sway and pure justice wa
only dream the practice of law mus
be a mockery for an honest man. Hi
life was devoted to the administrator
of his estates and the study of govern
mental conditions under which Cub
was treated only as a source of rev
enue for Spain or the aggrandizemen
of officials remarkable for cupditS
corruption and cruelty.
When the first suggestion of uprisn
was heard in 1865 Palma became in
terested, and in 1867 when the cour
try was in the throes of intrigue, whic
gave birth to the revolution, he thre'
himself heart and soul into the con
spiracies which had independence fc
their object His ability and soci'
eminence soon made him a leader, an
he became the bosom friend of sue
men as Cespedes and Aguilera, the fir'