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

lie. In that capacity he framed and
was the real author of the famous de-
cree issued by Spoturno. That decree
was that any Cuban found negotiating
for peace on terms which failed to rec
ognize the absolute independence of the
island republic was traitor and should
be shot. This is the decree recently
revived by the present Cuban govern
ment, under which Ruiz met his end.
Independence or death" was Palma's
motto then, has been ever since and is
now.
SpoturnO having resigned, the Gu
ban assembly elected Palma president,
March %, 1876. The scene was impress
sive in it's extreme simplicity. Stand
ing with his right hand on the Cuban
constitution, Palma swore to obey and
execute it and all other Cuban laws
honestly and truly. He bore well the
onerous duties Of the presidency until
he fell victim to Spanish force
through Cuban treachery. While in
Porto Principe two Cubans were
brought before him charged with ne
gotiating for peace on a basis which
did not recognize the absolute inde-
pendence of the island. At the trial of
one of them Palma presided. and the
| prisoner was sentenced to death The
other was named Verona, who had
| once been a close friend. There ensued
| in the presidents mind a conflict be-
| tween duty and friendship But duty
| prevailed, and Verona was executed
| the only concession to his own feel
| ings made by Palma being that he was
not the judge who sentenced his friend.
| The man whom Palma condemned
| managed to escape. He had learned
| that Palma was to start eastward on
| journey to Santiago. He knew the
| route by which the president would
| travel and took his information to the
| Spanish authorities. He served as
| guide for a force of several thousand
Spanish soldiers, who waylaid and cap
tured the president, whose imprison-
ment Spain SO earnestly desired.
IN TWO SPANISH CASTLES.
1t is a remarkable tribute to Palma's
influence and to Spain's mistaken esti-
mate of his character that in the hope
of reducing him to subserviency his
captors treated him with a courtesy
and consideration in striking contrast
to their wonted methods He was TAX
en- first to Havana, and imprisoned five
days in MORO Castle. In that time the
captain general of the island sought
| by every means to transform the pa
| triOt into a renegade. The prisoner
was told that if he would take the
oath of allegiance to Spain his vast
estates, all of which had been con-
tiscated would be restored. with free
pardon and public office. Every offer
was firmly refused. Then Palma be-
came an exile as well as a prisoner.
He was sent to Spain and imprisoned
for a year in the castle of Fieuras.
There, too, he was treated remarkably
well for a Spanish prisoner, the idea
apparently being that, though he could
never be coerced, he might be coaxed
into submission. one approach after
another was made to him, but all were
scorned In Spanish prison, in Spain,
at the mercy of Spaniards, he defied
the Spanish government.
With the subsequent surrender of the
reNolutiOnists came Palma's liberty
With liberty returned temptation 10
play the renegade. 1t came IN new and
more insidious form than ever. Yet
was II never temptation TO this man
who spurned it as an insult. Sums OF
money, the restoration OF his estates
a high position under the Spanish gov
ernment-all these We're offered if he
would but take the oath of allegiance
to Spain, and all were rejected.
BACK TO THE NEW WORLD.
Upon his liberation Palma Travelled
10 New York by way OF Paris. In the
new world the eX-president OF thal
Cuha lihre which had vanished cast
about for an honest means Of liveli.
hood. He made his way To the Re,
public of Honduras. There he wa,
among friends and sure Of sympathy
tie began work as a schoolmaster anC
became postmaster general. He fell il
, love with the daughter OF President
fuardiola and married her. He brought
{ his wife to the United States. II
Orange county, New York, they bought
a piece OF property, at Central Valley
and established their home. They hav,
| six children, the oldest OF whom Il
, TO- and the youngest IN years old. A