La Junta tribune., 1898-05-21
THE CUBAN JUNTA.
MEN AT HEAD OF THE AMERI-
CAN END.
Dsiicsts Dutics Imposed on Them
President Palm. iia. shown Remark
able sagaeity aud Has Become Known
as the Cuban franklin. v

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 it is
called, is T. Estrada Palma. Properly
speaking he is the delegate. and with
members OF his ministerial and diplo-
matte household constitutes the dele
CATION Of the Cuban republic.
The term ''junta" has been applied
because such body or council was
attached to the diplomatic department
of Cuba during the ten years war.
As the authority of the junta fire.
Quenuy restricted the action OF the
delegate the promoters of the present
revolution decided to eliminate II: yet
the name remains. and Is used and
accepted to designate Mr.. Palma and
his associates.
This 1unta, as the representatives
OF the Cuban republic. acts on high
authority, for the delegation was ap-
pointed on Sept. 10. 1895. by the con-
stituent assembly that formed the gov
eminent and commissioned Maxine
/, Gomez chief commander of the Cuban
army. At the same time it made Mr..
Palma delegate and Cuban representa-
tive abroad. with authority to appoint
ministers to all governments and to
have control OF all OF Cuba's diplo-
i. matte relations and representatives
Throughout the world. Besides this,
Mr.. Palma is the duly accredited min
lister from Cuba to the United States,
and in the event of the Cuban repub-
lie 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. Cuba's independence not be-
ing acknowledged by these nations.
her ministers are not officially recog-
inized, but are often unofIiciaily re-
ceived at the back door" and exert
an influence for the benefit OF Cuba
in the countries for which they are
appointed. Mr.. Palmn is in reality the
head of the Cuban revolutionary party
abroad, which ia one of three depart
ments Of the Cuban revolutionary gov
ernment, the two others being the
civil government and the army OF lib
Grafton. This Cuban revolutionary
branch was founded by Jose Marti.
e@ho is regarded by Cubans as the
apostle and master mind of the Cuban
revolution. Mr.. Palma is not only the
head and front OF the junta, but he is
the one person in whom Its authority
is centered. He was born in Cuba
about sixty years ago, ana In his
youth imbibed NE spirit Of liberty for
1.-THE island. spirit which grew with
him until 1t Influenced his every word
and act, and finally received his entire
devotion. So direct. gentle. yet de-
,termined are his methods, and so un-
assuming and plain is he in speech
and manner that he soon became
knoyn as the Cuban Franklin" and
more firmly has the name become at
tached to him since the potent fnflu-
ence Of his diplomacy has been felt
throughout the world. During the ten
years. war Mr. Palma was president of
the Cuban republic; was made pris-
oner by Spanish troops, and sent to
Spain, where he was imprisoned until
the close Of the conflict. While in
Spain. absolutely suffering under the
uhardships of Imprisonment. he was Of
fered freedom II he would swear al
legiarce to the Spanish crown. mol"
was his answer. You may shoot me
II you will, but II am shot It will be
as the president Of the Cuban repub-
JIG"
= Besides Mr.. Palma, the only MEM
ber of the delegation appointed by
the Cuban government are: DR.. Jol-
quin d. Castillo, the sub-delegata;
benjamin J. Guerra, treasurer Of the
republic abroad. and Gonzalo de Que
sada. charge d'affairs 1t Washington.
Doctor Castillo is Vice delegate and
would take Mr. Palma's place in case
Of his death or inability to act. Be-
fore entering actively into the Cuban
revolution he was surgeon in the
United States navy and was aboard the
cutter Rodgers on her northern e1pe-
dition to the relief Of the JeanIette.
He was leading physician in Cuba,
.snd wrote a treatise on yellow fever
) that gained for him the title Of i1em-
Der of the Academy of Science IL Ha-
vana. When the present evolution
broke out Doctor Castillo was ap-
Apointed surgeon general of the cuban
army, with the title of brigadier sener-
al. He was afterward transferred to