The Cook County herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Minn.) 1893-1909, 1898-06-25
THE T CUBAN JUNTtA.
MEN AT HEAD OF THE AMERl-
EE.sk CAN END.
DsHcato Duties Imposed on Them
President Palma Has Shown Remark
able Sasacity and Has Become known
as the Cuban Franklin. -

The Cuban. JEnta, with It's head
quarters in New York, represents the
legation of the Cuban republic abroad,
and the head Of the iunta, 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 a body OR council was
attached to the diplomatic department
of Cuba during the ten years war.
AS the authority Of the junta fire.
quently restricted the action of the
delegate the promoters of the present
revolution decided to eliminate it; yet
the name remains, and is used and
accepted to designate Mr.. Palma and
his associates.
This junta, 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
ernment< 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-
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-
nized, but are often unofhcially re-
ceived at the back doo-," and exert
an influence for the benefit Of Cuba
in the countries for which they are
appointed Mr. Palma is in reality the
head OF the Cufbsn revoI utionarys party
abroad, which is one of three depart
ments OF the Cuban revolutionary gov
eminent, the two others being the
civil government and the army of lib
Grafton. This Cuban revolutionary
branch was founded by Jose Marti,
who 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 it's authority
is centered. He was born in Cuba
about sixty years ago, and in his
youth imbibed 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
devotion. So direct, gentle, yet de-
termined8are his methods, and so un-
assuming and plain is he in speech
and manner that he. soon became
known as the Cuban Franklin and
more firmly has the name become at
tached to him since the potent inhu-
ence OF. his diplomacy has been felt
throughout the world. During the ten
years war Mr.. Palma was president of
"AAS ouOsAA AOpoU1lC, was uldUS pIIS-
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
hardships of imprisonment, he was Of
'fered freedom if he would swear al
.legiance to the Spanish crown. mol"
was his answer. ''You may shoot me
if you will, but if am shot it will be
as the president of the Cuban repub.
lic." +
Besides Mr.. Palma, the only men,
Der of the delegation appointed by
the Cuban government are: DR.. Joa-
,quin D. Castillo, the sub-delegate;
Benjamin j. Guerra, treasurer of the
republic abroad, and Gonzalo de Que
sada, charge d'affairs at Washington.