Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1902-01-02
Fist President of cuba.

by practically unanimous vote, the
opposition generally remaining away
from the polls, Senior Tomas Estrada
Palma was Tuesday eie,ttd President
OF the Republic OF Cuba.
Pres don't Palma has long served the
cause of Cuban independence. Born
at Bayamo, Cubh, in 1880, no was
educated in Havana and Seuule. Srain.
He was one OF the wealthiest land
owners in the eastern para of Cuba at
the outbreak Of the war Of lSiT.7S. For
nine years he was in the field, serving
under the civil goyeln msnt and during
this time his mother was starved to
death by the Spaniar il. lie was finally
elected president of tho provis ona re-.
public and while president was cap
tured aud carried to Spain. A census
was taken CT tho prisoners in the
fortress in which be was confined and
he wrote on the blank that was given
h m: "T. Estrada Pa ma; OF foreign
birth Cuban; occupation, President
of the Republic of Cuba, "
Upon the cessation OF hostIlites, the
Spanish government offered i'm high
political position ard the restitution
o. his estates, which had been con-
tiscated, Oh the single condition that
he take the oath OF allegiance This
he refused to do, and, almost destitute,
departed for Honduras. lie found en-
ploymeut as professor in Honduras
college and thus supported himself
Unit he was inside post naster-g general
| OF Honduras. 1ha daughter of Presi-
dent Guardiola OF that country. bt came
his wife. Later he set out for New
York State and founded school at the
town of Central Valley for the education
of Spanish. American children.
At the outbreak OF the last revolution
Senos Palma once more offered every
thing he 20 sessed to the cause When
Jose Mnrt, the leader of the new war,
was killed, the OK. President was called
to the head OF the Cuban revolutionary
party and acted Ms head Of the jurta 10
New York
When the United States had over.
thrown Spanish rule in Cuba and steps
were taken to establish a republic
there, the people turned to Gen.
Mayimo Gomsz, head Of their army,
as the first president. Gomez, annoyed
ut fractional brawls, declined 10 he Il
candidate and then public sentiment
set in toward Palma A union Of part es
nominated him for the Presidency, with
the warm approval Of Gomez, who had
been one of the most active IN urging
his nomination.
For time it seemed that Palma
would he unopposed in the elect on.
Then the friends of Gen. Bartulome
Maso, including large section which
was hostile to the Platt amendment,
put up Maso a. a rival candidate.
Palma accepted the Plat amendment
as an Inevitable condition for Cuba.
ltwas charged by Maso's friends that
lu tine preliminary arrangements for the
election the United Stat 8 officials
showed disposition to give Palma an
undue advantage and allegations to this
effect we're presented at Washington.
The Washington authorities declined
to postpone the elections or alter the
arrangements, and the friends of Maso
then decided that they would not take
any part in the voting. In some parts
of the island this resolution was not
strictly adhered to, hut there was a
virtual abandonment Of hopes for
Maso's election.
Senior Estrada Palma ia considered
one OF the ablest and most conservative
of Cubans, lie is highly accomplished,
speaking five languages.