Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1906-09-29

dent. He is as democratic as Jefferson.
Admirers have conferred upon Presi-
dent Palma several unofficial titles. He
has been called in turn the Franklin of
Cuba, the Father Of His Country" and
the Theodore Roosevelt of Cuba. Like
Benjamin Franklin. he ably represent
ed his native land abroad in its strug-
| gle: like George Washington. lie fought
] for Independence in the field and be-
| came the first chief executive of his
! liberated country. and. like Theodore
! Roosevelt. he was born rich, was high
. ~ educated. became IL lawyer. bat de-
voted his talents 10 political efforts in
| behalf of his people.
But all such Characterization fail to
assign Palma 10 his proper place as a
| historical parsonage. So many points
| in his career differeutiate him from
any other man in history that lie is
unique. Says one admirer. Let us call
him Il patriot and let il go ut that
Tomas Estrada was born IN 1885 at
Bayamo. in the province of Santiago.
Cuba. and. after the fashion of some
Spaniards he took his mothers maiden
name of Palma. adding it To his IA
lIlcT - ldIEt Nliuoul lllt 'OilIttlillS
"" Even this is significant OF his I'M
DERIVING democracy. His father was
Il wealthy planter. descended from the
prnHdeSt Castilian blood. Tomas. born
10 the aristOcracy both in lineage and
wealth. voluntarily renowned that po-
SitiOn TO endure the perils and the pow
erty of revolutionary leader. The
death of his father when the future
president was small boy left him
heir TO vast estates in Santiago prov
ince. and he was educated by his de-
voted mother with 4 view To rendering
him capable of handling his property
when he should become of age. Pass
ing through the university at Havana,
he took Il long postgraduate course at
Seville and returned from Spain with
IL lawyers degree. But even then. at
the age of twenty-five. he fOresaw that
his career was not 10 be that of an
arIStocrat. and young Estrada assisted
in the organization of a revolutionary
society which set about to right the
wrongs of his country. \ few years
later this movement. in conjunction
with others OF Il similar character, de-
Veloped into open revolution. and at
the age Of thirty-three the rich young
planter took the field in the cause OF
liberty, fighting in the ten years war.
\ few months after his capture and
deportation TO Spain the war ended
with the defeat Of the revOlutioniSts.
Some months later Palma was offered
his liberty and the restoration of his
estates provided only that lie would
take AN oath OF allegiance to Spain.
An Exile From Cuba.
81 would rather be shot as president
of Cuba he said. and steadfastly re-
fused the offer Finally he was liber-
ated, all his property having been con
fiScated. He was of course an exile
from Cuba 10y reason of his refusal to
take the oath Of Spanish allegiance.
Il shall never again set foot upon
Cuban SOIL said Palma. until my
country becomes a free and independ-
ent nation
And he never did. When at last he
did return. an old man. after twenty
five years of voluntary exile. it was to
enter the splendid palace of the cap
tains general of Cuba at Havana. vo-
welcomed by his country
men, to take the oath of office as preSi- |
dent of the new republic on the Goth
of May, 1902. and to install himself in |
the palace OF his old time enemies and |