The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-11-14

ment Found In the Vatican LII
brary at Rome May BE the One to
Which Reference Is Made In His
tory, But Investigation Must he
Made.
From the Philadelphia Press.
New York, Nov THE Journal and Ad-
vertiser to-day prints what purports to be
a translation of the report of a private
interview by Pontius Plate with our sa-
viour, and the story of his crucifixion. This
report is said to have been written by Pi-
late, and a manuscript found recently in
the Vatican at Rome, is thought by some
to be the Identical parchment.
If the report be authentic PLATE was
clearly deeply troubled and sought to
avert the crucifxion. The alleged transla-
ton follows:
ITO Tiberius Caesar-Emperor--
noble Sovereign, Greeting: The events
of the last few days in my province have
been of such a character that 1 thought
well to report the details as they have
occurred as 1 should not be surprised If,
in course Of time, they may change the
destiny Of our nation; for it seems Of late
that the gods have ceased to be propitious.
am almost ready to say, Cursed be the
day that 1 succeeded Valerius Gratus in
the government of Judea.'
ION my arrival at Jerusalem took pos
session of the judgment hall and ordered
a splendid feast to be prepared, to which
1 invited the Tretrarch of Galilee, with
the High Priest and his officers. At the ap-
pointed hour no guests appeared. This was
an insult offered to my dignity. A few days
after the High Priest deigned to pay me a
visit. His department was grave and de-
ceitful. He pretended that his religion
forbade him and his attendants to sit down
at the table of Romans and to offer up IL
bations with them. 1 thought 1t expedent
to accept of his excuse, but from that mo-
ment 1 was convinced thai the conquered
had declared themselves the enemies of
the conquerors. 1t seems to me that of all
conquered cities Jerusalem Is the most diff
ficult to govern!
80 turbulent were the people that I
lived in momentary dread of an insurrec-
ton. To repress it 1 had but single
centurion and a handful of soldiers. 1 re-
quested a reinforcement from the governor
of Syria, who informed me that he had
scarcely troops sufficient to defend his
own province. An insauate thirst for con.
quest-to extend our empire beyond the
means Of defending It'll fear will be the
means Of overthrowing our noble govern
ment.
Among the various rumors that came
to my ears there was one that attracted
my attention in particular. A young man,
1t was said, had appeared in Galilee
preaching with a noble JUNCTION a new
law, in the name of the gods that had
sent him. At first 1 was apprehensive
that his design was to stir up the people
against the Romans, but soon were my
fears dispelled Jesus of Nazareth spake
rather as a friend of the Romans than
of the Jews. One day, in passing by the
palace of Siloe, where there was a great
concourse of people, I observed in the
midst of the group a young man, who
was leaning against tree calmly address.
ing a multitude. 1 was told that this
was Jesus.
Unwilling to interrupt him by my pres
ence, l continued my walk, but signified
to my secretary to join the group and
listen. My secretary's name Is Manlius
On entering the judgment hall I found
Manllus, who related to me the words Je-
sus had pronounced at Siloe. Never have
l heard in the portico, nor In the works
of the philosophers, anything that can
compare to the maxims of Jesus. One OF
the rebelltous Jews-so numerous in Je
misunderstanding asked him if it was law
full to give tribute to Caesar, Jesus re-
piled: Render unto Caesar the things
which belong to Caesar and unto God the
things that are Gods 1t was on account
CT the wisdom Of his sayings that grant
ed so much liberty to the Nazarene, for
it was in my power to have had him ar
rested and exiled to Pontus; but this
would have been contrary to the justice
which has always characterized the Ro
mans. This man was neither seditlous
nor rebellious, and 1 extended to him my
protection, unknown perhaps to himself.
HE was at liberty to act, to speak, to
assemble and address the people, to choose
| disciples, unrestrained by any pre- torian
| mandate. Should it ever happen-may the
| gods ever avert the omen-should 1t ever
| happen, l say, that the religion of our
| forefathers be supplanted by the religion
| of Jesus, it Will be to this noble federation
that Rome shall owe her premature obse-
quies, while l, miserable wretch, shall
| have been the instrument of what Christ
| ians call Providence, and We destiny. But
this unlimited freedom granted Jesus pro-
| voked the Jews; not the poor, but the rich
and powerful.
| New complaints were daily made at
| the judgment han against the insolence of
| the Jews. | was even informed that some
| misfortune would befall him-that IL
| would not be the first time that Jerusa-
lem had stoned those who called them
selves prophets-as If the pretorium re-
fused justice, an appeal would be made to
| Caesar. However, my conduct was APP
| proved by the prelate. and l was promised
a reinforcement after the termination of
| the Parthian war. BEING too weak to
| suppress a sedition, 1 resolved upon adop-
| ting a measure that promised to establish
the tranquility of the city without sub
jecting the pretorium TO the humiliating
| concessions.
II wrote to Jesus requesting an inter
view with him at the judgment hail and
| he came.
Jesus said 1 to him at last, and my
| tongue faltered Jesus of Nazareth |
| have granted you for the last three years
ample freedom of Speech nor do 1 regret
It, Your words are those of a sage /
| know not whether you have read Socra-
| ties or Plato, but this lSnow-that there is
| in your dscourses a majestic simplicity
that elevates you far above those philoso-
! piers. The emperor is informed OF it, and
! l, his humble representative in this COM
munity am glad of having allowed you
that liberty of which you are so worthy
However, l must not conceal from
/ vnu the fact thar yOur HisoOprcas haze