The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-09-12

had nothing to do with the matter. they
We're invited guests and nothing more.
Up TO the last moment the military au-
thoqltles were ignorant of the coup. con-
tehpiated by Palermo On the afternoon
VI the DAY or the banquet the Commits
sion received, from excellent authority,
erue Information as to the nature of the
speeehes to be given that evening. Judge
Iaft then wrote to Pedro Paterna. saw
hls III substance that in view Of the ma
ture OF the proposed political lItterances
the commission regretted that thew could
not attend the banquet.
Inc commission ha0 not been invited
10 speak; they would have either had To
sit and listen TO Palermo and his follow,
ers and by their passiveness lend ac-
qufescence to the opinions expressed or
they would have had to leave the building
Ihe commission could not be q partv To
the misrepresentation entailed in speech
es, consequently they declined to attend
the gathering represented as commeu-
orat1ve of the amnesty decree
The fact that the nature OF Patarno.s
speeches had been learned by the COM
mission came to Gen. MacArthur's ears.
and as soon as Palermo received Judee
rats letter of regrets he repaired 10
the american generals residence at NAL
acanan, arriving there about 1880 Here
he was told the banquet could not go on
unless Judge Taft would attend Paterno
Immediately hurried to Judge Taft's
house, in Malate, promised Judge Taft
mat no speeches would be made what
ever at the dinner, and implored tha
ludge to reconsider his DETERMINATION and
attend; that if he would not do so ths
banquet would have to be SUSPENDED
Upon these representations Judge Taft
agreed to CO. and arrived at the theater
at 9:3O p. NJ. The result Of the BANQUET
mas already been given
This unfortunate occurrence which r.
is claimed, could have been prevented If
the military authorities had not trusted
Paterno. but had themselves ascertained
the true nwardness of his actions has
created an uilfayorable, though ppr6b-
ably not a lasting. impression 1t IS
plain that FaternO deceived the authori-
ties as to his true intentions with re-
gard to the celebration; that he deceived
his own people into a belief that his
fiesta was in commemoTation of Fill
pino independence, and that had the
American officers and commissioners
gone on b1indly, he would have uttered
arguments to which they could not pas
sively listen. They could have stopped
the banquet by force if need be. or they
could have retired: In either case Pa
terno would have been provided with a
weapon against them. Paterno is today
saying the banquet was a failure be-
cause Of the Americans discaurtesy, but
does not go very far, because it may be
decided that in the deception he attempt
cd and, in a measure did practice. he
has violated his oath of allegiance to
the Unittd States, in which ease his pun
ishment could be severe. He is now dis
trusted by both the American civil and
military authorities, and he has been
made 10 appear somewhat Ridiculous to
his own people. The local Spanish press
announces his approaching departure for
Paris.
The professions announced for Sunday,
the second day of the fiesta. were fail
ures, and everybody. both Americans
and Fiiipinos, were glad when this fiasco
of a fiesta as over. .s