The New York herald., 1871-01-04
The Philosophy and RELIGION Of the Euro
pean War-Perc Hyacinthe's Lecture.


The Philosophy and RsIision OF the Euro
pean War-Pcrc Hyacinthe's Lecture.
The European friend and lately honored
visitor and guest Of the American people, Pere
Hyacinthe, Is, as will be seen by our mail
report, in London. Emerging from the gloom
of the monastery into the open light aud
warmth and glow of our everyday humanity
and democracy, the naturally vigorous mind
of the reverend gentleman has expanded
under the influence Of the association and
become vastly utilitarian in its effort
and application. This fact is made ap-
parent by the report Of lecture which
Father Hyacinthe has just delivered in
Hanover square, London. His subject was
France and Germany and the war; Striking
off from, ignoring almost, the beaten and bat
tered path Of the mere brutem fulnnen which
has prevailed in the narratives of the war his
torians pretty much since the day Of the song
of the ''homicidal, carnage-crimsoned, WALL
battering Mars" of Homer, Father Hyacinthe
ranged upward in his ideas. He pleaded the
philology Of our race generally, the antagon-
isms of its chronological divisions as the causes
of local conflicts, and then pointed out
the amalgamatng influences Of science
as tending towards universally Of sentl-
ment and of love and of religion among men.
The lecture was q very excellent and most
learned effort. 'tAlthough modern science
does not agree on the origin of races being
sne," says Father Hyacinthe, 81 did not fear
its researches, and even if the result were the
negative, the unity of races would still exist,
if not in one man, at least in one God. Later
the races will all join in universal brother
hood and civilization" And again -
1T was said that the present war had two
positive causes-the antipathy Of races and
the opposition of religions His object was to
prove the contrary. There was no antagon-
ism of races there were certainly two diff
fsrent races, but that distinction was in itself
noble and just. God Himself had recognized
1t in the Revelation. There were two concep-
tions Of races-the one ancient or pagan, the
other modern or Christian. The first thought
itself superior race. Even its gods were Of
distinct character. 1t waged wars Of religion
at the same time as of conquest. But the
Gospel had changed all that. The Christian
races had distinct features and different mis-
sions, but they were no longer isolated, and,
consequently, no longer enemies"
Toward Napoleon's mistakes Pere Hya-
cinthe is tolerant and forgiving, as becomes a
Christian gentleman. He said he thought
'.justice had been denied to the second empire;
for that government had made the unity Of
Italy and caused that of Germany. It was
a generous policy, well expressed by Napo-
leon Ill. during the Italian campaign In the
words, Every one knows that before the flag
of France there goes great idea and behind
it a great people, But later bad advice had
forced the Emperor to change his policy"
In speaking Of the eveutualities and
consequences of the present struggle Father
Hyacinthe proved himself to be political
economist of the first class, an able scientist
and catholic of the great and coming Church
of the world. He said 1.-THE loss of Lor-
raine will not hurt France much, for the people
are French in heart, if German in blood. Let
them remain as link between the two races
fer was not France herself in some way of
German descent? This war, when peace
came, which must be soon, will have had three
beautiful results, for good is ever in evil
viz: The unity of Germany; the regenera-
ton of France and Of the Latin races; the
freedom of Rome" A grand, sublime idea;
the consummation of the fruits of the Saviour's
precept when He commanded Peter to put up
the sword and healed the wound which he had
hastily inflicted with it.