The New York herald., 1879-08-06
Professor Muller'S Lecture Before the
Russian Slavonic Society.
JANUARIUS AL0YSlUS MACGAHAN
An Americans Work in the Free.
ing of the Bulgarians.
A NOBL LIE RIB U T E

creation Of the Emperor OF Russia The Gar will be
known in history. it is usually written. as the
savior Of the Bulgarians. 1t was his army. moved
by his will. that brought about Bulgarian freedom
But the man who called the Russian army to the
work of liberation was neither prince emperor,
but IN American. When Januarius Aloysius Mac
Gahan sat on the side Of the stream of Batak and
gazed the skulls OF babes and maidens drying in
the sun. the evidences Of the fearful work OF the
bash zouks he came the conviction that he was
called to do a great work And when he left the
village and the peasants men, women and children
out to kiss his hand and beg him to send assis
tance. he uttered the memorable words:-"Before q
year is past you will see here with the army of
the Czar." And be was there.
THE TURKISH ATROCITIES
MacGahan's letters the Turkish atrocities awoke
the sympathes of the world for the suffering Bull
gars. Finding that England would not assist he
called upon Russia to carry out the mission she had
long cherished How the work carried out is too
we'll known to need repetition for it has already be-
come history and what is better than history
more true in its record for ages-of legend. Where
literature is undeveoped the great men OF nations
history become enshrned in charming legend and
song. Such has been tine case with the memory OF
MacGahan in Bulgaria. The rude peasants chant his
praises in ruder the great lberator Of their
race Religion too. assists to keep his memory alive.
Every year the 9th of june the anniversary of his
carly death at tConstantnople requiem mass is sung
in the Cathedral, at Trnova, the ancient capital of
Bulgaria. A few decades longer and the stranger
iiberator already enshrined in legend and halowed
by religion, may become saint in the Slavic cslen
dar. Who knows?
A GRAND TRIBUTE.
One Of the greatest compliments ever paid to the
memory of an American by a strange race has been
paid to MacGahan. On the 9th Of June last. the an
niversary day of his death, lecture was delivered
before the Slavonc Society of St. Petersburg by
Professor Miller "the brave supporter OF the
slavonic struggle who met with premature death
in his unweared efforts for the Slavonic race A..
MacGahan." How high position no holds in Bal
garian memory may be from perusal
Of Professor Mhllers words THE unique position
occupied by MacGahan," said the lecturer, els
all the more striking at the present time when
we have just read the telegram OF welcome sent by
Garbaldi. the prime mover of Italian liberty to the
Queen of England. Victoria, at whose feet. Us Ivan
Turgenief says in his beautiful poem, We may see
the bleeding heads of Bulgarian babes-the same
British Queen who gratfed the Sultan not long ago
by presenting him with her own portrait And so
the Slavs turn to the memory Of one who. q stran-
ger. always true to them and their cause. which
he had taken up because he had felt in his heart
that it was just one" The following is the sub
stance of Professor Miller's lccture:--
PROFESSOR nLLEIs LECTURE.
The active interest taken by MacGahan in the op-
pressed may be explained in measure by his
Irish origin. Although born in America he was OF
Irish extraction, and his private life cosld not pos
sbly be deprived of all traces OF the grievances OF
his original fatherland. The character of MacGahan
is also considerably explained by his Irish Cathol
cism. It is not that Catholicism which fights. at.
tacks and oppresses. MacGahan could feel for the
bitter destiny of the oppressed Savs all the
better from having imbibed at his birth the
sympathy for the people from which his
parents sprang. Januarius Aloysus MacGahan
was born among the hills of Perry county. in the
State of Ohio. June -. 1s4l. of Irish-American
parents. His father. James MacGahan. was native
OF Kings county, Ireland. and went to the United
States when quite young man. His mother. Esther
MacGahan. who bore the name of Dempsey. is ma
tive born American, but of Irish-American parents
James MacGahan died when his eldest seven
years age Mrs. MacGahan left with only restricted
means. was good mother, and she determined
to dispose of the small fortune left to her on the
education of her children order to make good and
intelligent men of them. 1t must be acknowledged
that her task greatly lightened by the gifts with
which her eldest boy was endowed.
MAcGAHAN's EARLY YEARS.
At the age of four MacCahan had learned, almost
unassisted, to read, and to read understandingly.
Somewhat later his mind seemed to be able to grasp
years consider dry and uninteresting. He became a
hard student and diligent reader, and was never
more content than when perusing some work of
history biography. He frequently forgot even his
studies. when he became deeply interested in books,
and then had to apply himself energetiGay Tor some
overake his school fellows. This trait Of character
MacGshan Kept through life. He could never sub
init TO system. 1t frequently happened with him
that, not wishing to suspend an interesting conver-
sation or hurry through the reading OF some inter-
esting book, he would willingly give up his dinner
good what no had lost work had great AT
traction for him, and he worked in a very orig
inaI fashion. lie used to say that silence
ana solitude weighed heavily upon him and
produced crushing effect upon his mind. He
loved TO write where there was noise and conver-
saton and playing children. He would put his
writing desk near the window overlooking tho
other with incredible velocity then he would spend
i've or ten minutes watching tho busy scenes
u %ouia freaaeny @ ieayo his Msi'Rs Whiting sa to paS
with children. make fun of the house cat.
and then. whstling merry air from some French
ing went on so fast and hucnty il was quito evident
that while playing and joking his mind was always
active. and he would sit down aftorward to writo
down idea rendered. clear in his mind during tho
time lac seemed to have been amusing himself.
HE EARLY TRAINING
MacGahans love OF liberty and hatred of op-
preston innate, and he was ever ready to cs-
pvuse the cause OF the weaker side lie was slow to
anger yet quick to resent insult to either himself
friends. and being always OF bright, sunny.
genial temperament he gathered hosts of frcnas.
After having attained his twenty-fourth year Mac
Ciahan decided to try his strength at all coets
larger field OF action and to the Old World. about
which he bad already read much. 1t very
difficult for him to get away but his mother again
relieved him from his embarrassment, for she not
only consented to his projected trip to Europe, but
gave to him all the money she could dispose
of at tho time for his travelling expenses. Her faith
In her son was great and she teit assured that ho
would profit very much by his studies la Europe
aud would subsequently, repay tcnfold the family
money spent during his sojourn IN Europe. Aud
she right. The money was not thrown away.
Besides the wish Of improving his general educa-
tion the chief object of Mactahan the study OF
law In order that nc might become an advocate.
Little did young Mactiahan think, in indnging in
such plans, that he destined to become the advo-
cate, in quite another acceptaton of the word-the
defender of an oppressed nation; IL may be even
said the advocate of an entire race. As 1t happened
In his case however, to the part of advocate was
added that of attorney for in his defence of the Bu
garians he compelled TO come out as the
accuser OF Turkey and of Europe. The part
of advocate is generally supposed to b'