The New York herald., 1879-03-01
THE LECTURE SEASON.

DIR. LORD SPEAKS ON CARDINAL RICHELIEU.
Cardinal Richelieu was the subject of DR.. Lords
lecture at Chickering Hall yesterday morning.
France was In worse condition. said the lee
turer than when Richelieu came into power Tho
people were suffering from outrageous laws; they
groaned. but there justice. The nobility
were engrossed in their pleasures, and the
clergy were busy cheating the government and rob-
bng the people They were selfish, worldly minded
and intriguing never in earnest. never consistent.
The Hugucnots did not contribute the prosperity
of the government. They ready to as
sort with force Of their equality to the
crown. They sought rather to destroy than to
tain the government and they not party to be
trusted with power. Amid these scenes Richelieu
grew up; he studied all parties and hated them all
He loved power as Michael Angelo loved art. He re-
solved gain 1t ut every hazard considering always
that the end justified the In short Richelieu
was a politician. He was first designed for the army
but bishopric being in the gift OF the family he
took holy orders. He became the confidential adj
wiser of the Queen. who. woman like. told him all
her secrets. which, man ike. he betrayed. He then
wound himself around the King; he became Minis
ter Of Foreign Affairs and then his began.
Everybody trusted in him and everybody was betrayed
by him. He frivolous among fools. learned among
scholars. full Of hypocrisy as an egg is of neaall
eyes, no heart. He made himself Indispensable to
Louis XIII. 1t became evident to the King that
master hand should have control Richelieu with all
his tricks foes and ambitions. believed sincerely
In one thing-that absolutisn was necessary i'll
France The King TO him dvinely commits
stoned. He autocrat and believed in class
and monopolies. aud that governments was to keep
down the rebellious class. lie wished to France
powerful, united, prosperous. so when he became
Prime Minister he began to carry out that system to
which he bound body and soul. He became
changed man, and was no longer politician. but
statesman. There is something imposing in the
power Of governing displayed by this There are
wise tyrants and unwse tyrants. Richelieu
of the former. There was great need OF q man like
Richelieu. He had wit sagacity, an enlightened
mind, and devoted to public interests. just
New York may one of these days demand Mayor Of
iron Richelieu never had friends and never wanted
them. Every one was against him but the people.
He began his conquest of the Huguenots because
they were political disorganizers they were factous
rebels. and Richelicu right. Unable to defend
themselves openly they took refuge ut La Rochelle
and invoked foreign aid; this treason Rchclieu
was q statesman, not bigot tie kept the Huguenots
England did with the disscnters. They became
good citizens and amounted to anything q
power after the fall of La Rochelle have great
respect for the Huguenots. said DR. Lord. but there
Is something lacking about thcm that cannot be laid
to the Puritans in the time Of Cromwell. Richelieu
obtained supreme influence tho King and made
him exile his mother. the woman he most loved. BY
his will and genius Rchelieu prostrated enemy after
enemy to increase the power OF tho crown. His
regime was adapted to the people After he had sub
dued hts enemies he sought to improve the country
and laid q splendid foundation for the govern
ment OF Louis XIV. All that Is grand in the
history of France up the Revolution clusters about
this reign. When arraigned before the bar of pos
tcrity Richelieu will be judged by his public works
He kept the government. and was. through God.
terror to evil doers. We respect man who adapts
suited to the people. republic would more
flourish In China than q despotism In New England.
despotic power Is necessary to suppress corrup-
ton. God often chooses despots to be his instru-
ments When brave and honest God sends
them Washington; when they are corrupt lie sends
q Nero, . Napoleon or "a kichelieu.