New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-05-12


one Of his most celebrated books is a singularly
practical and wholly rational attempt to establish
the unity of religion and reason upon natural
foundation. But it Is in the science Of govern
ment, In practical politics-than which no sphere
Of action or thought can appear more alien 10
his religious tendencieS-that he achieved the
most astonishing successes and that he dispihyeu
the most profound intelligence and apprenenSiOn
Of statecraft; and some of his Ideas anu pm
ciples have proved 80 sound that their sppno"
ton has persisted almost 20 the present 10Y
When the Mydioi had been banished, ana iOre"O'
was soaking IN vain a practicable torlh u g.
eminent, Savonarola was the only man c"p .,,
Of solving the problem, and the SSSV, ~
conceived by him was adopted anu "oih'u
cessfuIly. all its weaknesses being due TO modi-
eca.,ons which he had not proposed or sanctioned
Fo, nearly eight wears the Republic may lndcea
no said 70 have depended upon him. lie saved
T. from Charles the Eighth. He foilHd the ploIS
- ptsro 40 Medioi He reformed public morals at
least m far az outward observanccs were con-
oerned.
professor Villari has fully exposed the In
;pstice OF the charges brought against tho monk
IN connection with the burning OF " the VanlNes,
II was the tradition that Savonarola instituted
a crusade against all works OF art, ana that no
des,roved prcoions manuscripts paintings, scuipt-
ures etc But VilAri shows that the Nenites
DESTROYED were really but fashionable frtpperies
and indecent pictures and books, and that the
monk was, in fact lover Of Art, the triend OF
the first artists Of his day, and the propoundcr
of art theories By means wanting IN
breadth and appreciation. Here as eis'-
where. e was evil alone that excited his indig-
nation, and that he pursued, and 1t was
this uncompromisng hostility to the prevalent
-, A., fan NV pDf n
him the hatred and enmity Of all that was vile and
depraved IN the period. His long struggle with
Alexander the Sixth was IN no sense religious or
theological Quarrel Savonarola was loyal son
OF the Church from beginning 10 end, and HIS one
mics failed signally 70 fssten upon him the lenst
taipt Of heresy or false doctrine. When driven 10
bay, he sought to cal council Ia set asde tho
election OF Alexander on the ground or sInony
He was, however within his rights here, ana the
charge brought against the Pontin was 20 notorl-
ousy true that had IL been possible 70 assemble an
honest council bis deposition must have been
voted.
Another question cleared w by Professor Villari
IL that OF the ordeal by FIRE; Savonarola had
nothing 70 do with the conception or the attempt
20 carry out that idea, which was wholly due 70
the enrnty Of the Francscnrs aIsd the SGnarY, and
the fanatical enthusiasm Of Fra Domenlco, VINO
firmly believed that q miracle would be vonch-
safed to vindicate his beloved master When that
episode occurred however, Savonaroln was already
doomed. His enemies were in possession Of the
government Of Florence, he had ben excommuni-
Gated by the Pope. his friends had been
silenced or had deserted him, and the
feeble, treacherOus populaoe had turned
apninst him, Perhaps the greatrst service Pro-
lessor villari Inns done his memory Ia in demon
strstins the falsty Of the accounts Of his trial
which. until this history printed. were 40
cepted by all his bioraphers The historic truth
here presented. shows that his enemies proceeded
AGAINST him with all the fury and license that IN
penss hatred, unbounded illeFahty, deliberate
forgery and systematic Misrepresentation could
enRender and stimulate. But though torture was
uusparingiv employed upon his delicate and ferbie
body, though every sentence uttered by him In re-
rly to the interrogatory WIS carefully garhed and
altered TO suit the purpose OF his Prosecutors
though all the power and opportunity were in their
ruthless hands they utterly failed, in thIee rep'-
rnte trials 20 make him appear guilty or even 10
disturb the impression Of his innocence which their
own fraudukntIy prepared reports produced upon
all who read them
His condemnation aud execution we're reilly no
more than impudpnt assumptions OF Legality cover
InS one OF the most atroGous crimes recorded In
history In reading Villari's narrative n th"
foul proceedings one Is reminded Of whut Professor
Huxley observed In q recent r0pcr know he
savs. OF no study so unnttcrnbly Eaddcnin0 ms
that OF the evolution OF humanity ~ n II set forth
IN the annols Of history Man. observes tie Pro
fessor. having emerged from the brute state and
attained certain degree Of physical comfort md
dryploY,ed n more or lees workable theory OF litc
remains long IN TINT condition and struggles with
VARYING fortunes attended ny infinite wirkedness,
h,ooAshed and mfrery 70 mnintain himself ~ This
mint against the greed and the ambition Of his
feIlow.mrn. He makes point Of killing or other
wise pcrsecufing all those who try 20 get him ~
move on: and when he Inns moved on st"n fool
ishly confers post-mortem dcfcation upon his VIC
TINS This is what happened IN the case OF
Savonarola lie wanted his fellows IN move on.
lie showed them better way than that which they
WIRE pursuing lie rcbuRed the crying iniquine'
| Of the age lie recalled men 70 the trne worship
| ~ .he living God. For ,hiS and for the service
| no did 70 the caus OF liberty. he WAS done 70
death with every circumstance Of brutal fcrocity
| and the people he had served 50 well mobbed the
| srahoh upon which he was slaughtered, bowled IN
! derision as he and his companions yielded their
| lives. md peltel his corpse with stones
| Professor vilsri expatiatcs upon the extent OF
| tho service which SavonaFoa's martvrdom proved
| N the cause OF human freedom and TO reform
| tbropchout Europe and his reff ctions are just
| pp, what commentary upon human nature and
Intelligence is the fact that tragedies 80 frightfu
! sacrifices so great should be necessary al every
enoc 70 create tho reaction out OF which progress
| and enlightenment proceed
| -