New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-12-29
CARDINAL LAVIGERIE.
OF THE APOSTLE TO TIE
AFRICANS


Lavigere should occur just at this time. The
doings in Uganda. the campaign in Dahomey, the
treaty with Morocco, the french advance upon Lake
Tchad, the eastward extension Of the French Congo
the embassy from the Sahara-all make Africa es-
pecally interesting, above all, 10 FrenchmeD.
At this very time the great French prelate who
above all others is identified with Africa dies.
1t is loss to France, for he was a devoted friend
Of the Republic 1t Is loss TO the Church OF
Rome, for he OF the ablest members OF
the Sacred College IL is a loss 10 humanity, FOR
he the brains and the heart and the right hand
Of the ant-slavery cause in the Dark Continent
The Cardinal has often been referred to as Q
very old man. and many pictures of him rep
resent him. Yet he only siXty-scven Prob
ably the idea OF great age from the fact that
he attained prominence early in life. and thus has
for many years been greatly talked about He
began his work professor at the Sorbonn4
where lie vas colleague Of Bishop Freppel tho
fiery orator Of the Chamber Of Deputies. who died
not long ago. He also for time French
Auditor at the Vatican. But he was restless, ad-
venturous, militant, and when the great massacre
of Christians in Syria took place, he gladly went
on a mission thither. bent on carrying Christian
propaganda into Islam. When the lauented Darhoy,
in $685. was removed TO Paris, Lavigerie was made
Bishop OF Nancy in his stead. But four years
and then began his real life work as the Apostle
to the Africans.
The zeal with which he entered upon his work
in Algiers quickly got him into hot water Mar
shall MacMahon was then Governor Of the colony,
and his conservatism seriously disturbed by
the dashing, radical churchman. Bother the
mcddlesome PRIEST exclaimed tho soldier: he
will do no end Of mischief with his preaching
among the Arabs I wish he might be sent some
where else" Nevertheless. Lavigere persisted In
his work, and, being cordially supported by tho
Empress Eugene, held his own against all oppo-
nents The Pope, Plus the Ninth, did not alto
gether like him. either He thought him too am
bilious But the Imperial influence strong
enough to secure his advancement. Napoleon III
also liked him much. "TTe must be great man.
said Napoleon. or he could not speak to me 50
Familiarity and frankly without offending me!'
II is related that Lavigerie once went ~ the En-
peror to ask subscription 10 fund for the re-
clamaton of fallen women, and read the Emperor
lecture ostensbly directed AT others but really 10
the Emperor himself But" said Napoleon, IL
one always loves Sire" exclaimed the pre-
late the heaviest possible punishment for those
who have loved too well is to love always"
When La Debacle" occurred the prelate for
the first timc went into politics. He was Roy
aist then, since Imperial restoration was inn
pOseiDe, ana Wlnren the count OF lnomDOru Inauo
King. He personally urged that Prince to take
the crown and accept the tricolor with it, Buo
when the Count refused TO be King unless under
the OLD white flag, the prclate lost all patience
with him and foreswore the Legitmist cause. As
70 the Orleanists he would have nothing to do
with them. So he ultimately came over To the
Republic lie was In 1871 twice candidate for
the National Assembly ms n Legitimist but was
defeated When MacNrahon became President.
Lavigerie remembered their old disagreement in
Alaiers. and took lis revenge He did not hesitate
TO criticise the Marshal in vigorous manner and
sometimes incurred for himself the charge OF in
Justice. For example, he once said that Mac
Mahon is neither great fool ne he looks, nor
50 honest as people think him" There surely
no reason for impugning the gallant old soldiers
honesty.
The Royalsts were, Of course. exceedingly
angry when he abandoned them and gave his al
legiancc to the Republic He answered their
complaints sharply. God" lie said. is the God
of the living. not Of the dead: and am a member
Of Gods Church." Two years AGO he was chosen
bv the Pone as a mediator between the Vatican
and the French Republic. The idea was to
Christianize the Republic So the Cardinal In
v,cd all the officers of the Mediterranean squadron
70 lunch with him ar Algiers He made speech
10 them, in which he landed the Republic and
avowod his allegiance II it; and had band play
the Marseillase. There is no doubt that his
Efforts TO reconcile the Church and the Rrpublic
resulted in good. and that to them is LARGELY due
the friendly attitude assumed by Leo Kill
Cardinal Iavigcrio's greatest work was, how
over. done for Christianity and civilization in
Africa. His efforts there wore indefatigable. He
founded the Sahara and Soudan missions He
sent missionaries through Tunis and Tripoli. into
the Congo country. and into Fast Africa. When
Franco took possoss sion Of Tnnis the ancient Bish-
oprc Of Carthage revived for him. and ther.-
after no made his home near the site of the ruins
on which Marus j. said 20 have gazed There no
built church. on tho very site Of the first Chris
tan church there fifteen centuries before. He
founded COLLEGE too. on broad and liberal plan,
us 800 students comprising not only Catholics. bat
protastautS. Greeks. jews and Malom"taEs lie
nreqched a crusade against slavery. and organzed
the famous Order Of Armed Brethren Of the Sahara
a COMPANY Of soldicr-pricsts, who literally carry
tho Gospel in one hand and a sword I'm tho other
His rule over Thorn was military in its severity
But their allegiance ard devotion to him were truly
extraordinary. They looked upon him as a being
Of more than human autl oritv. and were ready 70
shed the last drop of their blood in his behalf
He worked hard 70 develop the material re-
sources Of Africa also. He believed tina. wine
could he produced in Tunis as well as in France.
60 he planted vineyards and went into the business
extensively, and successfully. VI Pas'cur
his chemical adviser, and on one occasion told
him that his wine needed the addition of littlo
water In the vat But when this was mentioned
10 the Cardinals White Brothers" who wers
making the wine they rcyoltcd What, nut water
into the wine? Never II would rui, it, So the
Cardinal with his own hands poured bucketful
Of water into the vat Tho White ;;rothers,
looked on aghast. but soon confessed that tho
wine greatly improved.
II is said that the Cardinal, both at Carthage
ard az Algicrs. lived luXuriouslv. IL is not true
He had pleasant houe, in Moorish style. with
court and fountains. And he hi'l well-stocked
wine cellar For his guests he provided all posi-
bic comforts and even laNurics. But his own
room furnished plainly ~ soldiers tent and