New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-04-22
ifiERICE DE HTRSCH.

The death of Baron IIirsch Is n loss to the
whole human race To one of the most ancient
and illustriOus branches OF that race 1t VIII seem
n catastrophe No man Of this century has done
SO much for the Jews as he. Perhaps that Is
in part because no one had greater opportunity
than he. or so great financial ability to Improve
II He found the Jewish people oppressed
throughout half Of Europe as they had scarcely
been for ages In Russia their condition was
little better than that Of Christians In Armenia
has been IN recent years. The most Dllndly
fanatical sovereign and the most cruelty fanat-
ical Minister OF the age were deliberately seek
ing TO exterminate them. In Germany the saw
age Stoeckcr and his kind were preaching perse-
chiffon. and the then future-now the present
Emperor was hobnobbng with them and adopt
Ing their hateful notions as his own. In France
n political party was growing toward power
with race and class hatred as Its leading prin-
cIpl.. and Austria, or its capital, was rpening
for the advent of Lueger 1t was time OF woe
and horror for the Jewish people when there
were few eyes to pity and seemed no hand 10
save.
Amid these circumstances Maurice de lIirs1
ad lrcssed himself to the aid and rescue Of his
fellows with all the enterprise and energy that
had made him the most successful inancier and
one Of the richest men IN the world. In his
twelfth century castle Of Eichorn. in Moravia,
he conceived vast schemes OF bcneiiccncc. On
his more than prlnccly estate Of ST. Johann. in
Hungary he elaborated the details In his Lon
don and Paris mansions he put them into cxccu-
ton. He rose early and worked late, and kent
busy n staff CT secretaries and agents In all
parts OF the world He not only relieved the
immediate distress OF the people In the most
practical and permanent way he sought to free
Them from further danger Of distress lie
founded schools to train them to useful work
He transported them by thousands from lands
Of bondage 10 lands OF freedom, and planted
them there In prosperous, happy colonies. How
much actual cash he spent in these undertakings
can merely be estimated. IT Is safe to say 1t
amounted 70 moro than the entire fortune Of
any man in the United States, excepting per-
haps n dozen OF the richest
In his administration Of these vast charities
he displayed In marked measure the worldly wis
dom and the catholIcliy Of spirit that are char
acteristic Of his race lie first offered to spend
$4,000. 900 on the Jews OF Russia If the Russian
Government would cooperate with him. That
Government declined to cooperate but was
ready to do all the work itself II he would in
trust the money 10 It's control. That OF course
he would not do He knew too we'll what Itch
lng palms and tenacious fingers Russian officials
have So he spent the Sl0.WO,Wo himself. and
more thnn ono other Ike sum after II. And at
the same time he gave S2OOOoO for the Ortho-
dox Greek Church schools OF Russia. handing
1t straight TO the very Government that was SO
UNANIMOUSLY prosecuting his people, and even 10
the arch nqusitor PobieodonotssH himself
The Moravlans for miles around Eichorn re-
garded him as Lord Bountifil The Hun
garans In all the region near St Johann saw
in him the man who built leagues Of good roads
and bridges by the dozen for their benefit. So
also In countless other directions he gave his
wealth freely for the benefit OF mankind, with
out regard TO race or creed.
1t Is curious coincidence that he should die
Just at the time when Ahlwardt Is rayins and
rlotlng In America and Lueger plotting reyolu'
ton In Vienna. No doubt the tmeworn pre-
| ccpi Nothing but good OF the dead. Will be in
voked and broken. rs Is usual. The Jew-baiters
will seek 10 reviie his memory. and the envious
souls who hate success In others will condemn
| him for having been rich. But such sayings
will be only rabid froth. His work for humanity
will abide The true voice Of the world will
speak ~ him with regret for his death, and with
| honor for his life. as one who. while man OF
| Ike passions" with all others. and an cnjoycr
Of the luxurics OF the world, yet greatly loved
his fellow men. and gave freely and labored
greatly and effectively in their behalf.