New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-05-15
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
pURCEI.L's MANNING" REFUTED

LIFE OF CARDINAL MANNING. With Cr't'G GO,
Examination Of T.. s. Purcel's Mistakes: Sy
Francis de Presserse French frotes..ams
Translated by Francis T. Furey. AN Oc'aN''
DID, nj Philadelphia: John Joseph McVey.
NJ dc Pressense shows beyond question that
Purcell's life Of Cardinal Manning is a fau'.S
book Its style is slpshod its arrangement Is
.,oven,v some Of its statements are untrue. ana
many Of its differences that make against Man
ming are not justified by the evidence lii''
much indeed, is plain to any CANDID reauei VI
the life Mr. Purcell reveals himself as iacK'ie
many Of the gifts that go to the making Oh 81.
cessful biographer, and his incessant oesiie ~
project his own slapdash. il-dgesteo co"'''."''
into the story he set out to tell is little less than
a literary impertnence. The character % - ~.
ming was complex, and full Of contradictions ne
ao.,,. o,xavs acted from mixed motives. and
lust Interpretation of his career thereio'e'
ouires rare ability and insight
-, ,vhus NJ de Pressensh succeeds in proving
49, purc4Il's inherent unftness for the TASK vi
writing Mannng's life, he makes equaii! eViue"'
h,s ovn inability to draw picture OF Manhi"s
schevas He makes much of PurceiIs suPpo'e"
,,.,ovo,cp, dasire TO magnify the faults OF Man
ming u is not TO be denied that Purceil mas 'a'u
himself open to this charge; but NJ de rresse"'e
goes 10 the other extreme In his violent c"""-
pionslip Of the Cardinal. When all apa'e"e".'
- "a. 4, et;l, remains true that Mannings
.. ,.,,.rs reveal many flaws in his character
~ r.ae orten an INSCRIPTIONS intrguer NO
o,o 20 ~ road his correspondence with George TAI
no, and fail 70 be convinced OF this NOT can MS
concealment Of his belief in Roman Ca'hoiioS''
while he posed as a champion OF Anehca"'',''
"a h,s ma,evolent hostility TO Newman be
CLOSED over 1t may be that !ne re'e'a.,o" ~
these and other episodes in his life by Furce''
bpfcg revealed,
10 only one opinion held concerning them MAN
r,rs was a man of many noble and engaging
Qualities We did much good in his day ana gen
nr.,,or I,ut he was by no means hawless. Ohe
.,r maize great allowance for a loyal Ca'hoio
ubo comes forward to say a good woro iof 'ne
;,ustr,ous dead and many sucn soou "ou
NAV be said Of Manning There is someth'he e,e''
commendable in the desire OF Catnohc " mn"
im,ze as far as possible the unfavoraoie op'"'o'
tbat must be entertained in regard 10 Borne Vi
Cardinal Mannings acts
On the other hand when Protestant coIhes
forward and out-Romans the Romans IN canoi
iztng the late Cardinal Archbishop Oh Wes'
minister we are compelled TO record our osaP
proyal OF the act Judicial importantly Is o".
thing. violent partisanship Is quite aho'hei' ""
this eminent French Protestant reveals hi''se SCI.
a. a violent partisan not only Of Manning put
:. A.. ,r,r,t and genius of Catholicism. HIS
ont,nathy to Anglicanism Is especially pro-
nm,nced and he proudly admits that ne mas
ga real sympathy for the very groundwork %
Manning's ideas" Under such c1rcuhs'an0e''
h,s vndication OF the Cardinal Is worth'ess'
Vic sneers at Professionalism and liberalism MS
openly expressed contempt for that SUN anu
Iormal clericalism' Of the Anglican Ohui0N'
trou which Manning freed himself. and his pima
eraItation Of all things Roman. prove MN "
he a worse biogra pher than Purcell ior 'he '".
ter Al least gave his readers original documents
an which they might form their own OPINION
A true and tudcious estimate OF Cardinal Man
ming by a Protestant would not be without ''s
va,us. Such man might not say the i'i'a'
vord concerning him, but he would FURNISH
needed material for en- adequate biography ~
he written In the future La the brochure OF
NJ de Pressense, however issto be fouho ohiy
indiscriminate eulogy. and one rises from It's
perlsal with a feeling Of Fender not 'ha'
protestant should try to do Justice TO great
Catholic. but that he should seem SO conpie''.,
n identify himself with the point OF VIE" oi
(atb