New-York tribune., 1908-04-05
TEN THOUSAND THEN
THREE MILLION NOW
Continued from third page.

from flight to the West and of preparing them
in schools and colleges for their new Importance
He fixed the tenure OF Church property. after a
fight with State Senator Brooks, 50 that the
question never came up again to plague the
people and the politicians. He prevented Know
Nothingism from getting footing in New York
He presented his case IN every dispute to the
American people and won their sympathy from
the start. He was invincible in a fight, and ne
held firm. enthusiasm faith in the Republic
Already the political leaders had turned to
him for counsel and help in critical moments
President Polk offered him the position OF ar
bitrator with Mexico before the Mexican War
PresideSt Buchanan had high opinion OF him
He admired Henry Clay in the extreme and
visited him once at the Fifth Avenue Hotel.
where the great Kentuckian. who had never met
him before. promptly turned out all his visitors
to talk with the Archbishop alone. When the
Civil War began he was Mortified at the danger
which threatened the existence Of the Union
and the future development OF the Republic. He
became almost Immediately the confidential ad-
wiser Of Secretary Seward, and threw his in
sf1uence. public and private. for the prosecution
Of the war. Lincoln sent him to Europe to help
in the work OF preventing any coalition OF the
powers in behalf of the Confederacy, and DR..
Hughes had hard time Of 1t. II would make
most instructive reading to-day and a striking
commentary washington's warning against
European alliances. the account OF that trip
He talked the matter with Irish and Eng
lish churchmen, warning them against sympathy
for the South. He had innunerable interviews
with the Pope and cardinals. In France and
other places he lost chance to impress his
views upon strangers.
The American Embassy In Paris did not like
his mission and showed itself in hurry to In
trOduce him to the Emperor. Having waited
long enough to assure himself that diplomacy
was interfering he wrote direct to the Emperor.
An interview was at once granted him; he saw
Napoleon, Eugene and the prince imperial, laid
before them his information and withdrew after
leaving the usual fine impression. On his
turn he evoked end OF criticism by sermon
in his cathedral advocating the strongest meas
ures to put an end TO the war. He warned LIN
coin and Seward that all Europe was against
them and that they must speedily show their
ability to crush rebellion If they hoped TO avoid
European intervention. His last service to
aid Governor Seymour in putting down the
draft riots OF 1868. which for time threatened
dire disaster to the city. He died January 8,
1864, before the country had escaped from its
danger President Lincoln and Secretary Sew
ard publicly expressed their sympathy and their
regret at the loss OF a patriotic citizen, who
had done the state good service Lincoln had
previously notified the Pope. in the guarded
fashion of the day, that the federal govern
ment. having no way to reward the Archbishop
properly for his conspicuous labors, would be
pleased TO see him receive the highest honors OF
the Church; but the intimation not acted
upon, chiefly because the opposition 10 DR..
Hughess methods among the tirnid American
bishops had made itself felt IN Rome. Had the
great man lived another year, TIL the shock OF
Lees surrender upset Europe and the attitude
Of Dr. Hughes had been justified by events, he
would have been made cardinal. At present
little more than his existence is remembered.
and it was with great difficulty that bronze
statue was erected to his memory at Fordhan1.
This IS the fate of the great everywhere, until
posterity begins its study OF past ages