The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1913-06-29
Heart to Heart
Talks
A REPUBLICAN OF THE LONG AGO.

BY JAMES A. EDGERTON

A REPUBLICAN OF THE LONG AGO
GirOIamO SayOuarO!a was the John
the Baptist Of the reformation He
was a republican before the world
knew any true republics.
SavOnarola preached in the end Of
the tiftecnth century At the very time
Columbus was discovering new world
this Dominican monk was gaining his
great hold on Florence. For eight
years he was the head Of the priOry of
San Marco and virtual ruler of the
city. Yet he never held secular of
fee and scarcely ever went outside Of
his pulpit to give his political message.
He found Florence in the hands of
the powerful Medici family. Lorenzo
the Magnificent was then at the height
af bis power The fearless preacher
would have none of him, although
Lorenzo made advances. SavonarOla
uttered his denunciation of tyrants.
and his description Of tyrant left no
enc in doubt as to whom he meant.
At Lorenzo's death the Dominican
friar proved the only safety of the
city during the French invasion. Peo-
pie In fury turned against the young
er scion Of the Medicis and drove him
from Florence. Then Savonarola be
came supreme. He announced to the
people that Christ was the head Of the
ssty and that they should seek no other
ruler. He brought hack the old re-
public. He wrote essays on govern
zaent that are good reading today. He
drove out corruption and caused the
whole city was swept by religious re-
vfval The fearless preacher was offer
I'd the red hat of a cardinal, but refus-
I'D. He desired to be independent, and
his independence at last caused his
downfall. In the end he was tortured,
hanged. and afterward his body was
EARNED and his ashes scattered In the
zsser, but his influence was felt not
anfy in Florence, but throughout Eu-
reSA Luther heard Of him before he
preached the reformation, and today
the name of the fearless Italian preach
~ has become the synonym for those
who combine the political and spiritual
vision and in eloquent speech advocate
reform and proclaim Gods kingdom
IN earth
. Yet ia his early days Savonarola spoke
q empty benches In Florence His
esngFegnticns dwindled to not more
neaA twenty-five bearers, and 1t was
1or until he had gone forth into other
parts Of Italy and established a name
hat Florence would hear him at ALL
Il b. told Of him that when speaking
- smother city he was annoyed by the
w1fe Of the ruler coming late to at
1an0 seEvtce. He stood the Interrupt
ION and confusion two or three Sun
onys and then openly rebuked her from
tia pulpit. The incident naturally
caused an uproar. and the preachers
NE was threatened. He calmly told
me Infatuated partisans Of the ruler
hat he would leave the city at GER
e&tn time by a certain gate on foot, as
Was hts, custom He did so leave, but
'was+ not molested Possibly his very
nerve saved him from attack.
Although intensely Christian. this re-
Agions and political reformer was no
meek saint. He prophesied the sword.
and the sword came. He also prophe-
seed better day, and this also came.
Aut not for Italy
His voice was perhaps the most elo-
Uz3Apf NJ those that hpra ldo6 tho now
dawn that broke over the world in the
wonderful era of the renaissance and
The reformation.