made himself, namely, thé civilization of thé wild and nomadic Indians. It was for their sake that he so often visited Europe, in quest of auxiliary missionaries and of financial and other aid, needed for thé establishment and maintenance of missions among thé red men.
He loved these unhappy savages as thé apple of his eye ; he studied to win them to himself, to deserve their confidence; he defended _hem against their detractors, with that calm energy and continuity of action that we knew in him. I once heard some one say in my présence to Father De Smet, " But, Father, how is it possible for you to be so contented among these frightful savages? " " Frightful savâges ? " he replied. " You don't know what you are saying. You do not know those simple, kindly people. I have met more savages in thé great cities of America and Europe than I have ever seen in my life in thé plains and deserts of thé United States." And indeed, brethren, thé Father was right. The civilized man to whom thé truths of thé gospel have been revealed, but who, despite thé light that he has received, abuses thé Lord's gifts, that man more rightfully deserves thé name of savage, than those miserable Indians who have never enjoyed thé same advantages.
Consider thé works and deeds of these so-called civilized men. Have they not in these last days horrified thé whole world with their unheard-of crimes? Look at thé horrors of thé Paris commune, thé massacre of Archbishop Darboy and thé other hostages. Are not thé monsters in human form who committed these misdeeds, more hideous in their perversity than thé worst among thé savages? Taking into account on thé one hand thé means of intellectual and moral culture which thé scoundrels of thé Commune had at their disposition to be honest men, and on thé other thé absence of even elementary notions of civilization among thé Indians, unfortunate race, whom thé scriptures depict to us as " sitting in darkness and in thé shadow of death," - must we not conclude that thé most blameworthy are found in our great cities, and that they have not even thé excuse