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•REV, A. J. RYAN, Editor-
AUGUST A, Ga., SEPTEMBER 5, 1868
POLITICAL BIGOTRY.
Boast we though we may of our liberal
ideas, our free institutions, our tolerance
of all faiths, creeds, and opinions, the coun
try teems with bigots. Beside the largest
liberty stands the narrowest bigotry.
In politics, we have bigots to no end
—men who set np their own notions of
right, and law, and government, as the
absolute, infallible standard, and who j
hate, and denounce, and pursue with hitter
words, all who differ from them. Both
parties in the country, Democrats and
Radicals, have their political bigots.
They are those 4 who deal in abuse be
cause they have not the sense, or brains,
to deal in argument ; they are those who
disgrace their speeches with personalities
because they have not the education to
discuss principles; they are those who
substitute the power of the lungs for the
power of logic ; men of narrow, shallow
intellects, in whose heads there is only |
room for one idea; men of superficial edu-1
cation, and yet, withal, possessing a flip
pant tongue—endowed with the gift of
the gab; men who mistake the mouthings
of stupidity and ignorance for the utter
ances of eloquence and wisdom, and who
have never in their lives been found
guilty of proving anything, except their
own conceit and impudence. And yet,
singular to say, multitudes hang on the
words of these political bigots—follow
them, applaud them, and endorse their
sayings, with the traditional endorsement
of the rabble—an inane hurrah. There
is nothing like a hurrah in this country.
It is a sort of political act of faith made
in speakers and in spbech. We have
borrowed the custom from the brute
creation. To hurrah is a short way of
proving things, and of accepting conclu
sions. There is a picturesque barbarism
about it, but we have introduced the bar
baric hurra into our civilization, and of
that civilization it has become a very pow
erful element. And so the political bigots
rant, and shout, and regale the ears of
the multitude, who love such music, with
senseless sound; and the papers glow
ingly describe such things as eloquence,
and wisdom, and logic; and the people,
too languid to make the effort to think ,
with mouths agape, swallow the shoutings
of nonsense, and—hurrah ! Thus, " deep
calletli unto deep.”
But the political bigotry that calmly
and deliberately sits down to write for
the people, is far worse, and more ran
corous, than the bigotry which stands up,
all excitement, to speak face to face with
tlie people. Passing from political bigots
who speak, to those who write for the
benefit of the very enlightened people,
and examining those very noble (?) forms
of literature and those matchless vehi
cles of thought—political newspapers—
we meet with the same exhibition of ig
norance. In the dearth of argument,
there is a feast of abuse. In many of
them the use of nicknames is their highest
logic. Savage personalities form their
syllogisms. Fierce epithet, violent vitu
peration, low flung allusion, bald jest, and
every other vile and dishonorable means
which bigotry can employ, arc brought
forward as elements of persuasion. Lying
belore us are many political newspapers
—some of them the leading ones in the
country—and in the most of them there
is a lack of that courtesy which should
be shown, at least by gentlemen , even to
an enemy ; there is very little discussion
of principle, and their words are brands
ol passion rather than utterances of rea
son. I here is a wild-animalism about
them nearly all ; and did we not know
better, we would be apt to think that the
editorial pen was in the paw of a bear,
instead of in the hand of a gentleman,
J Hatred begets hatred—bigotry begets
bigotry. The people who applaud such
things, are not a whit better than the au
thors of such things.
As time brings us nearer to the No
vember election, when the people of' the
South must choose between two evils, this
political bigotry will grow still more
bitter ; and this is the way in which the
minds of the people are prepared to cast
their votes, and to elect their candidates;
Passion in the hands of bigots—not prin
ciple in the hands of gentlemen—is doing
most of the political work in this country.
We can only deplore it, and wish for
better days ; but, we fear that our best
days, with the most of the good that was
in them, are lying dead and buried in the
Past, and that we shall never see their
like again.
RELIGIOUS BIGOTRY.
Just as we had completed the fore
going article, a few copies of so-called
Religious (?) papers were handed to us.
We have glanced over them, and they
! have suggested the present article. They
are called Religious papers—they are
published in the interest, not of “ the
Church,” but of sects and sectarianism ;
they are edited by ministers; they are
accepted as official organs by the denomi
nations in whose interests they are pub
lished ; many of them have a wide circu
lation ; they lead, or at least very greatly
influence, religious opinion; as such, we
would expect to find them fair, honest,
careful in statement, courteous and chari
table in style, Christian in spirit, honora-
ble in discussion, truthful in the presen
tation of facts, logical in argument, scholar
ly in the treatment of all questions, and
exhibiting, throughout, a love of Christian
truth, and at least a forbearance towards
those who differ from them.
Yet, in them we find no such thing.
They teem with exuberant bigotry. They
are carrying on a ceaseless war against
one another, and they arr> not vory par
ticular of their mode of warfare. They
denounce when they should argue; they
present facts, not as they are, but as they,
the writers, would have them to be ;
towards their opponents they show no
mercy; they revile when they ought to
discuss; many of them have a vulgar—
not to say scurrilous—style; instead of
logic they deal out damnation to all oppo
nents ; there is a smell of fire and brim
stone about their words; but, ability
they have little ; conrtesy, scarcely any
at all; charity, none. Fierce as our po
litical papers are, our so-called religious
journals, or at least the most of them, are
far more fierce.
They too, too frequently, substitute
fabrication for fact, declamation for argu
ment, and they show a readiness to take
every unfair advantage of the ignorance
of their readers. They wear the mantle
of Charity over intense religious hatreds.
They feast their readers with falsehoods
and prejudices; and, sick and disgusted,
we turn away from their perusal with a
contempt for those who pretend to so
much religion, and show none at all in
their writings, and with pity for those who
derive so much of their spiritual life from
such bitter sources.
There are seven religious papers lying
before us, and in every one of them we
find more of bigotry than of religion ; in
not one of them do we discover that high
and honorable tone which we ought to
expect; and, in the most of them there
is more of the assumption of ignorance
than evidence of education. And these
journals teach the people. They expound
Christianity, but certainly their Chris
tianity is very different from that found
in the New Testament. Ignorance can
not teach, prejudice cannot teach; bigotry,
blind itself, cannot lead to light. Head
any of these papers, and you would im
agine that they have monopolized all of
Christianity within the narrow limits of
their own little sects. They seem to
have purchased, by Faith alone without
good works, (a singularly good bargain,)
MBBgB Os
sole and exclusive right to the way that
leads to Heaven. They admit the Bible
as the sole and sufficient rule of Faith for
all—yet would they compel each to un
derstand it in their sense. They teach
that salvation is free—yet it must be se
cured on their conditions. They scout
at all authority, yet would they set them
selves up as the only authority.
“ Consistency, thou art a jewel”—but
error never wore thee. These seven pa
pers lying before us—for we have glancec
over them all—have one point of agree
ment. Wrangle as they may over their
distinctive doctrines—and differ they ever
so widely on all other questions—-they
stand united against our Church—the
Catholic. Os that Church, they have no';
a good word to say. Well, that Church
is in need of good words from no one.
Sword, and axe, and fire, and gibbet, are
harder to bear than the bigot’s words,
and she has borne them. The hatreds of
ler enemies intensify the loves of her
children.
To take the first of these papers lying
on our table, there is the Christian Ad
vocate, published at Nashville, for the
“ Methodist Episcopal Church, South.”
It is its issue of August 25th. There is
an article on the Poems of Adelaide A.
Proctor, with the caption, “A Catholic
r’oetess.” We could not call the article
a critique —it does not deserve the name.
The writer of the article is evidently in
dignant that a Catholic should write
ooetry at all—and especially poetry so
beautiful and sweet as that of Adelaide
.doctor. He begins his tirade with this
’alsehood; “There is very little differ,
ence between the accepted creed of the
to-day Universalist and aßoman Catholic,
so far as punishment in the next world is
concerned.” Os course, one falsehood
cads to another—so the second sentence
is another falsehood. The fifth sentence
is another falsehood. The sixth is a
capital falsehood. Then he gives two
stanzas of Adelaide Proctor’s poetry, on
which this is his criticism: “ The im
plied meaning is a direct and positive
insult to the Word of God. It is a thrust
at the teachings of Christ—an nttnmptorl
nullification of all the teachings of the
Gospel/’ &c.
And thus, in this strain of bigotry, and
in this not very elegant style of language,
the author of the article goes on to the
end. The poetry, as poetry, he does not
pretend to criticize—probably because he
is discreet enough to fear his incompe
tency; but the poetry, as embodying reli-
gious thoughts and truths, he censures as
a bigot, and he seems to be sorry that Miss
Proctor was not a member of the Metho
dist Church, South. If she was, her poe
try would have been sweeter and its re
ligious element would not have been “the
chaff of Catholicism.” Poor Miss Proc
tor! Pity you were not a Methodist
Episcopal—South !!
In 4he same paper there is a letter
from “ our Irish Correspondent,” bitterly
anti-Catholic; and we marked several
other instances of bigotry ; but we have
not the patience to produce them. In
the other papers we find just as many
examples of bigotry. And who does not
know it ? Take, at random, any one of
the so-called religious journals, and per
vading it, and all of them, you find the
spirit of bigotry; and we venture the
assertion that there is not a denominational
paper in the country fair towards the Ca
tholic Church. And thus, Political bigots
are doing the political work and Religious
bigots the Religious work in this coun
try. What will he the result ?
Consecration of Bishops in Balti
more.—Of this interesting scene, we give
the account telegraphed to the Herald on
Sunday night:
To-day, the Right Rev. Thomas A.
Becker, D.D., and Right Rev. J. Gib
bons, D. I)., were solemnly consecrated
Bishops of the Roman Catholic Church,
in presence of a vast congregation. Long
before the hour announced for the com
mencement of the proceedings, the spa
cious Cathedral was densely crowded in
every part, so much so, indeed, that stand
ing room could scarcely be obtained, while
at the doors, and around the building, an
immense congregation assembled. The
ceremonies, which began at ten o’clock,
were performed with ail the impressive
*' 'l——"*
grandeur characteristic of the Church, and
the occasion was rendered even more than
usually august, from the fact that there
were two candidates to whom the great
power of Episcopacy was to be commu
nicated.
Ihe Right Rev. Dr. Becker formerly
belonged to the Cathedral of Richmond,
and the Right Rev. Dr. Gibbons was late
Secretary to the Archbishop of this city,
the most Rev. M. J. Spaulding, who offi
ciated as consecrating Prelate. At ten
o’clock, the grand procession proceeded
from the west door of the Archbishop’s
residence, passing around the south sidrf
of the Cathedral, within the enclosure, and
entered the sacred edifice by the main
door. It was a splendid spectacle, and
was rendered additionally imposing by
all the surrounding circumstances. Sweet
strains rose aloft, myriads of lights illu
minated the grand altar, shining brightly
on the many works of Art within their
rays, the vast multitude knelt in silence, j
and the procession moved slowly up the '
aisles. First came the Acolytes, then '
students from the Seminary, arrayed in
appropriate costume, next the Clergymen
who were to assist in the proceedings,
and, lastly, the Dignitaries of the Church'
with the two Bishops elect. The As
sistant Bishops, to the right of Rev. Dr.
Gibbons, were the Right Rev. Bishop of
Wheeling, and Rev. Dr. McGill, Bishop
of Richmond, and the Assistant Bishops,
to the right of the Rev. Dr. Becker, were
the Right Rev. I)rs. Lynch, Bishop of
Charleston, and Pornene, Bishop of Pitts
burgh. The office of First Deacon of
donor was performed by the Rev. Thos.
■ "oley, and that of the Second Deacon of
Honor by the Rev. Francis McNierny, of
New lork. Rev. P. P. Dennis was the
officiating Deacon, and Rev. H. M. Chapin
officiating Sub-Deacon. Rev. S. Ferte
was First Master of Ceremonies, and was
assisted in the various duties by the
Rev. W. Leguerre and Rev. L. M.Rince.
The other Bishops present were the Right
Revs. Drs. Bay ley,Bishop of Newark, NJ;
O’Harra, Bishop of Scranton, and Bishop
Shanahan, of Harrisburg.
Arrived at the Altar rails, the pro
cessionists filed off on either side, and the
consecrating Prelate and attendants pro
ceeded with the imposing ceremony.
The two Senior Assistants having pre
sented the elect to the Consecrator, the
Apostolic Commission was then callec
for, and read, and the oath taken on
bended knees, after which the other
sacred rites were performed. Descrip
tion conveys hut a faint idea of the
Solemnity of tho occasion, or the geuerai
routine invariably gone through. The
prostration of the Bishops elect on the
tloor of the Sanctuary was very impres
sive. Their subsequent examination, as
to their duties, and anointment of holy
oil, the singing of the Litanies am
Sacred Canticles, the blessing of the
Crozier and Ring, emblematical of pas
toral authority and fidelity, respectively,
and the solemn Benedictions and Prayers
—all these points were witnessed bv the
multitude with the greatest devotion" and
did not fail to impress the beholder with
the importance of the occasion.
During the progress of the ceremonies,
which lasted nearly five hours, the heat
was intense: and, although the Cathedral
was filled to its utmost capacity, no
casualty occurred. The musical arrange
ments were admirable. Mozart’s “Grand
March, No. 12,” was performed by a full
choir, and with organ and orchestral ac
companiments, with fine effect. The
ceremony of placing the new Bishops on
the Episcopal Chair being performed, the
Te Deum was sung, and the proceedings
were brought to a close with a Solemn
Benediction.
The Right Rev. Dr. Becker’s Diocese
will comprise the State of Delaware, and
that of the Right Rev. Dr. Gibbons, the
State of North Carolina. The former,
who was ordained in 1857, and now aged
tli nty fi\ e, is a native of Pittsburgh ; and
the latter was born in Baltimore, ordained
in 1861, and is only thirty-five years
old.
The Very Rev. Dr. Foley, Vicar-
General, preached the evening service.
At six o’clock, Grand Pontifical Vespers
were celebrated by the Right Rev. Dr.
Gibbons, one of the new Bishops, and a
sermon was preached by the Right Rev.
Dr. McGill, of Richmond. An immense
congregation was present.
Seizure of Arms.—On the arrival of'
the passengers from the National steamer
Helvetia, which arrived oft' the harbor on
Friday (the 17th ult.,) from New York,
the usual police search was proceeded
with. A gentleman named Gray had
among his luggage a rifle and two re
volvers, and these were at once seized by
the constabulary, Mr. Gray not being
able to produce the necessary authority
■or carrying arms. The weapons were
beautifully finished, and one of the re
volvers was elaborately wrought and
mounted in silver.— Cork Herald.
[From the Southern Illustrated News, . ~
—> 1*63
; BIOGRAPHY OF GEN, HAMPTON.
Lieutenant General Wade Hampton w
. born in the city of Charleston, Som?
j Carolina, in the year 1818. His fath, C
j Col. Wade Hampton, was a distinguish'd
1 officer in the war of 1812, and°aid. f h
| camp to Gen. Jackson at the batth f
New Orleans. He was an eminent a - 1
esteemed citizen of South Carolina,
tinguished as an enlightened and libera"
agriculturist, and greatly respected fn,.
his elevated and pure character as - 4
man.
The mother of the subject of our sketch
was Miss Anne Fitz Simmons, daughter
of Christopher Fitz Simmons, for man
years a merchant of Charleston city. pj;\
grandfather was Gen. Wade Hampton a
distinguished officer of the Revolution
and, for a number of years, a prominent
citizen of South Carolina.
The present Gen. Hampton, who. it
will be seen, descended from a long l( lj0
of military heroes, received his educa
tion at the South Carolina College, where
he graduated, with much distinction, at a
very early age. While yet quite a youn<*
man, he was married to the youngest dauH
ter of Gen. Francis Preston, of Virginia,
by which union he had three children—
two of them gallant young officers in the
Confederate army, and worthy the milita
ry name which they bear. The present
wife of Gen. Hampton is the only daugh
ter of Gov. McDuffie, of South Carolina.
Previous to the present war, General
Hampton devoted his time and attention
almost exclusively to planting, and with
much success. He has, however,
served in both branches of the South
Carolina Legislature, and gave evidence
of intellectual qualities which promised
high distinction. His argument against
the opening of the African slave trade
was spoken of as a master-piece of elegant
and statesman-like logic, dictated by the
noblest sentiments of the Christian and
patriot.
At the commencement of the present
struggle for independence, Gen. Hamp
ton, under authority of the President,
raised a splendid Legion, and, with pro
fuse and characteristic liberality, con
tributed largely towards equipping it
The Leg ion was marched to Virginia in
time to take an active and efficient part
in the first battle of Manassas. General
Hampton was wounded in the head during
this battle, while gallantly leading his
command into action.
Throughout all the subsequent cam
paigns in Virginia ho has borne a prorui
nent part, receiving a severe wound at
Seven Pines. After the battles around
Richmond, he was promoted to the posi
tion of Brigadier-General of Cavalry
under Major-General Jeb Stuart, in
which position he has been untiring, and
has attracted the attention of the entire
Confederacy.
In the desperate fight at Gettysburg.
Gen. Hampton received three wounds—
one in the hip from a schrapnel, and two
sabre cuts on the head—all severe, but.
fortunately far his country, not fatal.
Gen. Hampton’s family residence is i:i
Columbia, South Carolina, and is known
by all Southerners as the abode of
true Southern hospitality, and as odc
of the handsomest places in the entire
South.
The Cost of a Radical State Ad
ministration.—Tennessee, according to
a late statement of the Comptroller of
Public Accounts in that State, owes the
modest sum of $36,750,323. Her entire
liabilities, on the first day of last October,
by the same authority, were
—which shows over four millions in
crease of debt in about ten months. At
die close of the war, she owed about nine
teen millions ; and has, therefore, nearly
doubled her debt under Radical misrule
in three years. She is in the hands of the
Philistines ; men who pay no taxes, and
lave no conscience; men whose only
study it to enrich themselves from the
qublic plunder, in as short a time as pos
sible, lest the stern grip of public justice
shall seize the felons and hurl them from
office before they are fully gorged. —
Macon Telegraph.
A Radical’s Opinion of Grant
The Danbury (Cunn.) Tunes, whose edi
tor was a Union soldier, and til! this year
a Raoical, has this item in regard to the
“ General of the Army and the Radical
candidate for the Presidency. Genera;
Grant. “Where has his name won a
single victory? Not in New Hampshire,
nor in Connecticut. Ilis named never
caused any enthusiasm in the army until
the army’s work was done; and the
prospect of being led into another
slaughter-pen was obliterated, and his
name in politics has not one convert to
the cause which he has seen fit
shoulder. Silence is his statesmanship
obstinacy is his firmness, deceit is lab
patriotism, and horses his ability. IF"
has lived in smoke, and will end in
smoke.’’