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4 •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.’’