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REV. A. J. RYAN, Editor
AUGUSTA, GA„ OCT. IG, 18G9.
SF" ALL SUBSCRIPTIONS AND
BUSINESS LETTERS FOR THE “BAN
NER OF TIIE SOUTH” SHOULD BE
ADDRESSED TO THE PUBLISHERS -
L. T. BLOME & CO.
CONTRAST-FATHER RYAN AND GEN.
LEE.
The Banner of the South is a type of
implacables. Chaplain Ryan, its editor,
advises our people—
“ To let their wounds remain ever open
—ever fresh —ever bleeding. Let the
eyes of the rising generation gaze upon
them, and the hands of the coming gene
ration shall pour into them the only balm
that can heal them —the balm of Inde
pendence.”
In contrast to such an implacable les
son of hate so little in accord with the
teachings of his Divine Master, we have
the statesmanlike and Christian utterances
of the leader of the Confederate armies.
He declined to attend the Gettysburg
memorial meeting, to mark the position
of the opposing armiee because he deemed
that such an object was calculated to
ketp alive the sharp memory and the
consequent bitterness of the war. What
a contrast between the professed “man
of peace” arid the “mighty man of war.”
The one wishes “the wound to remain
ever open—ever fresh —ever bleeding.”
General Lee, more true to our people
and their national destiny, tells them ;
“That it is the wisest not to keep open
sores, but to follow the example of those
nations who endeavorei to obliterate
marks of civil strife, and commit to
oblivion the feelings it engendered.”
Gen. U. S. Grant did not utter a mean
ingless sentiment when he announced
“Let us have Peace.” It was uttered
by one whose prowess in war, and ability
to enforce the mandate, gives it historic
significance.
Father Ryan is the type of a class of
implacables, whose boast is “they have
not yet surrendered,” yet who never en
countered an enemy, and would still keep
this land torn and rent, with “its wounds
ever open—ever fresh—ever bleeding ”
The Confederate military leader, how
ever, looking to the inevitable neeessitv
of a future in common, both for our
selves and descendants, would in order
to commit to oblivion the feelings engen
dered, obliterate the marks of civil war,
of which he himself was such a conspicu
ous hero. Os English descent, he saw
the posterity of once opposing factions,
whose hostile swords rang in the dread
encounters of the rival houses of York
and Lancaster, ar.d the bitter collisions of
Charles and Cromwell, now no longer
Foes, but pointing with a common pride
to their common origin, from a twin race
of heroes. These are the special exam
ples of historic reference by General
Lee.
1 he civil war of the Roses lasted thirtv
years during- the reign of five English
menarchs, but that period during which
great armies left behind wasted fields,
plundered towns and burning villages,
attended by an enormous sacrifice of life
by sword and scaffold, was followed by a
remarkable era of peace and progress.
The great civil war of the seventeenth
century, in England, lasted eleven years,
yet after so great, so dangerous, and so
wasting a Revolution as that of Cromwell,
the historian tells us that England ex
hibited one mark of wisdom, energy
and virtue above all other nations.
“ They rose, not like Sampson, shorn of
his locks, but like one who is made virtu
ous by affliction, strong by exertion, and
wise by experience.”
It was the common ancestors of both
North and South, who have furnished the
examples of history cited for the imita
tion of their descendants. A philosopher
m peace, as he has proven to be almost
peerless in war, Lee’s counsel and exam
ple upon this subject will not be without
fruit
Ihe grand lesson he suggests in his
rep.y to the Gettysburg invitation, is not
without its results even now in the hearts
of the North. The signal failure of the
Gettysburg gathering signalises the hoped
lor obliteration of the marks of civil strife
and tbat North or South, who, for
Mercantile or political uses would per
petuate those . marks and wounds, have
received a merited and lasting rebuke.
The Tribunes correspondent, writing
from the battle-ground, says :
“ The present gathering at Gettysburg
does not seem to me to have had sufficient
motive, or to have answered any large
purpose, or to have satisfied the vague
expectations it aroused. It was rebuked
from the South, slirnly attended from the
North, and it will probably be the last
inflated effort to. lengthen out the mer
cantile uses of this battle-field, which
should hereafter be left as the nation in
tended it—a pleasant cemetery to many
brave dead, but not a perennial fair
ground made ludicrous by failures such
as this which I have noticed beyond its
due.”
The above we take from the “ Hous
ton Union!' What the poor, little
“Houston Union ’’ may think of the
Banner of the South, we care very
little ; what the Editor of that little
sheet may think of ourselves, we care
less. Os late, we have noticed in not a
few papers, attacks similar to the above
against the course of the Banner and its
Editor.
This we say in reply : We have never
written a word for the Banner that we
did not mean; never a word that we
would take back. Neither ourselves nor
the Banner, can be bought or bribed.
Neither ourselves nor the Banner ever
will compromise. Both ourselves and
the Banner, and the Banner’s reader’s,
despise compromises of principle.
The Texas Editor accuses us of teach
ing lessons of hate. We admit the ac
cusation, and plead guilty to the charge.
It is a part of our mission. The Texas
Editor, doubtless, would have us shake
hands with Wrong, Tyranny, Oppression.
We beg to decline. We have been told
also that we ought to have more policy.
We intend to have none. All the poli
cies in the world are as nothing compared
to one single Principle.
We have nothing to say about the
opinion of Gen. Lee, save this, that we
know that he indorses the sentiments of
the Banner of the South.
We received an invitation from the
College over which he presides—and in
dorsed by himself—to deliver a poem at
the Commencement. We admire the
silence of our peerless chief. It would
ill become him to speak or write as we
do. One word from him would set the
Southern heart on fire; for he holds the
hearts of the South in his hand. He and
his soldiers have done their mission.
They defended us so long as defence was
possible. It is our duty now to defend
them—to vindicate their character, and
to preserve the memory of the dead.
There is no contrast between the senti
ments of Gen. Lee and the Editor of the
Banner. Their sentiments are as like
as like can bo. The only contrast be
tween us is that he will never be for
gotten —that he is the greatest, truest,
bravest character in American history—
that his fame is world-wide; and we are
of those who live our own little day—die,
and are forgotten.
But, while we do live, our cry shall
be, as it has been : Never forget—still
hope on—have faith in the future and in
God ; and, come weal or woe, never,
never, NEVER compromise.
THE THRONE OF SPAIN.
It is said that “Revolutions never go
backward.” This may be true; but it
is equally true that they do not always
move forward. The Revolution of the
South certainly effected no good for this
section of the Union. The Revolution
of Spain is effecting no good for that un
happy country. A counter Revolution
is at work; while no little difficulty is
experienced in securing an occupant for
the Throne. Several distinguished no
blemen, qf foreign countries, have refused
to accept the position, having an eye to
more advantageous places in the future.
The Revolution has not gone forward
enough to convince them of the security
of the Throne. They have no desire to
sacrifice themselves for the benefit of the
leaders of that Revolution, and hence
their refusal. The Duke of Genoa,
however, a lad of some sixteen or seven
teen summers and as many winters, has
been prevailed upon to play the distin-
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PERE HYACINTHE-
Vunity and pride have caused the ruina
tion of many a poor mortal. Pere Ily
acintlie may set himself up against the
Church, as many others before him have
done, but the Church will move on to
fulfill its Divine mission. The storms
and convulsions of nearly nineteen cen
turies have wajrred against it in vain, and
the old Church still marches on, un
changed and unchangeable as the Rock
upon which it is built. Pere Hyacinthe
will not affect the Church any more than
a drop of raiu affects the ocean. The
following article from the Evangelist,
written by a P rotestant, and published
over two years ago, is now going the
rounds of the secular press. It is inter
esting, but objectionable to the Catholic
reader, as the writer takes occasion to
slander the Priesthood. This misrepre
sentation, however, is so malicious and so
stale, that the poison carries with it a
powerful and infallible antidote:
FATHER HYACINTHE AT NOTRA DAME.
The following description of the
preaching of this eloquent monk was
furnished in a letter to The Evangelist,
two years ago, by a correspondent then
in Paris:
But now the tall Swiss halberdier,
making a passage along the aisle, an
nounces the approach of Pere Hyacinthe,
and instantly this whole sea of faces is
turned toward him, with an expression of
guished role of King of Spain. The
Ministers who are wielding the destinies
of that State have called him thither,
and he has accepted. Perhaps they
think to find him a willing tool. Per
haps they may be mistaken. Perhaps the
Carlists may have something to say about
it. Perhaps the people generally may
assume a right to speak in the matter;
and the Duke of Genoa may not be King
of Spain after all. Who knows ? The
Revolution is not completed yet. It
hasn’t gone backward yet. But what is
it going to do? That is the question.
A LITTLE MORE CONSISTENT.
Grant, the acknowledged President of
the United States, is becoming some
! what more consistent. He warred
| against the South when she sought to
achieve her independence by force of
arms, and he and his party have warred
against her ever since. But Radicalism
was inconsistent. It trampled on the
“ Southern Rebellion,’’ and sympathised
with and supported the Cuban Rebellion.
Grant has, however, it seems, got to be
ashamed of this inconsistency, and he is
now making war upon Cuban sympa
thisers in this country. They are hunted
down and prosecuted by Government
officials, and the peace and dignity of the
Union upheld as against those who
would seek to disturb the peace and dig.
nity of Spain and her western possessions.
Perhaps there are too many Confede
rates mixed up with this second Rebel
lion. If there was more of the Yankee
about it, Grant might not interfere. At
any rate, his present policy is more con
sistent.
VIRGINIA,
This proud old Commonwealth is not
yet so completely overrun by Radicalism,
as to sink her good name and her honor,
at the beck and call of a venal and cor
rupt Government. With firmness and
decision in the cause of Right, on the
part of her patriotic people, she will yet
triumph over Faction and Corruption.
There is Conservatism enough in the
Legislature to defeat the imposition of
the “iron-clad oath” upon its members;
and enough, we believe, to defeat, at
least, the ultraisms of those foreign in
truders and native traitors who would
sell their State to the enemies of Liberty
aud the Constitution. Our sincere hope
is that the patriots of Old Virginia may
ever be true to their section, and always
firm in resistance to Tyranny. As the
“Mother of States,” her Southern chil
dren look to her for precept and example,
and hope to always be able to poiut to
her escutcheon with pride and honor.
She will not disappoint them.
sympathy so intense, as seemed enough
to electrify one who came in all simplici
ty and sincerity to bring to them the j
words of life. He followed slowly, with j
his eyes cast down, his face pale, and i
mounting the steps of the pulpit he knelt |
down, and buried his face in silent
prayer. Then rising, he stood, with
erect and majestic form, and for some
moments regarded in silence those to
whom he was to speak; while a deep
sigh involuntarily escaped from his large
chest.
Although L was already under the
magnetism ol this extraordinary man,
my eye as an artist took in all the sur
roundings of the scene. In scenic effect
nothing could exceed the beauty of the
tableaux—the dark background of the
pulpit, in ancient carved oak ; the form
of the preacher, rendered more striking
by the robe of his order, (he is a Car
inelitc monk, and wears a long serge
gown, with only sandals on his feet,) with
his white cowl thrown back upon his
shoulder, his head shaven so as to leave
only a chaplet of hair upon his brow,
while the light from above fell upon his
bare head, and his countenance so sad
and beautiful, yet responding with quick
sympathy to all the regards turned to
ward him. Surely if he had studied all
this miseen scene, he is a master in the
art.
He began to speak, and from that mo
ment 1 wished to believe in the sincerity,
I in the piety, in the Christian faith of
this man—for if he is not all that he
profanes the most beautiful gifts of
Providence. Never did a voice more
sympathetic strike my ear; never did
art more perfectly captivate and control
the human heart.
He announced his text, first in Latin
and then in French. It was in Ecclesi
astes—a warning to diligence and activi
ty, which he applied to stimulate men in
the w r ork of salvation, repeating with
emphasis, “Agonize for your faith ; com
bat for your soul!” He described the
agony of Christ, that he might hold him
up as an example. As it is the season of
Lent, all thoughts are supposed to con
verge toward that central theme, and all
motives to radiate from the Great Suffer
er. He depicted the sorrows of the Sa
viour of the world, the drops of blood
falling to the ground, and the last scence
on the cross. During this description
all was hushed and still. The vast
Cathedral seemed to wear a deeper gloom
as if in sympathy with the darkness
which was described, and when he re
peated our Saviour’s words, “My God,
my God! wlfy hast thou forsaken me!”
it seemed as if every heart shuddered at
the cry.
As Christ suffered and agonized for
man’s salvation, so should mau himself
struggle and suffer unto death that he
may be saved—there was his theme. But
how do men carry on this spiritual war ?
Here the preacher turned from tie Div
ine Sufferer to the world which He came
to redeem—a world full of sorrow and
sin. Instantly we were in the midst of
of the nineteenth century —with exam
ples of guilt which all could recognize,
lie drew his pictures from actual life,
portraying the tempter and the tempted;
and iu his charges of selfishness aud
crime, he seemed as if he would array
all men at the bar of Divine justice. He
did not spare any class or profession—
not even his own—but drew a fearful
picture of the uuworthy Priest.
‘ltis not by hypocrisy,” be said, “that
the bad Priest dishonors his ministry.
Hypocrisy is a thing vulgar and base,
soon unmasked, which cannot long de
ceive any one. But it is by that cold,
cruel Pharisaism, which puts the letter
in place of the spirit, the dogma in place
of charity, in a religion which is all
love. It is not with hands hard and
cold that the Priest must toucli the
wounds and sores of humanity, but as a
mother in her love for her children
covers the plague spots which mark the
outbreaking of revolting disease. It is
with burning lips that he is to suck the
poison from the very blood of the death
smitten ; it is with tears of charity and
of tendernees that he is to wash and to
purify the sinful soul !” As he said
this, there was in his voice, aud in the
whole expression of his sad and beauti
ful countenance, something of the ten
derness of a father—he seemed to
yearn toward those who listened to him
with an irresistible attraction, and with
one of his electrifying gestures he throw
open his arms as if he would take upon
his own heart the griefs and the remorse
of every troubled spirit.
I give you but a faint outline of his
sermon, though it seemed that every
word was engraven on my memory.
But merely to repeat his arguments
and illustrations could give you no im
pression ol his power, for it "lay in the
man, iu his eyes, his gesture, aud his
voice. Iu true eloquence there is some
thing which escapes analysis—a power
beyond words—a magnetism vibrante et
subtile which penetrates like ]j„v •
which cannot be described, but which™?’
only felt as the intense.,,action of' 4
human soul. To make you und .
■ls effect, I most paint for you «|, at co ‘
tenancc so mobile , now grave and oei
and now weaning a look of ineffable v!’
derness. Ilis gestures were full 0 f (
gy and animation. There was
life in every limb and every morion''
Now he appeared as if he were tue
cuser of his hearers, flashing the lDht
of conscience on every deed of guilt
such a moment you might believe" that
you heard another Savonarola thunderirl
against the vices of the age. Then su l
denly his tone changed and his maon! T
became tender and almost caressing
if he would draw the multitude to tU
feet of Him whose agony he described
In rebuking the spirit of world’
which has such empire over men, a Priest,
has an immense power from his own e i v
ample of self-abnegation. The p
ant pastor comes to the pulpit f roin bis
comfortable home, from the coiu
panionship of his wife ami children
But the Priest has no domestic ties [| e
has no home and no one to love him more
than others. If a monk, he has taken a
vow of poverty and lives in a cell. His
life is one of daily self-denial—-at least
such is the theory of his order— aud he
speaks to the public heart ard conscience
•salted in public esteem by this impres
sion of extraordinary sanctity. I n eec j
not say that many Priests are far enough
from realizing this ideal of their pro
session—that they arc very coarse and
common men, alike wanting in intellect
and in moral elevation. But others there
are of a different stamp—who at least
try to live up to a saintly ideal, with
whom life is a daily self-crucifixion—
men full of all the sweet impulses of na
ture, yearning for human society, who
are yet doomed to live in solitude; crav
ing a love which they can never know.
In the good Priest this contradiction be
tween his tastes and his actual existence
gives a sadness to all his life. But what
a power does it give him when he speaks
out of his loneiy and desolate heart to
others in sorrow, using the very words
of the Christus Consolator!
In the Pere Hyacinthe it is easy to s o
the struggling of two natures. Under
that coarse monk’s dress throbs a great
human heart. As Carlyle said of Ed
ward Irving, “He strove to be a Priest
in an age alien to the character,” so it
seems as if this man, also, were striving
to realize, even here in the gayest city in
the world, and amid the allurements of
modern degeneracy, the heroic type of
one of the old confessors.
In recalling this marvellous preselling,
it seems to me that there is in it some
thing of the senses as well as of the
spirit. I will not use the word sensual,
for it would not express my thought, nor
be just to the preacher. But there is an
element of passionate emotion, which is
so marked in the writings of Saint
Theresa and Madame Guyon—a min
gling of human with Divine love, the
overflowing of a heart yearning for af
fection, but which, shut up from all di
mestic ties, pours itself out in a love for
all mankind. But what a fascination in
this eloquence inspired by the most pas
sionate love to. Cod and to men !
If you think me carried away by my
enthusiasm, I can only give you the
more sober impressions of others. Our
Protestant friends here render full homage
to his genius and eloquence. M. de
Presense says that his manner is the
union of extraordinary natural gifts with
the most consummate art. It seems he
docs not shun Protestant society, oot
long since he passed an evening at
Madame Adolphe Monod’s, and they were
charmed with his dignity and courtesy,
Although he goes everywhere in the
dress of his order as a Carmelite monk,
with naked feet shod only in sandals, yet
his bearing is as distinguished as that ol
a gentleman of the Court of Louis XII.
Teussess ee.
The Kntxville Press and Herald things
the organization of the Tennessee Legist-
indicates the election of Andrew
Johnson to the Senate. The arrangement
seems to be that East Tennessee is to have
the Senatorship, and that the various
State offices are to be tilled from Middie
and West Tennessee.
There would seem to be some truth m
this statement, a3 in the organization ot
both Houses of the Legislature, on M° n
day, selections of officers were made u ,,11}
the Middle and Western portions of the
State, while able and popular candidates
from the East received but few vote?.
We note the fact that Mr. Johnson him
self arrived in Nashville on the day o'. t n
assembling of the Legislature, and doubt
less his great personal popularity, au l ‘‘ ls
known abilities as a canvasser, wi.l - ( u
his election. Chronicle and Sentine