The Abbeville banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1847-1869, 1857-11-05

difference IN my statement. Please bc
moro observing, sir. said tho man who
had no wife was n "harpy dog )" and the
man who had wife was II happy man :"
nothing conflicting, sir, nothing at all.
know what say, sir"
From the New York Journal of Commerce.
RELIGIOUS DISTURBANCE IN IRELAND.
1t is much to be deplored that intenpc-
rate zeal and religious ligotry should re-
new the strife Of creeds by which Ireland
WAS desoated for upwards Of century
and that the war of "Orangemcn" and
"Papists" should again disturb the har-
mony of the country, after the beneficial
effects Of toleration and IiLeraity have been
experienced, and when it is universally adj
mitted that the material and moral condi-
tion of the Irish people was rising so fast
to y level with that of the most favored and
prosperous nations Of the earth.
In the prosperous town Of Belfast, the
capital Of the North Of Ireland, the seat Of
a large commerce and vast mannfac lures,
an excitement has existed ever since the
Twelfth of July,-thc Orange anniversary
of the battle Of the Boync,-between the
Orange and Roman Catholic populations,
which has been much cnyenomed by the
ill-judgcd persistence Of few indiscrect
clergymen in preaching sermons in the
streets violently attacking and reviing the
religion of more than a third of their fellow
towusmen. The Orangemen by whom
these gentlemen were invited and instiga-
ted to pursue this imprudcnt course are
said to have provoked by mockery, and in
many instances, by acts of open violence,
all those who did not approve or attend
these "No Popery" demonstrations; until
at last serious riots took place, in which
firearms were used on both sides, and
many men and women killed and wounded,
SO that the Government was compelled to
place the entire district under martial law.
and appoint q commission to investigate
the causes Of the disturbance, with view
to the punishment Of the guilty parties
This extreme measure was not adopted un-
till all other means had been tried in vain.
The Protestant Bishop Of the Diocese in
which Belfast is situated, positively forbid
clcrgymcn of his Church from preaching
polcmcal sermons in the streets the Ro-
man Catholic Bishop exhortcd those of his
persuasion TO keep al home and not to al
low themselves to be provoked into any act
of violence or retaliation; and the Mayor
OF the town issued proclamation prohibi-
ting assemblages in the streets for any pur-
pose. None of these injunctions WAS obey
ed. The rev. Mr.. Hanna, the most
prominent and violent Of the Orange prca-
chcrs, denied the authority Of bishops and
municipal officers to interfere with his right
to preach, and though every day that lie
did so was marked by the most fearful riots
between lis partisans and their opponents,
he would not forbear until forced to do so
by the interposition of the military.
In country where five-cights of the peo-
pie arc Roman Catholics, and peculiarly
susceptible of insult in all that relates to
their religion, from too lively recollection
OF the time when tho penal code was in
force, and when their religion was tile badge
OF subjcction and inferiority-such action
us that attributed to Mr.. Hanna and the
other Orange preachers in Belfast, cannot
be considered otherwise than indiscreet and
reprchensible, however good and honest
their motives, and but little calculated to
attain the end for which it was ostensibly
designed. Abuse, mockery, and insult of
those who differ from us, will never succeed
in converting them to our way of thinking;
but very probably will confirm them in their
own opinion, for opposition's sake, if not
from conviction. Few people consent to
be bullicd out Of their errors, or dragooned
into the adoption Of the opinions of others;
and in matters of religion all history proves
that persecution has always proved n very
unsuccessful weapon Of conversion. If 1t
was the design Of Mr.. Hanna and his rcve-
rend associates to show the Roman Catho-
lies the errors of their creed and induce
them to forsake those errors and embrace
the truth, surely their Identification of
themselves with party known to be the
sworn enemy of the Roman Catholics in
every social, political and religious relation,
was the most certain means to defeat their
design, and to array against them the most
determined and unyielding opposition.
1t is evident that the Irish. Government,
and the distinguished men, Protestant and
Roman Catholic, Wing and Tory, who
signed the proclamation placing Belfast un i.
der the provisions of the Crimes and Out
rage Act, condemn the conduct of the cler-
gymen and their partisans, and are resolved
to punish them for conduct tho efFact ;fnot