Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1874-12-15
MISCELLANEOUS.
LECTURE BY FATHER RYAN.

The Rev. Father Abram j Ryan, the we'll
known Southern poet, patriot and priest,
recently delivered lecture in New Orleans.
La, before audience of FIVE thousand, from
which we take the following extracts, and
only regret that We have not space for the
whole:
Ladies' and gentlemen, am certainly glad
to see so many ladies and gentlemen, White
Lea%uers iu New Orleans. CApplause un-
derstand have been attacked III newspaper
called the Republican. am not in the hab-
it of stopping to answer those who are as in
noceDt Of argument they are guilty of bad
manners. [Gheers But if there be re-
porter of that paper in this house. let him
come to this table will give it to him and
let him report my lecture.
They think it very strange that l. asa priest
should have anything to say upon matters
which more or less pertain to the political or
der of society. ], as priest in my duties,
do not lose my rights of citizenship NV
cradle was rocked in the South nv grave
shall be dug in the South And while in the
moral order the nations are but one in the Christ
OF all, in the political order of nations, il
there ever comes up question in rhe world
as between race and race, and the interests of
one race against the instincts of another com
mon human interest tells me- and as religion
does not prohibit me, I stand by the white
race, and not simply from natural reasons.
Applause 1t has built up the civilization
OF the world, in the material as we'll as in the
moral order.
Who wrote the immortal civilization of
Greece? Who penned the eternal poetry of
Rome? Who built np our modern civiliva-
t1,o Juh ! "a
that it is not a matter of accident; it is not
merely local isolated matter, but it must be
the law of Divine Providence. of history, as
it is manifestation of Divine Providence
that wherever the white race has been wher,
ever tho white hand of the white mnn has
been raised. monuments of intellectual labor.
moral as well as material, have appeared in the
world. maEifesting its power and showing that
if history be manifestation of Divine Prov
idence. it is the divine mission of the white
race to march in the van of civilization to
lead the entire world
From the days of the history of Lcouidas,
who stood in the rugged pass of Thermonvlae
against Xerxes, to the days when General Lee
stood at Appomattox Court House and Welded
up the most spotless sword that ever was
welded applause. the white man has given
to the world the grandest manifestations of
human bravery And from the time of
Socrates down to our own time, it was the pale
white brow chat gave to the world its philo>o>
ply, out of which the world deduces its own
intellectual life. [Cheers Hence it is for
these reasons. apart from others. that 1 have
been induced to give this lecture, and per-
suaded into occupying most delicate position
by the pastor of ST. Johns Churck-his per.
suasion being so extremely strong that, while
know he is in sympathy with the White
League, might suspect that helis in shisll
membership of the same.
As there are so many ladies prk =
the moral state of ladv's mind Z
CnppIause and so many ladfes.
have husbands, and those who have MOI.
pose, have sweethearts who belong to
White League. and as reckon they w.,niis
like to know the secrets Of the White League.
without saving whether am White Leaguer
at all, will satisfy and at the same time dIs>
appoint their expectations by saying that they
have no secrets at all. hut this secret the
secret Of right-a right which rises in eternal
truth-rses like star fixed in the broad
ground of beautiful and heavenly truth rises
like rock, gray and gram and glorious, out
in the white sea of human opinion rock
that rises grander than the foam of passion
and the secret is their own right
Principles are eternal They never change
Men change; men NAV change. Have you
looked at thesky to-day? The gray clouds we're
floating across the armament hiding the bright
glorious light of the sun. To-morrow look up
again, aud the clouds may have passed away
Clouds may hide it, but the great grand sun
shall still be there.
So mems opinions-they are like the clouds
and shadows. very often obscurins and mar
Dgthe beauty and light of principle and truth
But principle is where it always was it is
fixed in the armament of right Let the
clouds roll on. let the lightning fash hut the
cloud shall pass away and principle shall still
be there.
Now nv friends, government NAV he
legal in the technical sense Of the word and
yet not legitimate. That is-if ynn will nor
let me say it in palmer words-a government
may not represent the reople who are the
State, and at the same time. By Judge, per-