The Savannah morning news., 1904-11-27

where, for he is OF a tall and COM
manding appearance, easily measuring
a few inches over six feet. He is an
enthusiastic lover of his native land,
for he was born and educated in Ire
land, yet has lost none of his love
for the South and its people. He has
been living in Ireland now for forty
odd years, as he never returned to
the states; but he loves to speak of
his war experience and can tell many
and interesting stories of his career
as an army chaplain" So much of
Bishop Keiley's interesting letter fills
gap in Confederate history that may
prove useful for reference to the his
torian, who shall in the future write
full and unbiased history of the Con-
federate War, as some prefer to call
1t. The mission of Father Bannon was
at the time, a very important one,
and deserves historical mention.
Finally, there is a personal para
graph in, the Bishops letter that is
worthy Of reproduction here, as IL
shows how representative men acct
IDENTIFY cross each others pathway in
life. In running the blockade to Hall
fax, writes Bishop Kelley, this Father
Bannon met on board the vessel a
boy, who was a clerk to the captain,
and whose name was John b. Tabb.
Many years afterwards while telling
a part of his history to my nephew
on Broad street, in Richmond, the mar
rator, who is a dear friend of Father
Bannon and myself. was suddenly ac-
costed by a Catholic priest, do you
know Father John Bannon? Is ne yet
alive? Where is l1e?" This priest was
Father Tabb of st. Charles College, in
Maryland (whose reputation is a
graceful and facile writer of sonnets
is world wide) and he told of meeting
Father Bannon in the blockade run
ner, and of his great curiosity at see
ing for the first time Catholic priest"
1t is possible that this meeting OF the
boy with the priest at that time may
have resulted finally in leading the
boy himself into the priesthood. There
is a silent influence in our living that
plays an important part, many times,
for good or evil, I'm the lives of others.
Happy Is the man whose silent infiu-
ence bears only golden fruit in the
harvest Of human endeavor.
The editor of great Southern daily
newspaper who says "Boston's back
how a plain, everyday business man,
like Douglas, who has no ancestors,
and who belongs to no exclusive Bea-
con Hill clubs, was ever permitted to
butt into the executive chair" is GER
tainly ignorant of Massachusetts po-
litical history. No state in the Union
gives the poor and humble citizen a
better chance TO rise In the world 10
a level with the Back bay" element
or the Beacon Hill Club men. Years
ago. "a plain, everyday business man."
a dry goods merchant, named Henry
Joseph Gardner, was swept into the
Office OF Governor by a remarkable
know-nothing Twin something) land
slide similar 10 the one that has Just
swept Mr.. Douglas into that high Of
fee. The latter, however, was once a
poor shoemaker. and so was Henry
Wilson, a poor boy from New Hamp-
shire: 10 poor In parentage. in fact,
that he had to drop his family name
Of Jeremiah Jones Colbaith and adopt
that OF Henry Wilson And yet this
humblest OF cobblers. not shoe manu-
facturer. like Douglas, was a repre-
sentative IN che Massachusetts, Legis-
lature, n senator and president OF the
Senate, and IN 1855 became a United
States senator. He was three times
returned TO the Senate and then was
elected Vice President on Grants
ticket In 1872. but died IN 1875 so
much for oobbiera ard shOemakera and
everyday business men" Take MAJ.
Gen. Nathaniel Prentlas Banks, u. q.
". the poor "Bollbin boy 81 the
Waifhnn. Mas. factory. BE was also
sent ~ the Legislature and 10 Con-
greHs and was Speaker ~ fhe House
in 1868 ed the year following was
elected Governor ~ hiH native state.
Aftef me Waf De bed high positions,