Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1830-05-05
N ATIONAL
LITER AZURE.
From the January No. of the Christian Examiner

H III we nave succeeded IN conveying
the Impressions which we have aimed
to make, our readers are now prepared
to inquire with interest into the condi-
ton and prospects Of literature among
ourselves. Do we possess, indeed ,what
may be called q national literature
Have we produced eminent writers in
the various departments Of intellectual eff
fort? Are our chiefresources of instruc-
ton and literary enjoyment furnished
from ourselves? We regret that the re-
ply to these questions is so obvious The
few standard works which we have pro-
duced, and which promise to live, can
hardly, by any courtesy, be denominatcd
a national literature. On this point if
marks and proofs Of our real condition
were needed, we should find them in the
current apologies for our deficiencies
Our writer's are accustomed to plead in
our excuse our youth, the necessities of
newly settled country, and the direc-
ton Of our best talents to practical life.
BE the pleas sufficient or not, one thing
they prove, and that is, our consciousness
Of having failed to make important con-
tributions to the interests of the intellect.
We have few names to place by the side
of the great names in science and litcra-
ture on the other side of the ocean. We
want those lights which make country
conspicuous at a distance. Let it not
be said, that European envy denies our
just claims. In an age like this, when
the literary world forms a great family,
and the products Of mind are circulated
more rapidly than those of machinery, it
is nations own fault, if its name be not
pronounced with honor beyond itself. We
have ourselves heard, and delighted to
hear, beyond the Alps, our country de-
signated as the land of Franklin. This
name had scaled that mighty barrier, and
made us known where our institutions
and modes of life were hardly better un-
derstood than those of the natives of our
forests.
\ We arc accustomed to console our.
selves for the absence of commanding
literature, by urging our superiority to
other nations in our institutions for the
diffusion of elementary knowledge thro'
all classes of the community. We have
here just cause for boasting, though per-
haps less than we imagine. That there
are gross deficiencies in our common
schools, and that the amount of know
ledge which they communicate, when
compared with the time spent in its ac-
QUESTION, is lamentably small, the COM
munity. begin to feel. There is crying
need for higher and more quickcning
kind Of instruction than the laboring part
of society have yet received, and we re-
oicc that the cry begins to be heard
But allowing our elementary institutions
to be ever so perfect, we confess that
they do not satisy us. We want some
thing more. A deal level of intellect,
even lift should rise above what is COM
mon in other nations, would not answer
our wishes and hopes for our country
We want great minds to be formed
among us, minds which shall be felt afar,
and through which we may act on the
world. We want the human intellect to
do its utmost here. We want this peo-
pie to obtain CLAIM on the gratitude of
the human race, by adding strength to
the foundations, and lulncss and splen-
dor to the development of moral and re-
ligious truth; by originality of thought,
by discoveries of science, and by con-
tributicns to the refining pleasures of taste
and Imagination.
The great distinction ofour country,'s,
that we enjoy some peculiar advantages
for understanding our own nature. Man,
is the great subject of literature, and
iuster and profounder views of man may
be expected here, than elsewhere. In
Europe, we meet kings, mobiles, priests,
peasants. How much rarer is II to meet
men: by which we mean, human beings
conscious Of their own nature, and con-
scious of the utter worhlessncss of all
outward distinctions, compared with what
is treasured up in their own souls. Man
does not value himself as man. Ii is for
his blood, his rank, or some artificial dis