The Arkansas banner., 1844-02-27

their lntellects. The descendants of the Puri- tans, again, thought One Book all sufficient, they cared not for what was written in any other book, than the Book of God. Possess sed with gloomy fanatcism, they turned with sulen scorn from the accomplishments, as well as the frivolities of their foes, the Cavaliers, and despised the cultivation they had never known. In the South alone was Literature regarded; the descendants of the Cavaliers, absorbed jn reverental love for Mother England, (no stop-mother then,) ac- knowledged her literature, as well as her laws; both suffieed for them. Under such state of things, American Literature could not be expected to take root; and accordingly, we fist find indications of growing Literature, after the Revolution, when Literature pecu- liar to the men and country sprang up, some relics of which we still possess; such, for example, as Trumbull's 'sMcFingal,o Bar lows Columbiad," and other similar pro- ductlons strongly imbued with the spirit and prejudlces of the time. But they, too, were a busy race,-busied in framing constitutions and making laws; and for long time the death struggle between the Federal and tine Democratic parties convulsed the whole coun- try and absorbed the minds of all intelligent and educated men; for some time subsequent to the Revolution, the facilities for obtaining education were limited to few, and these chiefly became political leaders, but the ex- citement gradually subsided, and the long breathing time of peace which interyened, gave leisure and opportunity of mental cul- ture, which was not neglected by the youth of the country. Education had always been duly regarded by the early settlers, and Har- yard and others had set the example of found ing colleges, and contributing bushel of books" to begin with but now the school master rose into importance, and by his hum- ble, but useful labors, became an important ele- ment in theprosperity of the American People
 With increasing cultivation and intelligence, a demand for native literature arose and Ame- rlcan authorship raised its head; Paulding and Irving in Salmagundi,'' proved to the ] people, that wit and humof were not confined to one side of the Atlantic; and the pubica- ton of the " "Sketch-book" convinced our neighbors, over the water, of the same fact. C $. Brown showed that Goodwin might be rlvalled, If not surpassed, in powerful dellne- alton of single passions, and delicate anatomy of the human mind. Edwards, in his acute and powerful work < on the Will,o proved that America possessed metaphysician fully able to cope with any in Scotland, or else where; and Bryant and Hallecb strung their Tyres to notes of rival sweetness. But the arts of peace were again banished by the clash of arms, and, when that ceased, by the contests of rival political parties, continued, under different names, and with different prin- ciples and watchwortls, down to the present time; during which time Literature, though not very ardently cultivated, was yet slowly but surely progressing, as many names, emi- nent in history and fiction can testify. when the death-blow was given by some of her Rretended friends, under the pretext of < in troducing her to the Millionn It is curious thing, that, from time immemorial. there has seemed to bea natural enmity existing between authors and publishers, although from their close connexlon. one would suppose other wise; in most other trades, between the maker of commodity and the vendor of the same. friendly relation subssts; not so with au- thors and publishers; from the time that the ss learned lexicogfapher'' knocked down his bookseller, to the present day, the quarrel has been kept up. until the final blow has been stricken, which has brought Literature, Gin this country at least,) down to the :. last stage of decline.'' Under a system of libe- ral remuneration to authors, and moderate profits to publishers, both parties were grad ually progressing to the entire satisfaction of the public, when the idea suggested itself to the mnd of an enterprising publisher'' in New ork, that this was but slow way of getting rich, and that s'good speculationn might be made by establishing a system of small profits and quick returns; and inasmueh as piracy was more profitable than free trade, ne determined to reprint in cheap form the popular English Magazines, for which, as he paid nothing, he had but to reimburse himself tor the expense of paper and printing. This scheme was carried into execution; the moral sense of the public was, at first, little shock
 ed; 1t did appear somewhat unfair, that an editor, who paid fifty guineas for an article of Macauly's or Wilson's, expecting to rem- purse himself by the circulation of his review. should thus be foresalled, by one who had not pad cent for it, except the postage on hls single number sent him by his ss London correspondent" but then the wosk was so
 -Nf1 N'N t'iS 'iihCo oO llttlU3 lildb lIlc DuOllc shut its eyes and gnlped the dose. But the hole opened by one, others thought they might creep through too. The misfortune of encouraging an immoral principle, does not always appear in its immediate effects. but Tn the consequences to which it ineyita- ply leads. Other publishers were smtten With the value of the discovery and pressed on Tn the footsteps of their brother, the svm- pathles of the good-natured public were en- listed by the assurance that 1t was their inte rest the publishers had at heart in this move. that they had long been grievously imposed upon by the regular publishers, and as proof. lhey could now procure from them the same works at one tenth ofthe former price. The eager public swallowed the bait so skilfully offered; dreadfully incensed were they against the mercenary publishers, who had so long. as they thought, been plundering them; and proportionably grateful to the publc-spirited citizens who had opened their eyes to the fact
 The newspaper press, too, which, in this nlr m trx