New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1845-07-28
THE TRIBUNE.
no Intellectual History, Condition, and Prospects
''' Of the Countrywide. j.

N nresent comprehensive view OF what
:. ,.en accomplished by the people of this coun.
:, Investigation Reflection. Imagination, and
40 The subject has not received attention pro
..o,.l 10 its importance. The majority know
= Nothing about it. Hence the sneers it re-
-. IN the Senate and the pot house, in the Quar-
a.psv;ew and the Journal Of Buffoons. ! sit down,
-.onnded BY more than seven thousand volumes
-, in the United States-a fact which shows
I. ,hs,e has been some intellectual activity here.
axb;b;, the results with az much clearness as
.h;I;,v and the required brevity OF these letters,
i allow.
literature and Art TO a peoples glory and happi-
"A Our legislators, indeed, choose to consider
- NJ no consequence and while the States
.,ul.ed BY The claims of cobblers and thinkers for
.-.sc,;on. the appeals of that class by whose sim
= .oasrance dominions have existed, without
- nresence all mankind were brutal arc treat
,ab disdaiuful silence. But authors and artists
.,se.,sted here do exist here, after sort, In
~, Of such outawry. And notwithstanding the
,r,eIes in our condition. and that miserable cant
Jooreomb critics which suppsses every thing but
!. cntic's own illusions TO be contemplate, the
lsso Saxon race in the United States have done
j. much in the domains of Thought and Taste in
n, pnsen century, as any twelve millions OF PEG
De-sbout our average number for this perod-in
tle world.
Doob,less there are obstacles, great obstacles, TO
M uccessful cultivation of letters here; but they
~ no, 30 many nor so important, as is generally
s,oposed. The chief difficulty is a want OF PAT
Nsrsx-manly proceeding from and perpetuated
by The absence Of a just law Of Copyright. There
!. indeed no lack of that spurious love OF country
which at this moment is threatening an almless and
dsgraceful war But there is little genuine and
lhy national feeling; little clear perception OF that
which really deserves affection and applause; little
negligent and earnest effort 10 foster the good we
,osess or acquire the good we need.
II has been the fate of colonsts, in all ages, to
.onsder the people from whom they made their
Exodus both morally and intellectually their supe
iors and the parent state has had thus kind of
pirtual added to her political sovereignty. The
llleghaDan provinces quarreled with England
onquered became a separate nation, and we have
snce had our own Presidents and Congresses but
England has continued TO do the thinking of large
ass hereof men who have arrogated TO them
elves the name Of critcs-of our sham sor. OF men,
oil departments. We have had no confidence IN
arselyes: and men who lack self relance are not
tien successful We have not looked into our
,wn hearts We have not inquired of our own ne
essities If we have written, instead of giving
rec voice 10 the spirit within US, we have endca
ro-ed TO write after some foreign model We have
zen 10 fearful of nothing else as of an Amer1c0n
tn in thought or expression. He has been deem
creates, who has copied some TRANSATLANTIC au-
,or with most successful servility. The noisies
synagogue who affects to despise England will
sarcey open a book which was not written there.
Ind II one of our countrymen wins some reputa-
nsmong his fellows, it is generally because he has
eco FIRST praised abroad.
The commonly urged barriers TO literary advance
xrs supposed TO exist in our form OF government.
Ae nature Of our institutions, the restless and tur-
akn, movements of our democracy, and the want
iswcalthy and privileged class among us deserve
ae consideration. Tumult and strife, the clashing
d gres, interests, and high excitement, are TO be
ngsrded rather as aids than as obstacles TO intel
sc,ual progress From Athens came the choicest
Esra,ure and the finest art. Her philosophers, so
an and profound, her poets the dulcet sounds OF
shose Tyres still charm the ears OF succeeding ages
vote amid continual upturnngs and overthrows
The best authors of Rome. also, were Senators and
S2iers Milton the greatest of the prose writers
nwell as the greatest of the poets OF England
wed in the commonw ealth, and was participant in
u is political and religious controversies. And
what repose had the blind old man of Salamis =
What repose had Carnoens or Dante or Tasso
II The literature of Germany and France, too, the
noolest works have been produced amid the shocks
acon,ending elements.
Nor Is the absence of a wealthy class, with leis
N w such tranquil pursuits 10 be much lamented
he privileged classes of all nations have been
eN1ea We have in part OF this republic,
a'se class, with ample fortunes, ample leisure, am
Peqae,; but they have done noihng-the plant
eHoi the South have done, comparatively nothing
except when startled into spasmodic activity by
ooa1ets Of interest with the North.
ioay truth, most of the circumstances set down
earrlers TO esthetical cultivation here, are, di
WY or indirectly, advantageous. The real OBJ
rs are mostly of transient kind. Many OF them
~ aen,ly disappearing, and the rest would be
Ne unknown, II we had more love OF country,
"a ne making Of our laws were not so commonly
Nsded to sort Of men whose intellects are too
To or whose principles are too wicked TO acmi
nea seeing or doing what is just and neediul IN
= PREMISES The property, which Is most actual,
= only property TO which mans right is exclu-
we positive, unquestionabe, ndeicaslbe.-his
Ns"s conferred as by letters patent from the Al
-Ssty-is held by Congress TO be not his except
Tie general good And so, the great benefits
saen would result from its exercise, are In large
'ee lost to the individual and to the mass. stu,
-~h has been accomplished; great advancement
= been made, against the tide and wind, and at
= tine the aspects and prospects OF our affairs
Stasplc,ous of scarcely any thing more than OF
= Successful cultivation o, National Literature
.: National Art
ase the word National, because whatever we
"weu must be done in a national spirit A great
S'nof is usually in advance Of his coun,rymen. but
He course thsy have elected. while inferior wri-
4 en- niger in the centre and the rear. Men Of su.
err genius create popular feelings and opinions
&h are echoed by the men OF mere talent. The
Il ~tof great work is given or received by the
tpte among whom il is produced, and so is ma
90 q IN effect or as a cause. While the genius
ssss inmates the best literature Of any country
SSbe peculiar to il. it's subjects may be chosen
the world IL i. absurd 10 suppose that
no chiefs, or republican soldiers, mus, be the
e1ters of our national works, or that our
scs iorests. or seaike prairies, or valleys or
heins, or clustering shops, mus, be their scenes
80 ase Lost, the Pilgrims Progress, Utopia, are as
Az poruons Of British literature, | suppose. as
d. London Assurance, or the History oil :" IL
he Fourth
on. subjects for the author or the artist, in our
Con- oansry, are to be preferred. because, on ac-
he -" 'helr freshness, they afford the most strlk'
es,s 81 Tor the development of ideas; and be
po-s NC nc PHYSICAL condition Of country. having
~. y. influence upon character. naturally fur
kels.s~ e most opposite illustrations Of people $
and manners.
| hans>;. onned States an expansive sympathy with
ndr,-{ IN earnest democrstical spirit. perfect
hn ~ ence' must animate US ia all mental exer-
fsiA A. Will animate us and our people will
rrR great mission, by q NArIoSAL LIrERA.
Iss1 s Sss been quarter of century of Labor.