The Columbia Democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1837-1850, 1849-03-31
Random Shots,-No. r.
Our .Wagasine Literature.
PY NoNDEsCRIPT.

During the last Presidential Campaign, Rufus
Choate, Whig, said, "there are many good things
like in the Democratic party. like their ma
tionaity aud their spirit OF unlon after all IKE
the American feeling that pervades the masses
Never were truer remarks made by any man. -
And every Democratic heart in the nation VIII
honor Rufus Choate for this tribute to their Palrl'
otism. But while we have reason to be proud oI
our marty for its American feeling" let me sug-
gest that there are still other ways OF proving our
love of country, than by voting and acting win
tb, Democrats:-and one Of these is by welding
a truly and thoroughly national pen' and Pro'hu1'
eating national doctrine and feeling
There is perhaps no better way OF DONG 'nlS
efectually than through magazines and he"spa'
ners Time was when these things were the lux
nries Of life, they have now become the necessa'
rios In the bar room, the workshop, the cot
tage, periodically are welcomed these Condensed
daily and hourly chronicles, of the dolngs OF the
world "Gve me- said Sheridan, IN one oil MS
most powerful speeches, "freedom OF the Press'ana
corrupt Ministry and vetnal parliament, can
not deprive the people OF their liberty" Il quote
from rnemory) The press is the lever by whIch
the world must be moved, and its literature should
he If the most substantial kind. In daily or
even weekly newspaper, great variety Is aoSo'
lutely necessary Articles must be snort ana sP''
cy They must embrace all subjects; science
Literature, Politics and Religion. me'hoolca'
and extended essay upon any subject Is not TO oe
thought of, for this is an era IN which every '"'"s
is done up in hurry, but business IN Congress-
In a Monthly Magazine however the case Is
very different. Matter is more carefully prepar'
cd and more diligently selected. Less regard Is
paid to brevty, and less attention to variety In
This state Of things, the question might be asked
would il not be advisable change and modify IN
great measure our magazine literature ltmust be
acknowledged that the Engli sh have excelIed US
in this particular. The literature OF the London
Quarterly, Edinburg Review, and Blackwood' Is
,nosty Of the substantial kind. Science, Politics.
and criticism form the basis. Jetitays Scott, Ben
Sidney Smith, and Macauley, are among the finest
E,,ayists in our language. Notwithstanding ma
tonal feelings, thus much must be acknowledged
Our magazines are very generally filled with lack
a.daisical love tales, and sentimental poetry
There are few articles bold, strong or vigorous,
There are no essays like Macauley'S smooth, la
bored and smelling Of the midnight OIL His sub
ec;s too are generally national. Whether this
To tho acanty remuneration OF
our American Essayists or to some other cause, Is
NOT apparen' hut one thing is sure, if authors
were well paid for good articles, there would be
more written. By proper exertion purely ma.
tional Literary .Moynsine could be handsomely
supuorted. Comprising in its leading articles his
,orica and national subjects, essays and crlllqueS
IN s,and,r6 American and English works Our
history is sufficiently romantic, our national
progress sufficiently great, our discoveries and IN
vsntions sufficiently extensive and numerous tc
give almost unlimited scope to national llerar!
Magazine. "No pent.up Utica contracts It's pow
ers. -,
For tbe whole boundless continent is ours"
,,,,,,;no If this stanp. conducted by man o
acknowledged ability, would deserve and recelv
hearty support. No one would object to iItI
sorinkling of love OCCASIONALLY tor
"vaiety'srhe spice Of life,
And gives it all ils nayor"
MANY Of our literary publications. are c'nnue'
i ,.;,h much and marked ability. But "i'hou
,hs editor being at fault, the mlgIzlne Is not Of IN
lind The articles are not, to my m'nd' 'uihe'sI'
=, n.donal They comprze perhaps the mos
popular kind OF writing that at least "o, ,rsr
,vi,h the mass of readers; but ins'oai OF PamPeT
ing the public t,'ts these publications should Ell