Southern standard. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1851-1856, 1852-07-24
Northern NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. Patronage.

One of the lowest practices of the Southern press
to be found in its continued ulsome praise of Northern
Literature we mean by this, the recommending to
Southern Patronage and favor such trashy, 1imsey,
contemplate stuff as that which finds medium thro'
the columns of Godey's Lady's Book, Graham's and
Sartans magazines, Saturday Evening Post ct I'd onne
genus tits singular fact one in no wise favorable
to good taste and sound morality that the light literary
press of the North finds at the South its richest har
vest and most ardent admirers. There are many rea-
sons why this is so, and did feel like it, would
hold up and expose with unsparing hand some of
them. One, among the many, will subserve cur pur.
pose.
The plea is, that there literary papers or ma
gaines of merit, published at the South And why
is it so! The reason is apparent and Southern men
and women are responsible for it. Literary, like
cry other profession, to thrive, must be literally sup
ported. Many attempts to establish literary papers
have been made some by men of distinguished abl-
ty, and all, after consumptive existence of few
months or years, have been swept from being. Why
did they not succeed, one asks We answer, that a
support necessary to useful and valuable existence
was denied to them, by the very class of men and
men, who can and do expend ten, fifteen twenty
dollars per annum, for trash from the North. We do
not lack talent, energy nor tact athe South All the
requisites necessary to maintain and make valuable
and highly useful periodical press is scattered all
the South In most instances lies dormant, because
inducements to arouse and bring it into existence
not offered. Talent is money when rightly directed.
press to succeed must be conducted in manner to
command respect and when it is not supported it
should be, it lacks the of drawing its columns
the contributions which money alone command
Give Southern magazine the patronage awarded to
Cooley, which is said be upwards of 10000 subscri-
bers, and we will venture the prediction, that the
Southern WILL in all that elevates and refnes pures
and strengthens the mind far outstrp its Northern
val The patronage will enable the Southern editor
to go into the market Of mind and Gull from it, the
rarest flowers with which he may grace his columns.
But if the nggardy support, such hitherto has char
acterzed the South shall repay the editors effort he is
effectually deprived of the by which talent is
purchased and he is left compete with opposition
at home that is bighting, and system abroad which
would bankrupt rich man soon. Cooley expends, in
all probability, less than 900 per upon
authors he could add $4,000 more and realize prin-
cey income from his work. This judiciously ex-
pended would talent of the first order but we
what taste presdes over the pages of these
zines.
1t is the duty of the press aid in checking evil and
in every this patronsing the Northern literary
press is evil the circle of which, widening hour
ly. 1t is not right to encourage citizens in the fol-
y of patronsng these trashy and vapd productions
and living in the hope of seeing the Southern
editors discourage and dscountenance the further
penditure ofmoney for any of them. If they will
ing play the hawk for these buzzards, and beg for
them like street medicants whine like spaniels,
they welcome to the honor belonging to hireling
menals-we'll none of it.
With anythinglike a united and hearty action even
in little State, press of the first literary
it could be successfully maintained. New Orleans
and Mobile oughwith their facilities, to be enabled
establish and sustain periodical presses of character
which would command support and challenge compa-
rison and criticism 1t will require capital energy,
and ability. We feel that if the effort is made under
proper auspices that the country press will do its duty
We want to see literature elevated and vigor-
ons higher in its aims, purifying in its tenden-
cv and less tnctured with the Susan Sucking lido
syncrases than that which make up the staple of our
present popular magazines. These popular tales OF
love- seduction and murder the fobles and rvoIities
of fashionable e light scenes, and musical
enades by starlight wood walks and lake excursions
are at the BEST subjects treated howsoever well IN
genousy they may be- but poorly calculated to intuse
into the young that of duty necessary to face and
tune future responsibilities frequently bring in this
every day life Give strong meats, but learn to
temper impulses, cool passions, and teach us