Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1855-10-20
Sustain Southern Literal ure.

There are times when we really begin TO in
dulge the hope that the Southern people open
ing their eyes 10 the importance of sustaining
their own literary and educational institutions in
preference to bestowing all their favor and patron
age upon those of the North 1t caunot be de
MED that, to some extent, the newspaper press of
the South, by its indiscrimnate laudations of
Northern periodicals aud Northern school books
is responsible for the Indifference and neglect
with which literary journals and works of Gle
mentary instruction, published this side of
the Potomac, have been treated. But, every
now and then, observe in some Southern pa
per, nn eloquent&ndgnan remonstanoc against
the hostile and msolent tone of Northern Maya
zinists, which encouraged us to hope that more
lust and reasonable measure of favor is about to
be shown to our Southern intellectual efforts, and
that we are ready TO shoke off the mental vassa-
age in which we have so long continued to New
England and New York The Columbia Banner
of South Carolina, published at the capital of TINT
State, has recently spoken out against the insult
ing tenor of Puinam's Monthly, as shown in IA
late article on the Nebraska question, and after
quoting most obnoxious passage concerning the
repeal of the Compromise, holds the following
proper and sensible language
We need give no farther evidence ofthe incen-
diary character of this once esteemed journal,
which should be excluded from the South while
its pages are SO freely soiled with such informed
ding commentaries on n practical factit does not
understand, and the theory of which 1t msrepre-
sents.
The same mail which brought the number con-
tanning this specimen of Northern virulence,
brings ia us a circular asking aid to increase its
circulation and protesting that. 1--WE do not re-
fuse to discuss any subject of Importance to the
country: and while aerer assume Il partisan at
hfude, we aim 10 treat every subject rs il deser
ves." 1t processes courtesy and presents with
in lightly.
Verify, are people accustomed to sub
mission Will we never hurl back upon our as
saiants their shells of combustible and explosive
materials!
A month ago too, the Eutd,o Observer, pub
lished al Eatsw, Greene Co, contained a long
letter addressed to the Editors of the Saturday
Erening Post, by Mr.. John w. Womack. in
which that gentleman administers a severe rebuke
to the Philadelphia Editor for the abolition ten.
denotes of his hebdomiBal. Mr. Womack thus
concludes
trust that the people of the South will wake
up to true of their present condition; |
trust that they will no longer forget their self
respect; trust that they will cease to take, or
to read, newspapers and periodicals published in
the North | trust that they will cease to travel
TO Northern watering places and trust that
they will cease to purchase goods from the North
but import their supplies direct from Euro
pean ports. and that during the present state of
things they will have no further intercourse with
the people Of the North.
1t is when we the the true policy of the South
thus plainly and honestly set forth that our
hopes revive for Southern literature; but on the
other hand how discouragng i, is to witness the
utter want of consideration with which the ablest
of our literary publications are regarded.
We confess it was with pain, amounting al
most to indignation, that we read in the Rich
mond papers the other day the appeal of the pro-
proprietors Of the Southern Literary Messenger
declaring that, unless they received large ae-
cession to their subscription list within Two
months, that work must be discontinued. Now
we say without hesitation, thatit would be burn
ing disgrace to the Southern States and esprci-
ally to Virgina,to permit such a work to expire.
For nearly quarter of a century, it has been as
socated 9th whatever Of intellectual activity
the State displayed in its pages the best minds
of the passing generation have given out their
lessons of practical wisdom. ar embamed the
sweet utterances of their poetic ins?sration. And
its high character has been maintained fully to
the present moment. We do not hesitate to say
that some ofthe latest numbers will compare with
any that have appeared since its commencement
in 1894 and we have every confidence that II II
maintained as it should be- by the generous
subscriptions of the Southern people, it would