Civilian & telegraph. [volume] (Cumberland, Md.) 1859-1875, 1859-03-31
Alistrllaneaus.
From "The Fly-Loaf."
! Southern Authorship.
by REV. JAMES STACY, sEwsAN, GA

by REV. JAMES STACY, NEWMAN, GA.
When we take a sober view of the greai
family of nations, we find assstriking dispar-
| ity existing in their every condition, social,
moral, religious and domestic One part, and
by far the greater, stillli buried in the dark
shades of barbarian ignorance; another is
just emerging from the depths of that same
degradation, in which it has been for ages
lenyeloped; third part has attained unto
| that state Of true national greatness, charac.
terized by wealth honor, all the luxuries and
necessaries Of life, together with arts, sciences
4norality, law and orler-all the inseparable
accompaniments ofa high state of improve
ment and refined civilization ..
! Africa, though under a genial atmosphere
and blessed with natural advantages, is still
lowest in ignorance and degradation. Asia
the cradle of mankind and birthplace of re.
ligioa, aboundinS in all the means, facilities
and excitements, calculated to produces lig
degree of mental and physical development
Is no farther removed from African ignorance
and barbarism than the narrow Isthmus that
separates their wide dominions. Europe, moi
more favored by nature with indictments to
action, has far outstript them both, in all that
conduces to happiness in social, civil and do
mestic life. This diversity is in no way at
tributable to locality; for we find that the
same American soil and climate which gave
birth to a savage race, now sustain people,
skilled in. all the arts and sciences of civil
lied life, and possessing, in high degree, all
that pertains both to the theory and the prac-
tice of sociology The true cause Of this dis
parity is to be found in the different degrees
Of moral and mental development, TO which
these nations have severally attained. 1t is
equally true, and capable of demonstration,
that this development depends mainly upon
the amount Of literature, both oral and writ
ten, which was produced upor their o,en soils.
Those ancient philosophers and statesmen,
who have instructed the world, have princi-
pally benefited their. own countries, and the
world through them, and left an imperish-
able name behind. Greece still lives in her
Demosthencs--Rone in her Cicero-Judea- in
her; Moses; and China in her Confucins. So
the modern nations of Europe, who are obey
ing this great law Of Development, are not
only growing ininfluence, but, also, excelling
in literary and scientific researches. a rich ac-
cumulation of which they viii transmit to
posterity. which, ike a stream, will flow for
ages to come, enricbing all in its course. I.
This siew Of the subject suggests to us
the practical inquiry, whether We Of the
Sonths are discharging our duty in this par-
Ficular, to ourselves, our country, and our
pospeEty? Although nature has dealt out
with lavish hand, all the necessary means and
facilities for mental Improvement and the
country caiis iondlysom her sons for the sup
lpIy Of ler literary wants, still ills painful to
Sc thoss means have no. been putin rcquisi-
fion, and that supp bas not been furnished.
! I've have bat q aeek oxerour nbfaries, to
findl tbat We have but few books that can
bosss Of Southern origin .Gzeg1 AF'
[ That ithis state Of 'fhiagssedght no longer
81. .Exist. &ii Appear ffon q EcIloShg COM
siderations: ---sSE'ksalGsz.l .ls
= ssfa9tse Hire that m ,sps : wsnts m
tshepld b ssppheei > FzBeAzsaad that all our
lresotircosbs derelopeds aAlfhistery nnques-
tforabiS sho~sithat the wealth ard intellfz
sence. arts and sciences, morals and legisla-