The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1872-01-10
A Voice from .h. Up-Coun,ry.

MR. EDITOR: The beginning OF new
year always, very naturally, brings with
it reflections upon the past. and pro-
misses OF reform for the future. have
not taken my pen in hand to give you a
homily, but merely to touch, "currente
calamo." some Of our shortcomings.
In my country excursions, frequent
~ find in the houses of our farmers agri-
cultural magazines, published at the
North. which really contain little or no.
thing adapted to our soil. climate, or 60
cial condition. They are. in the main,
diluted specimens OF Poor Richards
Almanao-full OF advertising humbugs,
and all manner of traps to catch the
unwary and unsuspeoting. Men are de-
ooyed by the low price and the illustra-
tions-never dreaming that this low
price and illustration may lead them
into Investments in White Chesters.
Brahmin Pootrss, Norway Oats, Nile
Wheat, Cow Mixers. Cotton Pickers and
such traps, altogether worthless.
We have at our own door tho Rural
Carolinian, beautifully printed. and H.
lustrated with things practical and ap-
propriate Its contributors are our own
farmers, men to the "manpe er born" who
might be supposed to know our wants.
Then there is the old Southern CuAiuator,
standard agricultural magazine OF long
standing; the Southern Farm and Home
the Practical Farm, the Farmer and
Planter. Richmond, Va; the Carolina
Planter, North Carolina; and many others
adapted to our wants, and identified
with us in interest and feelings. They
are not wolves in sleeps olothing-trapa
baited with perfumed and disguised poi
sons. Is this not suicidal policy to en-
courage. by our hard. earnings, those
who have no sympathy for us, whose
only interest is to pick our pockets for
their own beneht-not this only, but to
discourage, by 30 doing, home enter
prise, and chill the spirits Of those men
who are risling 80 much and working so
earnestly to build up the prosperity Of
an oppressed AMI abused people?
In out-of-the-way neighborhoodn. I
have found the New York Weekly. Fire.
Side Friend, Dollar Magazine, and other
trashy papers, full Of pernicious, sensa.
tional reading and abominable illustra-
tions. These papers are pushed into the
country by agents, and through the post
offices es-they are glazed over by sort of
thread bnre morality. and do their work
of decentralization insidiously but surely.
In moro refined circles yon will And
Hurpsrs' Monthly and Ha,pers' Weekly
that precious journal of civilization, f"
-calIed-and other yellow covered
literature. In the isdieu' boudoir. you
will find Harpers' bazaar, Demorests 8
Magazine. Godsy, and the like reprints
OF the meretriclOus taste of the Northern
shoddy aristocracy-n reflection of the
".SdIon ds Paris" Among the children
you will find The Little Corporal. Yankee
out and-out, Young America, in high
boots and spurs. Our Young Folks, The
Nursery, and like specimens of Yankee
precocity. Have our people no pride,
no self-respeot. no love of country :?
Have our women not taste enough to
select their own costumes? Are We to be
overrun by "the gew-gaw Of grief and
furbelows of fancy" Of Yankeedom in
matters of taste? Are all their isms to
come with carpet-bagism to curse our
afflicted people3 The fifteenth amend
ment was bad enough. bpt what follows
will be worse than Pandora's box. Let
us reform this altogether. Patronize our
home papers, encourage homo literature,
strive to build up On enduring monu.
ment for our children. It is bad policy
to patronize those who malign, misrcp-
resent and belittle ns. They nre welcome
to enjoy as high nn opinion Of them
selves Us they please. They may kiss
their blarney atone, Plymouth Rock, as
much as they please; but, pray, spare us
the infiotion. 1t is bad policy. more
over, to furnish ammunition for tho bat
teries which are playing upon your
own breast-works.
Mr.. Congressman Ramsey wants to
erect new Territory and to call it Ojib-
way. II there is to be new Territory