New-York tribune., 1879-12-21
SOUTHERN WRITER'S.
LOCAL SERMON AGAINST sEcTIoNALIsM. 4.

From The Atlanta Constitution.
We saw a statement awhile ago to the effect that
Mr. Paul II. Hayne proposed to leave georgia and
make his home at the North, because professional
literary man finds no appreciation here. III any ne-
fence were necessary we would nave no neslla!ion
in defending Mr.. Hayne against the suggestioIs
and implications of this statement. lie no DOUBT
feels the need of literary fellowship but even
stronger than this is the feeling that prompts hm
20 enlarge his mental horizon, and to rid himself OF
the thousand and one special hindrances and tram
mels peculiar to the south and TO the spirit
of sectionasm that mas iastene9 upo9 Soutt- Iit-
crature in America must be American IN lts proau-
est sense, Ii may come from the North or South
il may be subjected 10 such notifications as result
from social cimltic differences in the sections,
and it may take tone and coloring from these; so
much the better The result must still be Ameri-
can otherwise II will not survive. refusal or
neglect to recognize these fundamental facts has
smothered literary effort in the South for genera
tIons so that il the accounts were to be made up
tomorrow-if the Genius of the Nations were to sit
in Judgment upon us-we could not point TO any one
whose work is worthy enough to entite ms name 10
a place IN the gallery of the immOrals. fugitive
poem here and there and q stray Grafton would
make up the sum of all we could venture TO place
on exhibition. The results OF literary effort IN the
South are pervaded with the most intense sectional
ISM Prejudice takes the shape OF cgotsin. ana we
unblushingly alluGe to ourselves n the pinks OF
chivary. and our neighbors as the sons and daugI-
ters of every mean and unworthy impulse. In
short. have gushed until the general effect OIL so
much gush has reacted upon MS.
We are asked TO support Southern papers because
they are representatives of Southern literature and
we are asked to buy books for the same rea-
sou Our poets are all Southern poets, and our
noveIists--such as we have--are all Southern nov
elists. Does publisher hll paper full OF trash
from the composition books of romantic school
girls We must ALA pplaud aud buy for the benefit OF
Southern literature. Does Miss Sweetie Wildwood
get together lot of sickcnng dogeercl The news
papers must gush over the gush. not only for the
purpose of building up Southern literature. but be.
cause Miss Swcetle is daughter OF Colonel
Wildwood! What is the result. Why sim
Div this. that the stuff we are in the
habit of calling Southern literature is not only
burcsque upon Irne literary art, but a humiliation
and disgrace to the people whose culture IT Is sup
posed 10 represent. These very harsh words, but
they must be said some day, and tEesooner they
are SAID and accepted as the truth the better for
those who have any regard for our Literary future
the better for those who have IN interest III build
ing up local literature. The truth might as well
be told: we have Southern literature worthy OF
the name because attempt has been made to give
II the pcculiariies OF scctiOnalIsm rather than To
inpart TO IL the flavor of lOcalisn.