River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1880-05-06
THE POLITICAL COMET.
Delegate DOwney's Burst into the Lite
rary Sky.
Cincinnati Commercial

Cincinnati Commercial.
The sensation of the day has been the
sudden and startling advent in letera-
ture of congressman as lyric poet.
Last week (Monday) Stephen w. Dow
ney. delegate from Wyoming Territory,
introduced bill, which, after a where
as declaring that the people of the
United States are Christian people,
and firmly believe in the Apostolic
Creed, appropriated 100000 to be ex-
pended in commemorating, through
suitable paintings by the great living
artists OF this century. upon the walls
of the national capital, the birth, life,
death and resurrection of our Saviour,
Jesus Christ, as told in our gospels.
The proposition was remarkable
enough to attract attention, but nobody
expected it ever to be disinterred from
the tomb of the library committee, to
which it was promptly consigned. Next
day Mr.. Downev asked leave to print
some remarks in support of the meas
ure, which was, of course, granted, as
such requests always are. This morn
ing the small but select circle of readers
which the Congressional Record enjoys,
upon the opening vi that periodical with
the listless air that its usually dreary
appearance fosters, were amazed to find
it leading off with poem, which, as
they turned the leaves, was found to
cover no less than fifteen of its broad
pages. This poem was introduced by
the words in brackets: Copyright,
1880, by Stephen w. Downey; all
rights reserved" Under this was the
title, Argument of Hon. Stephen w.
Downey," and then the remarks in
prose, in which he had introduced the
bill referred to, and in support of its
provisions had the honor to offer the
following argument. entitled "The I'M
mortals. Dedicated to the congress OF
the United States"
Such An extraordinary production as
| this could not fail to attract general at
tention, and it was brought before each
branch of congress as soon as they met
In the senate Mr.. Morrill, introduced a
resolution instructing the committee or
printing to see that that the so-called
argument" did not go into the perma'
nent edition of the Record though the mai
ter was dropped there on information
that the house was already considering
it. In the latter body of the Genera
Garfield suggested its reference to the
committee on rules, on the ground
that member had no right to publish
a copyrighted work as part of the
Record.
The poet who had thus suddenly
burst upon the world was writing at hi
desk in the EXTREMIST corner of the
chamber, on the republican side, wher
Garfield began, but he came down il
front and explained he had only pub
lished the argument" after consultinf
the Librarian of congress as to his riga
to print q copyrighted production
Conger opposed the proposition, as h'
does whatever Garfield advocates now
adays and about half the members OF
each side voted against any interference
with the unlimited right to print nov
enjoyed, but the motion was final.
carried by small majority.
The new aspirant for literary honor
is quiet man of middle age, slight fig
ure, and general appearance of tn
book-worn rather than the politician
He is serving his first term, has hardly
opened his mouth before, and was n,'
known by sight to large majority 0
his colleagues. 1t requires but hrie
conversation with him to show that b
is religious enthusiast Of a poetics
turn of mind, who took TO practicin
law in order to earn his bread and but
ter, and has even pushed his way int
office in community of practical pic
neers, while all the time devoting hi
leisure to books and his spare chang
to benevolence.
His argument is the result of year
of work, and is so precious in his ey
that it seemed almost cruel to hav
it held up to ridicule, as it was in de
bate. 1t is, in the authors words, a.
epic poem in which an ideal fgur'
styled Phantasmagoria tells the story G
her pilgrimage-a pilgrimage whicl
takes in heaven and he'll
history, ancient and modern
sacred and profane, classics
myths, literature art and religions
false and true; the ostensible object @
it all being to show that this is Chris
tian nation, and ought to manifest tina
fact in the adornment of its capitol.
second Milton would almost be needles
to carry through successfully SO boil
and all-embraciug plot, and Mr.. Dow
ney is hardly second Milton. 1t mus
be said, however, that his verse is no
without merit, and that it shows re
markable knowledge of literature ant
history. The author proposes to pub
fish his work in book form, and hope
to have it appear with illustrations, O
which he thinks it capable, and he ha
the queer idea that it will sell better IL
England than in this country. 1t ma,
well be doubted if he will ever reap
fortune from its publication, whethe
illustrated or not, but ne has certainl,
secured larger notoriety in shorte
time than any other epic poet on rec
ord.
Rejected SuitOrs.