The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1880-05-02
FaE POLITICAL COMET.
DsIsxHIs DssHsyfs nsrst late b
Literary say

Last week Monday stephen W. Dow
ney, delegate from Wyoming territory,
introduced a bill, which after a whereas
declaring that the people Of the United
states are n Christian people, and firm
~ believe in the Apostolic Greed, APP
propriaies $4,000 TO he expended in
commemorative through suitable paint
iBgs by the great living artists Of this
century, upon the walls Of the national
capitol, the birth, life death and resur-
reetiOn Of our Saviour. Jesus Christ. as
told ia the four gospels.
The proposition WAS remarkable
enough To attract attention, hut no
body expected 1t eyer 10 be disinterred
from the tomb Of the library committee
10 which II was promptly consigned.
The next day Mr.. DOwney asked leave
10 print some remarks In support Of the
measure, which was, Of course. grant
cd, as such requests always are. This
morning the small but select circle OF
readers which the Congressional Record
enjoys, upon opening that periodical
with the ~lislless air that It's usually
dreary appearance FOSTERS, were amazed
10 find 1t leading on with a poem,
which, as they turned the leaves, wal
found to v no less than fifteen OF
Its broad pages. This poem was intro
duced by the words in brackets: s'Copy-
right, 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 1.-THE i'm
mortals. Dedicated 10 the congress Of
the United States"
Such an extraordinary production as
this could not fail TO attract general
attention, and II was brought before
each branch Of congress as soon as they
duced u resolution ~instructing the com
mittee on printing To see that the So
called argument" did % go into the
permanent edition OF the Record,
though the matter was dropped there,
on information that the house was al
ready considering II. In the latter
body Gen. Garfield suggested its refer
ence TO the committee on rules, on the
ground that n member had no right TO
publish u copyrighted work ms n part Of
the Record.
The poet who had thus suddenly
burst UPON The world was writing at his
desk in the EXTREMIST corner OF the
chamber, on the republican side, when
Garfield began, but he came down In
front and explained that he had only
published the argument" after con-
sulting the librarian OF congress as to
his right to print n copyrighted produc-
ton. Conger opposed the proposition,
us he does whatever Garfield advocates
nowadays, and about half the members
on each side voted against any interior
ence with the unlimited right to print
now enjoyed, but the motion was final
ly carried by q small majority.
The new aspirant for literary honors
is a quiet man OF middle age, slight fig
ure, and general appearance of the
book worm, rather than the politician.
lie Is serving his FIRST term, has hardly
opened his mouth before, and was not
known by sight to a large majority Of
his colleagues. 1t requires but u brief
conversation With him to show that he
is u religious enthusiast of a poetical
turn OF mind, who took to practicing
law in order to earn his bread aud but
ter, and has sven pushed his way into
Office In a community Of practical pio-
neers, while all the time devoting his
leisure to books, and his spare change
10 benovolence.
His argument is the result of years OF
work, and is so precious in his eye that
1t seems almost cruel to have II held up
TO ridicule, rs II was In debate. II Is,
in the authors words, al epic poem in
which an ideal figure styled Phantas-
magoria tells the story Of her Pilgrim
age-a pilgrimage which takes in heav-
en- and hell, history ancient and mod
ern, sacred and profane, classical myths,
literature, art and religions, false and
true; the ostensible object of it all be-
ing to show that this Is n Christian ma
ton, and ought TO manifest that fact
in the adornment OF its capitol. A
second Milton would almost be needed
TO carry through successfully so bold
and all embracing n plot, and Mr.. Dow.
ney is hardly n second Milton. II must
be said, however. that his verse Is not |
without merit, and that II shows n re-
markable knowledge Of literature and
history. The author proposes to pub
lish his work In book form, and hopes
to have it appear with Illustrations, of
which he thinks 1t capable, and lie has
the queer idea that ii will sell better in
England than in this country. II may
well he doubted II he will ever reap a
fortune from its publication, whether
illustrated or not, but he has certainly
secured larger notoriety in n shorter
time than any other epic poet on record.
Qusck Nostrums
A 49, -. /