Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1880-12-23
Literature and Politics.

Senior Grafton by Z: 2; wingeroth. Cias
| Of 1881, 4. & N. College,
Modern civilization, as generally consid
cred. is an outgrowth of intellectual de
velopment. The mind, capable of receiv
ing and retaining tho most delicate i'm
preSsions, obtains its nOurishment from
every material element of the universe
Every form of being or existence, whether
pleasing or repulsive. when brought into
contact with any of the senses, becomes Al
influence in moulding and forming the
character of an individual. Deriving thus
it's nutriment from such al infinite variety
/ of sources, the mind itself becomes plas
tic power, creates new images, new chan
nels OF thought, and finds expression, ac-
cording to its nature, in the various arts
and sciences.
We will consider but one of these, Liter
aturc, and its influence on the state. By
literature VIC understand the expression
| Of an individuals or 4 nations ideas i'll
writing. It exists III many different
forms-in dramas, cpics, clesics, songs
and ballads, in tales of romance and cliv.
airy, in history, philosophy, and in all
other forms of wOrd-compositiOn. Com.
| parltively few persons in ancient times
| were permitted to enjoy its benefits. The
art of printing was then unknown, and for
the masses literature existed only i'll i'm
perfect native songs and ballads, orally
transmitted from generation to generation.
But tho invention of the printing press
created Il new lifo for literature. 1t
brought on Srandcr, 4 sublimcr TcvOlu-
| ton than was ever enacted on the battle
fields of a nation. 1t rescued from perpet-
ual darkness the rich treasures OF the an
cient classics and revived the languages
in which Plato philosophical, Homer and
| Virgil sang, and in which NcnOphOn,
Livy and Caesar recorded the events Of past
ages. Literature assumed distinct form.
Books, magazines, pamphlets and news.
papers were in time printed and read and
civilized nations gradually discovered their
influence by an intellectual and moral
progress which freed them, to Il great cx-
tent, from the ignorance and superstition
Of preceding generations. Religion, also,
spread its influence, and tho Bible, instead
of being cllainedstO the sacred altar for
preservation, became \ general household
! treasure.
Literature is not confined to any partic-
| ular state or nation it is 4 common pos
| session, varying according to the genius
| of the writer's. All the European nations
have their literary representatives, vary
ing from the mere scribe to the myriad
minded Shakespeare while our own Ar
| cadia, already immOrtalizcd in song and
story, still cries out, " Excelsior"
The influence of literary productions on
politics, or the administration OF public
affairs, has always been recognized as of
the utmost importance. Soldiers, states
men and politicians drink deep ut its
hc.,thful fountains. In time of public
calamity or distress, some tiny song or
poem, breathing the sentiments of an
anxious people, will arouse the dropping
spirits Of land and carry it on to peace
and victory. "The man who writes the
songs OF 4 nation need not care who makes
it's laws" In the French revolution the
pen was mighticr than the sword for the
MarseilleS, sung by cnrapturcd thousands,
fired the souls of the bcleagucrcd hosts
and bore them in the battles din to exalted
deeds of hcrOism. The sweet songs OF 4
IIeine, 4 Moore or Burns, expressing the
tenderer emotions Of the heart, the patri-
Otic zeal OF tho statesman. or the quiet
musings Of the fresidc, enno5le the
masses and elevate them to higher, a
purcr and \ noblcr manhood. Who can
estimate the influence II Paine "Conl-
mon Sense had in rescuinS our own
land from British thraldom? or that of al
"Uncle Toms Cabin" so indssolubly
connected with the emancipation of the
Southern slave? From the Norman
trOubadOurs who humOrcd and delighted
the court Of England, up to the present
time, literature has been IN indispensable
factor in the existence and government of
nations. 1t will permeate every individual
within it's course. Its spirit cannot he
hemmed in by any form Of jurisprudence.
Its subtle power, which is mighticr than
the sccptre of 4 king, can determine the
destiny of nations.
Whatever political dissatislact"ns may
exist in our country, the reconciliation
should be entrusted to the healing intlu- |
ence of literature The blae and the gray
should bc forgotten and when We decor
ate tic graves OF our battle slain. VIC
should strcw the roses on the soldier. not
on
"Thcsc in the rOb!n.s of glory, |
Those in the gloom of defeat"
Then solid North would greet 4 solid |
South the Republican and the Democrat |
would unite in aspiring to make their |
country the noblcst criterion Of national |
existence.
Wicked for CIergymen.
II believe it to bc all wrong: and even " irk- |
eii for ccr;,ymcn or Ot her puip men to he ici |
into giving Testimonials to qu:lck doctors or |