The Democratic advocate., 1880-02-28
speotacies and STAFF.


We want genuine American literature.
This want is, no doubt, widely felt, although
in one section Of the country busy pens
have for many years been nominally sup
plying it. Our fellow w-countrymen of New
E0gland have succeeded 10 "making many
books, Of which, says Solomon, "thcre Is
no end, but If they think they have there
by won the credit Of forming distinctive
national literature, there must be serious
mistake somewhere.
Such literature, iu any imposing pro-
portions, is yet to be developed, aud il is
my belief-take it for what it is worth
that the impetus will come mainly from
the West and the South. We may expect
the latter to bestir themselves before long
as they have not hitherto, and to find them
aiding the Northern literary mind in re-
lieving itself of its yassalage to that Of
England.
II is not so much question Of artistic
subjects as Of intellectual standpoint. Shall
We continue to study literature with the
English mind while we study politics, war,
mechanics, agriculture, with our own ?
Something must be done to dispel the aw-
ful reverence for English authority; the
chief end Of American authorship must
cease to be a rank among English classics;
our faces must be turned, not eastward,
but westward; and our study directed to
the needs Of our own people. When that
day shall arrive there will be no more apol.
ogetic international novels !" America
will not taboo "Americanisms," any more
than England tabooes Angicisms, or
France Gallicisns, and among her exalted
names will stand that of Noah Webster,
for then American scholars will no longer
be frightened by the bold conception of an
"American Dictionary"
As the magnitude of sum depends
upon the number Of its units, We should
encourage especially literary productions
having what the Atlanta Constitution calls
the FLAVOR Of loealism;" one Of the best
means Of doing which would be the estab.
lishment Of popular magazine of the first
order somewhere 10 the South. We need
magazine that will appeal to refined
tastes, develop and reflect local talent, and
give expression to enlightened opinion and
catholic sympathies; be as freely open to
contributors Of all sections as SeriJRer aud
Harper, and, in the department of literary
criticism, as stimulating as the old Ora
hams Magazine, when edited by Poe.
II will, of course, be objected that liter,
AIRY aud other periodicals are too numerous
already. Some kinds are, undoubtedly
but If those Of the highest character be so
it Is not in this region. The time for q
change seems to have arrived, especially
If we consider how respect for American
letters in general would have been height
ened had the mighty spiritual force oI
Southern statesmen aud heroes been EN-.
bodied in the enduring forms of artistic
literature
The undertaking, it is true, would re-
quire large capital, daring enterprise, and
persistent energy; in short, the facilities
and incentives of great publishing house
| may be too sanguine in hoping that tn,
day is not very distant when some courag
eous capitalist, young or old, Northern OIL
Southern, proftiug by the lessons of the
past, but undaunted by its failures, shal
do his country lasting service and him
self a lasting honor by becoming the foun
der of such house in Baltimore.
Then, Boston, look to your sceptre