Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1882-08-18
Has America a Corner in Her
own HOuse2
L. R. MESSENGER.

are to be preserved, Is 1t not about
time that some other force than simply
the ballot should be recognized a. a
factor in the RESULT Will not the
social and literary forces yet be recog.
nized, pay demanded, as more potential
in securing unity and individuality, SO
that American land we lei thereby
the United States only character,
politics, thought and work will be as
distinctive as if labeled, Warranted
not to fade?"
1t is incredible, not to say monstrous,
that the majority Of thinking, active,
progressive people have not all along
insisted on the right OF America to be
herself, or, ::as the child phrase has
it, to grow up herself, pretty much as
she was projected and framed by
Washington and the founders OF our
government; to insist that this coun
try should not become manacled and
emasculated by the innovations and
forms imported from the effete Old
World by the Numbering, insipid,
brainless toadies who ape Europe in
clothes, religion and bon bOns2
Now that the Chinese question is g
plummet line reaching into deeper
waters than are yet fathomed, and the
laugh Of the newspapers going around,
about the carriage wheels of the
Attorney General, and his rufles and
quaint style of costume, one is set to
rejecting again OF this disposition OF
aping everything and being nothing
individual. Should not America,
Liberty's camping ground-nay, her
victorious home-stand for emanci-
pated man? Not bringing into this
new realm, breezy with winds blowing
ia from the headlands of a new morn.
ing, the old notions to weld viii the
With the new Idea. But, at every
cost, she should in details, of lawl,
policies, customs, modes, methods, art
and thought, manifest her person
Atty, and assert her individuality.
True, members of her house
hold may 60 Annoying to
foreign fields occasionally, and
read the hieroglypbs of the past;
and from the footprints in the sands,
guess who the other man was that
passed on out Of sight down the GEN.
turtles. But not for the sake of wear
ing his old shoes, nor Juggling back
the cast-OfO Old, only to see how dis6g-
uriug and oppressive to the New it is.
To the true American patriot and
spirit the tendency Of the times is
hardly less than painful.
If an individual has the right to
protect his household and say who
shall cross his doorsill, this nation
will at last have to face the fact that
she must throw out at least a picket
fence to protect her premises; that
she must presently recognize some
limitation which will declare her
power, personality and protection Of
her civilization. Why should Amer
lea desire to resemble other nations,
rather than the ripening and perfect
ing of her own powers, SURPRISING
them all in vigor, OF justice, human
ity, liberty, thought and art? Elmer
son long since suggested to America
Ito get her brain rid of the tapeworm
of Europe" And he adds: Zone
day we shall cast out the passion for
Europe by the passion for America,
etc. Already, who provoke pity like
that excellent family party just arriv-
ing 10 their we'll appointed carriage,
as far from home and any honest end
as ever? Each nation has asked sue.
cessively, What are they here for?'
until at last the party are shame
faced and anticipate the question at
the gates Of each town."
Why should Americans run away
from their exhaustless mines to hunt
charcoal of other lands with which to
make their diamonds? Again, there
is the superiority Of scenery and nat.
ural resources. Why, back Of our
fathers vineyard is a noble, beautiful
cascade, which a noted traveller told
us, on viewing, far surpassed many il
Switzerland, which they had been at
pains and expense to visit. Cumula-
tive illustration could be cited of this
running away from the nearest and
best to what is farthest and least or
inferior.
Why should not the fresh, strong,
freed spirit Of the New World-the
tones OF its mighty waters-the songs
Of its birds-the matchleJs tints of its
heavens-tbe glory of its flowers and
fauna-be everywhere in the peoples
work Of this country, and the new steI
of its progress beat time to the music
OF its own inspired art2 Why, even
the great singers have come over to
tell the people Of the beauty of our
own ballads, and take one of the tender
plantation melodies, like 1.-THE Ole
Folks at Home" and show us unsur.
passed beauty aud pathOs, that com.
plement Moore's best any day. This
infection Of European notions, modes
ideas, etc is more conspicuous, posi-
bly,, in Washington City than aDywher,
else Perhaps there's a little contagioI
in being jostled by the lord" anC
lady" with their armorial trumpery
and various relics of ieudalism. Yet
this, it would seem, might spur al
independent American, believing il
the simplicity and good Of democra
cles, for the race, TO more POSITIVELY
assert his individuality, his freedom
from the old net and Nessus shirt o
effete custom.
We bring the Italian and French il
to spice our ragout, and all of theil
fashions in dress; we hang up IL
Queen Anne style" and u,
known quantities Of the an
clients in our windows, dom
and tower, and architecture generally
we rave wei their music and actors
we constantly quote English prece
dents in politics, law, theolog
and government, so that in accommC
dating the world and its luggage, "
come to find that America has scarceI