The Daily clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1866-1888, 1884-02-22
The Rising Young Men Of Missis.
sippi."
wrsr PorSr, Mss, Feb. Is, 1884.

WEsr PoISr, Mss, Feb. is, 1854.
EDrroRs CLARION: have observed the
kind expression of your paper in regard TO
the design which | lately entertained of
presenting brief sketches of the rising
young men of Mississippi; and regret
that difficulties have so thronged my
pathway as to render it apparently impos-
sible for me to proceed in the undertak-
ing.
Mississippians are not reading people,
and hence buy but few books, and to place
a work upon the market at such prices as
obtain among the reading people of the
North, where every kind of literature is en-
couraged, it would require the sale of many
thousand copies to bring adequate compen-
sation to the author.
1t is true that the "Bench and Bar of Mis-
sissippi' met with liberal patronage
among the lawyers, at high price; but a
large number of copies were subscribed
for and delivered, for which no pay ha.
yet been received; and the experience of
the works of Mr.. Davis and Colonel
Claiborne, as we'll as mine, discloses the
fact that nothing short of a new gospel
revelation or apocalyptic vision could
arouse the literary lethargy of Mississippi.
love Mississippi and Mississippians. l
know more about them than any other peo-
pie, and would prefer my lot to be deter
mined by their lott but have no hope of
literary encouragement in the State, seeing
the acquiescence of our people in its
MISUNDERSTANDING, youth-blighting sys-
tenn of public education-an imposture so
evil and mischievous that if the curses Of
the ri sing generations could be materialized
abovJ the heads of those who are response
BILE for its existence, the caverns of Alps on
Alps, the bowels of Etna would be shallow
grave compared with the depth of their
burial.
Especially have dispaired of her litera-
ry development, since seeing the last lower
House of her Legislature vote down a
bill for the encouragement of literature,
which had passed the Senate by large
majority, where it was advocated by such
men as Reynolds and West and favored by
such men as Lamar, Howry and Walthall
andSthen this same House few days after
voted three or four thousand dollars to en-
able one of its members to collect and en-
body the sayings of the Supreme Court
into glossary or supplemental digest cover
ing seven or eight years for the benefit of
lawyers benefsction for which they had
no more use than for an eleventh leaf-turn-
ing finger, seeing that since the abolition of
allpleading rules and fixed practice lawyers
with statutory briefs have little else to do
but to search the reports in which the syl-
Labs of the reporters, found in connection
with the subject matter, are more availa.
BILE than abstracts,
The most interesting and MONETARY work
perhaps that could be produced in Missis-
sippi would be an investigation of the bur
dens which are weighing her down, q stir
among the minnows, a dokimdsid OF
the reign of the voluble tongue. There
are many salient points, and they will
not escape history, many acts of shame, Of
warning; and, it is hoped, of wholesome
experience. She needs some one
Who will look things squarely in the face
And look every weakness clear,
Who will put his finger on the place
And say "thou whist here, and here"
Respectfully,
JAMES D. LYNcH.