Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-07-04
,...or.al and I.iternrY Progress.

Material ana Lltei AANsAN
A southern contemporary, comment
ing upon the change Of southern
magazine from a literary to an indus
trial publication, remarks that while
I" its literary friends in the outset hoped
10 see it become a literary magazine
the editor perhaps chose better plan IN
making it chiefly an industrial jour-
pal." Our contemporary then declares
that the southern people are not now
q literary people, that their tastes are
not developed in that direction, and
that /" the spirit Of the South is the spirit
Of material progress" 1t is true that
the southern people do not encourage
southern literary publications as they
should. 1t is also true that
there is spirit of material pro-
rress abroad in the South. Consider
ing these facts i! may be that the editor
Of the magazine in question made, in
financial point of view, good move
But in a sense it is a mistake to say
that the people of the South are not
literary people, and that their taste is
not developed in that direction. South
ern patronage Of literature published
in the North has been for years most
important consideration with northern
publishers-a fact that carries its own
comment as to culture in the
South. Again AS we recently
showed, the South is rapidly developing
a class of magszine-contributors and
book-makers, who are receiving the
warmest recognition in the most critical
literary circles. But one reason why
southern literary publications are
accorded such mesgre support is
found in the disposition to exalt
" material progress " at the ex-
pense of progress in all other directions.
The idea that there is more money in
material progress than in anything else
causes us to give but scant stimulus in
other fields, the development of which
would be of immense advantage in at
tracing attention to the South. The
stress laid upon material progress has
IN a measure had a tendency to foster
the belief that material progress and
literature are incompatible-that the
latter interferes with the former-that
the indulgence of literary tastes is
luxury. No more erroneous belief ever
found Judgment in the minds Of sane
people. 1t is about on par with the
notion that higher education " units
man for practical business life. Mate
rial and literary progress are twin
sisters, and no people ever re-
ceived the palm of true progress save
as their joint gift. Literary progress
means cultivation and refinement, which
are as essential to the greatness of any
people as is wealth. Indeed, they are
prominent factors in creating wealth and
in developing material resources in
that they guarantee to capital and
immigration conservative government.
We would not have our contemporaries
abate in the least their efforts to stimu-
late the spirit Of material progress in
the South. We should never lose an OPP
portunity for making known to the
world the rapid strides we are taking in
the race for wealth. The energy dis
played by the South in this respect
cannot be too highly commended.
But we would utter warning
against allowing the impression
to 60 abroad that gain is the
sole object Of the South. To allow that
impression to obtain is to couutenance
a reflection upon our civilization. Let
us render to material progress all that
is It's due, but let us not make tia fetish,
the worship Of which will keep us from
rendering to literary progress all that
is due the latter also. In short, let us
give both just recognition and hearty
encouragement, to the end that they may
have full opportunity for taking their
respective and equally necessary parts
in the great work Of southern develop
mont.