The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-06-04
LITERARY DECAY.
Some Remarks by MIR. Flanery on
Suggestions of the Critics.

Memphis Commercial Appear.
The decay OF literary power in these States,
and especially OF the postical faculty, istwide-
~ regretted, and has given occupation to
many pens at home and abroad. When such
leaders as w. D. Howells at the North and
NJ w. Connolly at the South, and that great
English literary power, the Spectator, agree
there is good cause for reflection, and little
thought will soon suggest search for the
cause Of our decline. For it is not far to
seek. The country mas abandoned It's lofty
ideals in politics and religion, and there are
no aspirations for excellence or purity IN
either except by small and powerless minor
ity, and even the minority is unable to raise
It's head above the flood of medtocrity which,
as the president of Princeton university SAID
last year. rules the land. The greed for gain
oYerwhelms everything. and an earnest call
for Gods glory and mans welfare Is lost
among tho screams of the pretenders and
charlatans who are fattenlng on these preten
sons to be the servants OF both. In else but
money making these is a lack OF deep earnest
ness. of the profound feeling, OF the iofty as
piration which leads to enthusiasm and bor-
ders on fanaticism: a condition which, when
soherly controlled, leads to good on earth and
happiness In heaven.
There NAV be latent talent and genius In
the South and West, but, as long as neither
region has any aspiration, and loves and ha-
treds not common to the whole country or
above the level, there will be no development.
Religious enthusiasm gave US Dante Milton,
BuQyhn, IlOna5 a henplS, BAl0eS ana Una
teaubriand. Politics gave US Carlyle, Macau-
lay and many others, while national sectional
feeling, broodine over wrongs, nursing olu
loves and hatreds, although the cause was
dying or dead, gave us the Wizard Of the
North" Sir Walter Scott
Now, very apropos comes an Incident which
! very well illustrates what was said last Sum
day, by the present, on Southern literature:
From out Of the level OF American culture,
from the mediocrity which dominates the land,
has lately sprung volume Of verses, COM
. nil ttu1l Nod t1rI tN.Nttf
| Spectator cites James Jeffrey Roche's "Bahy.
! lon as the only poem In the collection pos
| sesslng vitality" II divines that Babylon is
smother name for England and is glad to say
| that the poem can not be called the work OF
all American poet, adding there Is a certain
/ rhetorical viEor about the poem which ms4ees'
It worth notice. The author seems to have
dipped his pen In perfumed vltrlol. II, how
ever. he can manage to maintain the literary
standard he here attains, no Euglishman will
England as many names as he pleases Clear
ly such poem is worth repubshing;
BABYLON.
Her robes are of purple aud scarlet,
! And the kings have bent their knees
| To the gemmed and jeweled harlot
Who sitteth on many seas,
They have drunk the abominations
OF her golden cup Of shame;
| She has drugged and debauched the nations
With the mystery OF her name.
| Her merchants have gathered riches
BY the power OF her wantonness,
And her usurer are as leeches
On the worlds supreme distress.
! She has secured the seas as a spoiler;
Her mart Is robbers den,
! With the wrested toll of the toer
And the mortgaged souls OF men.
| Her crimson flag is flying,
Where the East and tho West are one;
Her drums while the day is dying
/ Salute the rising sun
She has scourged the weak and the owly
And the lust with an iron rod;
| She is drunk with the blood of the holy
She shall drink Of the wrath Of God
James jeffrey Roche,
Mr.. Roche Is editor Of the Boston Pilot, and
/ Is American born, with a good sound Irish
! feeling in his heart,
The animus and the lesson of the poem ts
| self evident.
| Clearly to produce a literature worthy of
| america her people must rise above the pres
/ ont level and find a purer atmosphere. And
1 IL the South aspres to greatness it must take
! up the journey and ascend to Sinai and there
! in communion with the God of Davis. Lee
; anc Jackson, write the laws for her own peo-
( PIE David Flanery
Memphis, Tenn, May 20, 1899