Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1920-12-25

T SSUES which today are the subject of
lively interest to the American people
were no less engaging seventy-fve
years ago. Walt Whitman, on the editorial
staff of the Brooklyn Daily Eagle, in 1916
and 1847, was discussing fuently the topics
of today. Blue Laws, prohibition, immigra-
ton and the Irish question were matters of
as much moment in those days as they are
now.
Whitman's editorial contributions have
Just been published by Putnams, under the
title, "The Gathering of the Forces" and it
is interesting to observe the mental attitude
of Whitman toward some of the questions
that are in the forefront of public discussion
today -
legislator at Albany, no less enterprise
ing than many Il our present day law maxi
ers proposed to abolish "all RIGHTEOUSNESS
and morality in the state of New York"
by the simple expedient Of legislation. The
bill called forth from Whitma1 a discussion
of the general question of Blue Laws, which
he characterized as "the miserable effect of
all efforts to legislat men into religion and
virtue.'' adding that he had mo faith in all
the efforts Of the law to make men good"
Although less acute in Whitmans time,
prohibition was nevertheless subject of
much agitation and controversy, and here
we find Whitman writing on "the intemper-
ance of temperance" and pointing out the
failure of certain licensing restrictions IN
New York. It was h. conclusion that mod
crate drinking could not be enforced by
statute.
The question of restricting immigration
excited public attention and moved Whitman
to criticize the panicky views of his con-
temporaries concerning the scare over the
importation of paupers and criminals He
complained that "eve-. our discre; and usu-
ally clear-eyed contemporary the Evening
Post is carried away with this idle hubbub."
Famine aggravated tho Irish question
which in those days was hardly less acute
than it is today. Whitman entertained the
most sympathetic and extravaganza views OF
the case of Ireland, and declared that "no
one can see where I'D how these evils, un-
der the present state of things. are to be
obviated Surely they will prevail as long as
the present organization of relations between
England and Ireland prevails" He Endorsed
the policy Of the Repeal Movement under
Daniel O'Connell, a policy that correspond
ed at that time generally to the Dominion
Home Rule policy of today.
Whitman's contributions outside the edi-
torial columns of the Brooklyn Eagle to
matters of public concern are no less inter-
estng than his editorial expressions. He
was excited by the "sad state Of American
drama and uttered protests which have been
repeated in one form or another by his sue
cessors ever since.
The Hamilton Association, in 1847, held
Truly frightful and audacious sem
timent. most reasonable and rebel
lious toast! Are we not "a mere
suburb of London? We trow yes !.
as long as such sentiments as that of
the hapless toast are condemned; F.
as long as we copy with servile imita-
tion the very CASTOR literary fashions
of London-as long as we wait for Eng
lish critics to stamp our books and our
authors, beft re presume to say
whether they are very good or very bad
as long as the floods Of British manu-
featured books are poured over the
land and give their color to all the de-
partments of taste and opinion
an anniversary dinner and a toast ''involv-
ing an assertion of American literary indie
pendence" was Kissed, inviting this comment
! by Whitman:
| The debate continues to this day and en-
| livens the pages of our periodicals, with in
teresting clashes between Professor Brander
Matthews and Stuart Sherman and their
followers, on the one side, and H L. Menck-
en-, j. e. Spingarn and others. on the other