ABSTRACT
People who do conceive of it so, when they talk of un-American literature mean most literature—all which their peculiar training has unfitted them to estimate aright. Some people like to believe that in America, sooner than elsewhere, and better than elsewhere, it may all come to pass, and there is a reason why a literature that should reflect Mr. Whitman's hope in this regard, might, with no great impropriety, be styled distinctively an American literature. Not to take up more time in considering special traits that it may be desirable our literature should or should not possess, it is safe to say that American literature, to use figurative language, ought to express America. Literature, as somebody says, all literature whatsoever, is the thought of thinking souls. And whatever it is that souls in American are thinking, whether concerning democracy, or the color of the leaves in the fall, or wild-fowl on Seneca lake is perfectly sure to get itself expressed.
