Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Wayne County, Ind.) 1831-1837, 1833-08-24
VILLAGE AHISTOCRACY.

VILLAGE ARISTOCRACY.
If the following sensible article from
the Augusta Courier is calculated for
our meridian, we trust it will receive
the attention of those interested every
where, and have some effect in reno
wing those waHs ofscpar atom so oppo-
sed to human happiness. which have
their foundations only in unreasonable
prejudices.
In most villages Of any considerable |
magnitude there is found a social ari--
tocracy-ifwe may be allowed SO to,
qualify what il opposed to sociality-I
which it becomes all honorable citI-
zens to oppose BY their pretcntons and
their influence. l. is the cause Of a
community setting up distinction not
founded in merit, & productive ofheart
burnings, envy Il iliwll amongst neigh
bors. Ceneraily,lt is the vice OF weak
minds, intoxicated with good fortune.
or inflated by family distinctions. To
the shame OF the female sex, we fear, 1t
IS vice even more prevalent amongst
them than amongst the males. These,
in the transactions OF business, are
necessarily compelled to mix together.
Intercourse is leveller of fictitious
distinctions, and ultimately serves to
make meE pass for what they are worth.
But the ladies, many at least, have
extravagant notions Of thciro own digni-
! v about ilem-notions which cannot
allow them TO associate VITA the "com-
mon herd" Of virtuous and industrious
females who have not been born To the
enviable luxury Of a long purse.
r.otling serves more eiectually to
check the earliest and most ardent aspi-
rat!ons Of genius nothing offers more
fatal damper toan honorable ambition
or discourages. yirtuous exertions more,
than this a-istocratic spirit. II the
young ard aspiring are to be frowned
Irpon and driven into obscurity because
they cannot boast OF an honorable anCes
try or long and full purse, there II
danger they Will retire TO the haunts o.
: levi! communication" and conten
; themselves with that actual degrade
tion to which these who effect to give
laws to popular sentiment would con
i. sign them. why should it be dis
grace to man, because be isa mechan
: ,.c? or why a peculiar homer to another
because he efforts his living from tn,
. sweat of others brows. And yet i
seems to be considered. there is some
thing in yardstick, a goose quill, o
a green bag, which creates dividing
line betwixt the professions and TIN
: ar;s--.iving the former an cnviabl
superiority. We know OF more thai
one place. where, i: a man yields hi
axe or pushes the ioreplane, it is suif1
cient rcasoa--howev intelligent ant
. virtuous lie may be--why he should b.
dcbarred access 10 ''sood society,", ant
!! left to suffer even the wants of socia
> friendship and assistance. We hav
seen many an ingenious and virtuou
0 mind made to suffer the most painful
sentiments from neglect Of this kind
c II is crucl--it is barbarous. The onl
j. distinctions, as we view the subject
that should be known in mel ghbornood:
/ are those rounded in merit. neigt
> bors be poor, still he shall have gu
respect and fellowship; on the othe
!. hand, be he ever so opulent, be his fam
y ever SO noble. if he is dissolute an
= vicious himself, We wil.--wc must
! consider him in our estimation as lo'
= IN the score ofreputation rs he actua
y " is IN the scale of character. Sue
u "A doctrine as this, however, we kno'
; will not be relisned by some--wer
+ it to become rule oil society. the
NJ wocld De the sufferers.