Western courier. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1837-1838, 1837-07-20
This b the law Of its destiny the condi-
tion Of its existence.

Duty btTs tHlS uSSiuit ailu tuCiStu lttN
tihabie, distrnst whichI have described
and defended, is amply repaid by the af-
fected contempt Of the antagonist class.
1t has grown quite the fashion with these
men of the ccuBter and interest table, to
arrogate to otbemselyesa proud supericri-
Iiy; 10 assume airs, as of high birth and
patrician distinction to talk Of the Eee-
pie, in fne, as Of an inferior class or caste,
a mob, populace. canaalc. MIR. Bid.
die, the prince and idol of money chan"
gers. 10 an oration delivered before some
college. which, by-tbe-by. With singular
want of deIicacy, he made the vehicle Of
his impotent spite and disappointed pelits
ical rancor that stiDgs itself to death, ike
the scorpion within circle Of FIRE. talk.
ed about Ouigar destottsm. a serDhe
route, and very mildly and decently con-
signed the whole democracy of the com
try. or its representatives at least. pros
pectively however. TO the henbenfiary. -
BY what right. ask, does this arrogant
money monger parade such ibsolent cou'
tempt for the majority of his feilow-citi-
zens? men, in every noble and estimable
quality at least, upon a far with himself.
When he talks of the penitentiary as a fit
place for his betters, does he not recoi-
| lect that, like them who are destined TO
be its inmates. he actually lives BY the
turning of money; and that the profess :.
ed ayoc ations of those of whom he is The
head, of brokers, usurers and money
changers, are much more akin to the ac-
lions that copsign men within its walls.
than these are TO the simple, honest. in
dus.rious pursuits of those whom he 50
impo;ently stigmatises!
Sir, am made sick, whenI hear these
people arrogating to themselves aristo-
cratical pre,ensicns, or patrician bonors.
A pretty idea they must have Of an ariss
tocracy, who would compound it of such
sordid materials. There is much room
here, indeed, for the "pride Of heraldry,
the pomp of power" "a little ciyirs
gcod apothecary. to sweeten my imagin-
alton - Let me tell these gentlemen.
that if an aristocracy were TO be estab-
lished tomorrow, its elements, its mate
[ rials, would not lie sought for in the stock
exchange in Wall street, or even in Mr..
BiddIe's bank. The cadets, the young
est branches, the mcst distant offsets Of
the new institution, wodd instinctisely
shrink, naso aduneo, from such places,
such associations, and such pursuits. Be-
lieve me, they are not at all patFiciap.
Republican as l am. can yet look
upon genuine arisiocracy without horror
or repugnance. Conscientiou',y, and
from reason. prefering our institutions. as
more consonate to nature, more just in
principle. and more condhcive.to the hap
piness of all, can still see in properly
constituted arislocracy, much to-adnire
and to approve of, much that filters my
taste, and appeals to my imagination. y
There Is poetry and pageantry about it.
to resist the fascination of which reqnites
no little strength of principle, no little
firmnass Of opinion. lllustrous birth, his
torical name, titles derived from deeds Of
knightly emprise, personal traditions in
terwoven with the annals Of u nation, as
sociations which awaken in the mind all
that is proud and glorious in recollection.
an elevation from birth above the necessity
OF sordid pursuits and considerations, a
splendid state, noble hospitality, high
sense of honor, refined tone Of manners.
grand representative dignity-these and
other kindred things are made 10 iDfu-
ence us, and we are made to be influence
ed by them. They would. indeed, cons
stitute real TILES, just claims, TO our uns
mingled admiration. were they not accom-
panied by correspondent evils, which
more than merely oyerbalance their charm
and advantage. But, sir. this is not Mr..
Bidde's aristocracy. That is thisg of
fresh and fuDgous origin; springing sud-
denly out oil the dirt, likesa mushroom
from the dunghill vulgar, coarse, and
repulsive. with nothing to adorn. 10 digni-
fy, o. even to pallaie it; spurious pres
tension, a degrading ascendancy, which
no man Of honor can tolerate with patience.
to which no man Of spirit willsutmt with
outres,siance. "IfI am to have master. "
exclaimed the late MIR. Randolph, Lot
him be one whomI can respect let him
have epaule.s upon lis shoulders, sword
tby his side; lei him be an Alexander, q
Cesar, Napoleon; cannot bow down
before a man with quill behind his ca r"
This Mr.. Biddle, is yghat 1 would call a,
uuigar deshstisBt: and seruite route Is
one tha, would rather succumb 10 silver
THAN 10 steel /; which hugs chain Of gold
as less degrading than fe'lers Of iron I;
which would sooner march 10 the clinking
of coin than to the tap Of The drum.
I Sir. there is something in this sordie