, 1842-09-17

dId mansions, and the most brilIian,
meetings. A man is worth Infinitely
more than the saloons, and the cos.
tunes, and the rich show of the mi.
verse; he was made to tread ell these
beneath his feet. What an insu,. TO
humanity is the present Difference to
dress and upholstery; as if silkworms,
and looms, and scissors, and needles,
could produce something nobler than
man. Every good man should pro-
test against caste founded on out.
ward prosperity, because it exalts the
Outward above the inward, the mate
rial above the spiritual; because it
springs frors, and cherishes a con.
temptible pride in \euperfcial -
tSansitory d inctA nhscanse
alienatesma$ eomHyIhes bfeaY
the tie OF tsnmc6 lnkanity, AMI
breeds jealousy, scorn, and mutual III
will. Can this be needed to social
order.
1t IS true, that in countries where
the mass Of the people are ignorant
and servile, the existence Of higher
and worshipped rank tends TO Keep
them from outrage; it infuses a senti-
ment,of awe, which prevents more
or less the need of force and punish
ment. But it is worthy of remark,
that the can Of keeping order in
n state of society. may become the
chief excitement of discomfort and
disorder in another; and this is pecu-
iiary true of aristocracy and high
rank. In rude ages, this keeps the
people down; bat when the people
by degrees have risen to some con-
seriousness Of their rights, and essen
tial equality with the rest Of the race,
the awe of rank naturally subsidies,
and passes into suspicion. jealousy,
and sense Of injury, and a disposition
to resist; the very institution which
once restrained, now provokes.-
Through this process the old world
is now passing. The strange Illusion,
a man, because he wears a gar
ter or q ribbon, or was born to a title,
belongs to another race. is fading a.
way; and society must pass through
series Of revolutions, silent or bloody,
until a natural order takes place tof
distinction which grew originally gu,
Of force. Thus aristocracy, instead
Of giving order to sobiety, now con-
vulses it. SO impossible is it for ar
human ordinations perma-
10 degrade human nature. or
subvert the principles Of justice and
freedom.
am aware that it will be said.
that the want of refinement of man.
ners and taste in the lower classes
will necessarily keep them an inferi-
caste, even though all political inc
qualities be removed acknowledge
his defect of manners in the multi
.ude, and grant that ii is an obstacle
o intercourse with the more imprev-
ID, though it is often exaggerated.--
But this is Il barrier which must and
will yield 10 the means of culture
through our community. This
vii is not necessarily associated with
NV condition Of human life. An in
eIIigent traveller tells US, that in Nor.
way, a country wanting many of
'ur advantages, good manners and
,o!itencss are spread through all con-
and that the rough way Of
to and living with each other,
characteristic of the lower classes of
ociety in England. is not found there.
Not many centuries ago, the inter-
curse of the highest orders in Eu-
ope was su!lied by indelicacy. and
ierceness; but time has out
hese stainS, and the same cause is
removing what is repulsive a
1ong those who toll with their hands.
can not believe that coarse man.
.ers, boisterous conversation, sioven-
Y negligence, filthy customs, surli- {
ess, ~indecency, are to descend by {
.ecessity from generation to genera.
ion in any portion of the communi-
Y. | do not see why neatness, cour- /
esy, delicasy, ease, and Difference to
nother's feeling, may not be the hab-
of the laboring multitude. A |
is certainly going on among {
lem in respect to manners. Let US c
ope that it will be a change for the I
that they will not adopt false $
otions of refinement; that they will |
scape the seville imitation of what is a
blow and incincere, and the substi- d
ltion of outward shows for genuine c
atural courtesy. Unhappily, they t
i've but imperfect models on which
form themselves. 1t is not one I
ass alone which needs reform in /
Ianners. We all need a new social y
Itercourse, which shall breathe genu-
e refinement; which shall unite the