Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1846-12-09
Republican Distinctions in Society.

knowledge and goodness--these make degrees
in Heaven, and thay must be the graduating
scale ola true democracy. believe that the
Christian law, seconding. Of course, the laws Of
nature, ,ordans equality-democrocy ifyou please;
and therefore, that its progress and final slabi-
ty are certain. The ladder is knocked down, my
friend, and we shall stand ON natures level -
Miss SEDawIcK's HoME. s-
Our political axiom, that all men are
born free and epual,' is held up to the eyes
of the world as our national motto. We
are proud of seeing it inscribed in charac-
ters of light, upon,the banner under which
we are marching to the highest places of
power and Of glory; for we know that the
gaze Of other nations is fixed upon us, in
envy and admiration. 1tis our boast that,
under our government, the accidents of
birth, and station gives no one man suprem-
acy over another in his claims to distinc-
ton, and that its highest Office is as freely
opened to the son Of a laborer as to the
son of President. In contrasting our Re-
public with other countries, we become ell
evated by the thought of our greatness in
the rank Of nations; we designate ourpeo-
pie as nation ofsoyereigns, and viewing
ourselves as parts Of the mighty whole,
we glory in the name Of American, and
wish for no other title. Thus dignifed are
the feelings, and thus noble are the senti-
ments, that we cherish as patriots; but
what becomes of our self-respect, and our
respect for the rights of others, when we
look at ourselves as individuals, and strive
to ascertain our own place among our fell
lows? Apply our boasted motto to socie-
ty, and we hoot it with scorn. So far from
acknowledging that we stand upon the same
level with those who surround us, our whole
lives are spent in endeavoring to reach
those whom we imagine to be above us,
and to thrust back those whom we think
are beneath us. w .as5 e@
What beggar's garb Of rags and patch.
es is our attempted code Of distinctions in
society! In Europe, there is at least or.
der and symmetry in the arrangement
however unjust or unreasonable they
may appear. There they are considered
of SO much importance, as to be laid down
with all due solemnity in the pages of the
learned commentator of English law; and
although by these regulations, the tripping
dansel in her teens is allowed to take pre-
cedence Of a venerable and silver-haired
grand.sire, ifher title should chance to be
higher than his, yet such things are in &C
cordance with their government, and with
the customs handed down from the feudal
ages. But with us il is different. The
spirit and letter of our institutions promul
gate the glorious doctrine of liberty and e
quality. The law Of primogeniture has ne
place among us; we are brotherhood 0
freemen, and the right and title Of one is a,
full and high as that of another. And i
lie evident that this doctrine also eventually
organizes our society, in spite Of the punJ
and contemplate efforts made to counter
net It, and the cowardly denial which re
fuses to acknowledge it. The. mechanic
apprentice throws down his tools, enters il
the race Of wealth or political prefernent
and takes his place beside the son Of th'
Judge, or Of the wealthy merchant. Th'
most aristocratic and nanGuvering moth
eris brought to bestow her jealousy guard
ed daughters hand upon the man who's
former occupation she blushes to own, bu
.whpseapresent station renders his allianc
en- object other pride and highest ambition
The wealthy vulgar. conscious of thei
Pssssssing no iahersps claims Of superior