American telegraph. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1851-1851, 1851-06-19
From the New York Sun.
MODERN CASTE

MODERN CASTE.
One Of the most serious obstacles to social
progress in this country, and one most offensive
and discouraging in its effects, is the feeling of
caste growing up out of a narrow minded pride,
and developing itself in contempt for honest
labor and industrious poverty. Opposed as it
is to our democratic institutions, and the best
instincts of our common humanity, it yet makes
its way, and maintains it's influence, to the
disgrace of its abettors, and the discourage
ment of a noble-minded usefulness. Some of
Its evils are too conspicuous to escape the
notice of the most superficial observer 1t
divides society into clans and ranks, arousing
the interests and sympathies of one class against
those of another. 1t makes the poor indus
trious artizan and laborer oftentimes a sort of
Pariah, n beast of burden, a fellow-being
whose rights and welfare are to be considered
of but little Importance in the social scale. He
is looked down upon with contempt. His feel
ngs and comfort are rudely sacrificed to the
claims of wealth and position. His efforts at
self-improyement are regarded with the utmost
coldness and indifference. If he attempt to rise,
he is thrust down by neglect, more hard often
times to bear than the severest want, for it has
the elements of inhumanity and scorn about it,
Many mind that might have become one of
the lights Of its age has been quenched by these
mephitic vapors, or perhaps been denied the
privilege of being kindled at all. And not un-
frequently perhaps discouraging coldness and
insolence has turned it to grovelling aims, and
driven it for sympathy to the haunts of vice and
profigacy. There have been few to meet it
with the warmth of generous heart, and bid
God speed to its noble aspirings.
We know that to this there have been, and
are, honorable exceptions; men who, in the
fullness of their success, were willing to remem-
Der that they were human still, and whose
ideas of worth and respectability have not been
cankered by their gold. All honor to them
Such men have value in themselves that no
reverse can ever entirely bankrupt They are
worthy Of double honor for the identity that
has won success and the integrity that has kept
it from spelling them We know some such
men-the true nobility Of the world-whose
sympathies are on the side of humanity, and
who know how to distinguish between man
and the accidents Of his condition. They do not
weigh them in the same scale, nor frown down
industry or genius because they were nurtured
in want, or had breathed the air of howell
But then, on the other hand, what multi
tudes there are whose pride at once degrades
themselves, and Injuries others Their super
ciliousness makes them hateful, and their con-
tracted views make them mean, As a general
rule, our would-be nobility is the most worth
less class Of the whole community. lit is COM
posed for the most part Of those who have least
reason to be proud. Ancestrially, ignorance is
their coat of arms, and tailor confers their
patent Of nobility. Their notions themselves
bespeak a littleness of mind, for a great soul
cannot be bound by the formulas Of fashion, or
cramped by vassalage to pride. 1t would be
most humiliatng spectacle to look in upon
the internal mechanism of a mind whose ideal
Of greatness or Of worth is realized in the fan
cies of dress, or the possession of a fortune.
Such q mind would be mere toy-shop, scarcely
fit to amuse a child. 1t is stored with trinkets
full as worthless, and less interesting and origi-
nal, than the wardrobe Of a savage-feathers,
beads, and blankets. Nature designed it for
noble end, the home Of pure thought, and gene
rous feeling, and high purpose, but they have
perverted it into museum of triies or mon
sters. Its contents are the prodgies Of folly,
the abortions Of pride, or the idols Of sensuali-
ty. Its ideals of men arc giants or dwarfs
puffed up with their own Importance, or shrunk
to a mserly selfshness. The mind that feasts
itself on the petty distinctions that hedgerow
society into so many seperate classes and on
the petty artificial elevation to which il has
raised itself by accident, must have an appetite
rs morbid as disease can generate, and as cruel
AS tyranny can cherish. Such inward distor-
ton will often find its corresponding index in
the outer man. What can be more unspeakably
contemplate and silly, than the fantastic airs
Of the man who feels that his manners and garb
are every thing, and whose thoughts by day.
and whose dreams by night, hinge on their inn
portance lie is evidently gross compound
Of pride, afTectation, ignorance, and meanness
If we are to have in this country nobility with
external badges let us import it ready-made
from the old world, and spare ourselves the
awkward blunders which an upstart gentility
and bloated selfimportance would thrust upon
our homage.
But is there no true and proper nobility even
here? We trust there is, but neither wealth,
nor political station, nor social rank, are its
necessary symbols 1t is found in strength of
character in moral worth, in honest industry
and mental improvement. lie is the noble man.
whether you find him in splendid halls or in
garrett, who carries about with him in his own
bosom the true model Of manly greatness, in
tegrity before man and God lie may wear
drab or broad-cloth may work with the hands
of his body or the hands of his mind; may be
hod-carrier, or an importers may pave the
streets or make the laws but the gold Of char
acter is there, and il is Of less moment which
its shape is, whether it be the rude bullion or
the minted coin
Such man is worthy Of respect, not for the
coat he wears, but for the principle that is in