Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1853-05-25
monied Aristocracy.

TOnied Arfstocracy.
Bulwer has somewhere said, that the world is
divided into just two classes those that ride and
they that are ridden and that the only controversy
is, as to which party shall keep in the saddle
1t is well settled principle, that money will
buy anything which this world Affords from pair
corduroy breeches, to "good moral character
In this christian community, man with ten
thousand dollars. is considered ssone of our best
citizens. ,, and one with double that amount is
above suspicion. When~we reflect that sit is
easier for a camel to go through the eye of a
needle, than for a rich man to enter the King
dom of Heaven" the desire for filthy lucre mani
tested by the aristocratic christian exhibits self
denial that is almost miraculous. The pious cler-
gyman who breaches humility and self denial, to
the tune of six thousand dollars year, to a con-
gregation who are 'clothed in purple and fine Jim
en-, and fare sumptuously every day." becomes
eloquent over the humble sef-abasement of his
master, who sshad not where to lay his head y
The self important aristocrat, who worshps at
the s'highest steeple," rides to church in his glded
carriage, reads from e gold clasped prayer-book, k,
and browns amid the peals of the organ, the cries
of the widow and the fatherless, his avarice has
beggard. The lordling who fritters away life in a
palace, whose only avocation is to oppress the
poor, and consume the earnings of their labor, is
honored for his wealth, and respected for his NOR
al cultivation. Interesting young gentlemen with
white cravats, proclaim the necessity Of sending
the gospel to the heather. Men who have rem
dered themselves "martyrs'' to the missionary
cause, have returned to spend their lives and for
tunes in comfort and enjoyment. Missionary
agents, whose only object is to furnish the bible
to the unconverted heather, despise not splendid
houses, with costly furniture and ostentaious lv-
cry. The rich deep toned piano. that nightly
sends the echo Of "The old folks at home," or
the "Death of little Eva,' through the tapestried
halls of the humble missionary agent, would have
purchased thousand Missionary Bibles, or afford
ed freedom to an "Uncle Tom," Religious mis-
sionaries tracts, sufficient to enrich the "Martyrs
to the Missionary cause'' have been sold at exhor-
bitant rates to the ignorant pagan, who was told
that salvation was obtained without money, and
without price. But money seems to be the rul-
ing, all absorbing passion. s....s...s..-.rz
The Mechanic at the forge, the Judge upon the
bench the Priest at the altar all work for pay, and
exact it with equal particularly.
Money, let it be in whose possession it may,
gives character and influence to its owner. Mon
ey is power. The richer man becomes, the
greater is his power. His parasites and slaves
increase; his opportunity for doing injury is in
creased; hence the danger of monopoly, or ~osted
rights and exclusive privileges. In government
like ours, monopolies of every description are to
be avoided. It matters not what description it
may be, for anything that enables few indiyidu-
ais to control the services and capital of great
number, is dangerous precedent and ought to be
1900.
There is perhaps no more striking instance OF
the palpable injustice of this principle than the
land monopoly of the country. Take as an ex-
ample the sullivant property near Columbus.
Here is landed property extending for miles, the
property of the same proprietor. His parks, his
deer, his shaded avenues, his servants, his mag
nifcent dwelling, and above all, his impoverished
tenantry, remind you of the aristocracy of the Old
World. Princely magnifcence characterize his
ion over his beggard tenantry
Unless some decisive step be taken to prevent
monopoly of this kind, there is no telling what
may be the result; the same pride of hereditary
possession, that distinguishes the landed arstocrat
of England is observable in the rich proprietor Of
the Sullivan estates. No amount of money would
purchase this property out of the family, nor any
;,b
Nor is this the only instance of American aris-
tocracy. Abundant examples testify the same
state of facts, and predict the same fatal results
It is the duty then of every citizen, to endeavol
to restrain this eternal grasp after real estate
Stringent laws should be enacted, that would Al
once prevent the further increase of landed proper
ty in those who have already more than an abun
dance for their support. Let Congress encourage
the settlement of our western lands, and preven
its purchase in large amounts, by speculating cap
italists, who neither improve nor permit improve
ment. The evils which are to be feared, may il
this manner be remedied; but, unless something bt
done, to prevent the growing increase of the An
glo American aristocra acy, we have much to fear
and little to hope for, in the succeeding history
| this Government.
| TEACHERS EXAMINATIoN.-Third Session.
The following persons received certificates at th
public examination, held in the Court House, il
in this place, on Monday, the 23d inst. Th
time for which the certificates are available in
dicates the relative merits of the examinations.
/ months. months
Margaret Herbet, Olive Williams,
4 Alice Carrier, 5 Harriet C. Snow,