The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1857-02-04
What il Respectable Societys

We heard man otherwise intelligent
enough lately sneer at another, because"
said be, zone never meets him in respectable
society!" The speaker did not mean, how
ever, that the person he affected to look down
upon, was immoral, but merely that his circle
of inmates were not composed Of the fashion,
able or the rich.
This notion, Of what constitutes respectable
society, is quite a favorite one with that class
of individuals whom Thackery has so signif-
cantly called "snobs." Empty pretence al
ways making its own characteristics a stand
ard, by which it strives to measure the respec-
liability Of persons at large. In a community
Of mere money getters, wealth is the test of
respectability. Among the proud, narrow
minded. effete nobility of the Faubourg st.
Germain, responsibility depends upon being
descendant from ancestors who have married
their cousins for so many centuries. that
neither muscles nor brains are left any longer
to degenerate defendants. With the dandy
officers who constitute considerable portion
OF the American Navy, respectability consists
in having sponged on "Uncle SAM" in wear
ing gilt buttons, and in jiting tailors. Every
conceited fool thinks himself in like way. the
only man really weighty, the only person who
is respectable.
But true Responsibility depends on no such
adventitiouS circumstances. To be respecta-
ble is to be worthy of respect; and he deserves
respect who has most virtue. The humblest
who bravely does his duty, is more worthy OF
respect. is more truly respectable, than the
coyetnus mn lionaire among his money bags, or
rh. arro.-a,t u, ,uarch upon his throne. The
fine Iady who b::ck- bites her neighbor, is less
worthy of respect than an honest washwomen.
The proAigate noble, thouse ne may wear a
dozen orders at his button hos. Is NOT olteh
really as respectable as the SHOE, ,acs W., VINO
cleans his boots. That which is cali." 'ie
world" exalts the one and despises the otIeI'
but it does not make them respectable accU.rd-
ing to the real meaning of that word. Their
respectability is but hollow sham, as they
themselves frequently feel; and those who
worship them bow down to Fetish, q thing
who wastes life m nis Own M iif istifeation, and
-dissipates the fortune ofhis progeny, is not and
cannot be respectable; but the hard working,
selfdenying father, who wears out his life to
bring up his children is, even though he but .
day laborer. Nothing can make Dives fit to
lay on Abraham's bosom while Lazarus is well
coined there, even with the sores the dogs
have licked.
This false view of life, which would measure
respectability by a conventional standard, is
totally at variance with our republican insti-
'tutions. 1t creates an Emporium in imperio," +"
for while the law declares all citizens equal,
it erects a social standard which endeavors to
ignore that great truth. The coarse, british,
knavish, profigate criminal-in short, all who
fall short of their duty to themselves and
their fellow men-are those who are not ere;
Specialize" aud this, whether they are rich or
poor. While those who live honestly, and
strive to do what good they can, constitute in
reality the respectable class, irrespective Of the
fact whether they eat with silver forks or
steel ones.-[ Philadelphia Ledger.