The hydraulic press., 1859-04-16
Four Hundred in the Steerage.

upon the sights and contumely alleged
to be put upon the steeragc passengers
in California steamships, by the officers;
and he deems it further slight, that
the press publishes the names of the
cabin passengers only, Jumping in the
phrase ''four hundred in the steerage,"
all those "men, women and children
bone of our bone and flesh of our flesh
the stalwart, giant-hearted sons and
daughters of America, who are destined
to be the fathers and mothers of new
people on these golden shores. This"
he Indignantly exclaims, "is the price
less cargo which American snobbishness
invariably places at the foot of a long list
of cabin notables, who, by accident, have
been fortunate enough to purchase that
distinction by having an extra fifty dol
lars in their pockets. Alas! money
makes the mare CO. everywhere. The
most worthy man in christendom is the
object of supreme contempt from the
lowest funky on the vessel, if the poor
fellow takes passage in the steerage."
Is not this drawing it rather strong?
Is not the great number Of names a
truer reason why steerage passengers
do not figure in the lists published by
the papers than the contempt thought
to be inspired by theirsupposed poverty !?
Would our wrathful neighbor like to
publish-for nothing-fve or ten hum
dred names every fortnight? Can he
afford to give such proof of sincere in
dignation as that would be?
1t may be true, as general proposition,
that "money makes the mare go''-that
the world pays an undue amount of re-
spect to mere wealth, and is not quick
to honor merit when clad in robes that
proclaim poverty. But what man, acho
IS not snob himself, cares for the su-
perfcial distinction conferred on the
possessor of riches? Who does not
value more the hearty, general esteem
which always attends upon the final dis
covery of ones excellence? In our
humble opinion, "the most worthy man
in christendom" would be as much re-
spected if he took steerage passage as
though he paid Gan extra fifty" to be
"a cabin notable" The distinction be-
tween the two classes of passengers is
made in compliance with the wants of
the travelling public. Some wish to
travel cheaply so travel, while
others prefer, whether they can afford it
or not, to pay for more comfortable and
costly Accommodations. Very frequently
there is as much wealth in the steerage
as in the cabin-and the officers know
this. No man who behaves himself like
a gentleman but will be treated as such,
in the steerage or anywhere else. The
cabin passengers complain of bad treat
ment, of inciviiity and neglect, quite as
often as the steerage passengers do, and
doubtless with as much reason. The
truth is, they pay for little ostentation,
for the bows of walters and officers, and
want what they pay for. Let them
have it-who cares? 1t does not hurt
the democracy in the steerage, nor rob
one estimable fellow of what belongs to
him. 1t is favorite hobby with us
that people generally pass at their real
value, and that the world is more shrewd
and honest in its judgments than it has
credit for being. Some persons, like
certain coins, may pass for while at
more than their intrinsic value; but So
ciety is sure eventually to discover the
cheat and stamp them counterfeit. A
really good man will be esteemed as
such, ultimately, whether he be rich OF
poor; and the society of those parvenue,
unrepnblican humbugs who hold aloo1
from him, is not worth having. It is 3
pernieioas doctrine to teach, that virtue
in poor coat will be neglected or des.
pised. Do not let us hold out such 3
premium to dishonesty. Better say that
the short period required to prove oul
worth is but as the steerage passage
during which we are lost in the eommon
crowd, but are certain at last to land
amongst friends who will esteem us.