Sioux City register. [volume] (Sioux City, Iowa) 1858-1871, 1862-09-13
VILLAGE ARISTOCRACY.

IN almost every village of any impor-
tance, there is among certain persons,
who would be considered, Or fancy them
selves actually to be, above others, a spirit
of pride, or what is called aristocracy,
which is one of the greatest evile-we
should be pardoned for calling it one of
the greatest curses-that can aflict socie-
ty. Generally, it is mostly to be found
among those, who, in consequence of their
overreaching in business, hpre succeeded
in accumulating the greatss; sum Of the
root Of evil" We say it is chiefly con-
fined to rich people of this character, for
generally, we have observed hat those
who have obtained wealth by honest in
dustry, are still too honest-too sensible
and worthy-to consider themselves above
their less gifted or less fortunate fellow
citizens. Some official distinctions, too,
not unfrequently operate to feed that van
isy aud seIf.esteem which conducs to tho
evil of which We complain Aristocrats Of
these descriptions are confined to no party
or sect exclusiyely-thsir place is uays
with what happens TO be most popular -
and were monarchy, or even Mahomma>
denism looked upon, in the places where
they reside, a. the most popular, they
would be loyal monsrchists or flaming
Mohammadens. A want Of principle is
at the bottom of love of this kind Of
popularity and village aristooracy.
1t is the infai!ib!e evidence of little
miads, and we regard it as pardonabls to
despise those who manifest it. Are NOT
all men porn equally fsvo aud iucepen-
dent? Should not character constitute
the only righteous claim to honor and dis
tncton2 How then is it, that many of
these who boast of repubIcanism on their
tongues, look with q sort of scorn and
sovere'gn contempt upon their more dis
eernlng neighbors, because they may not
have 50 long a purse, or may OF have
been so successful in filling it at the sac.
rlhce of others property 1t is because
repubhcanism is not in the heart. Such
men are not practical friends to our gov.
ernment, or to the genius of our insttu
tons. They do not believe, or will not
allow, that al men are born free and equal.
Perhaps their fathers were rich and this
has made them higher order of beings
than their fellows. Or 10y their bodness
and independence they have succeeded in
attracting more of the gaze and as:Onish.
ment Of the multitude, and this would
make it disgracetul in them to descend to
the level OF worth and virtue where their
neighbors are found. Men of this des-
cription are to be found almost every
where, and wherever they are they arc
pests to society. To punish and correct
them the most etfectually, they should
never have conceded to them by the peo-
pie, that claim to superiority which they
covct All uprigh, persons should 50
behave towards them as TO convince them
at sight-we say at sight, for seldom can
they be favored with conversation with
such people-that they do in reality look
down upon them with as m pity, as
they affect to look upon others with con-
tempt. Such men generally lun- Tor pub
lie distinctions. These happily, are in the
gift Of the people. BIT the people should
make it matter of cousCienc never TO
give them n vote, or otherwise help them
towards obtaining the station to wh!ca
they aspire. While the campaign is open
th@r VII, indeed, be the humble servants
OF very citizen they meet They have
na object in STOPPING so low at such a
,ne. b., depend upon it, when once
IL cir object is obtained when once they
are e.t led by the people-they will turn
,yrants. They will tread cruelty upon the
heads of those who elevated them, and
would were it in ,heir power, deprive
them OF the dearest rights they possess
Fer this spiri, of aristocracy, could it
have its way would end in nothing short
of despotisn.