Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1866-11-22
ALEXANDRIA.
,HURsDAY: EVENING, NOVEMBER %

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of what they represent to have, been f"5South
ern Aristocracy,' and TO aairms>that2the old
Southern land owners, aud old Southern peo-
pie, generally, were all ssaristocratsa Even if
this were true, it does not lie in the mouths Of
those, who, encourage, and 'slive and die by, "
the meanest and dirtiest of all kinds Of 'aris-
tocracy'-that of maoney-often i'll gotten and
quite as often i'll kept and i'll used-to make
such an accusation. But as general rule, lit
is not true We do not pretend to say that
the Virginia people had not mani pride-
did not regard with feelings OF honorable
pleasure the names and memories of their an
cestors, many of whom havebeen distinguished
in the best days of the former republic Of
States, Ia military and civil life, or who, at
least in private life, were such citizens left
= good pames,'1 for honesty and virtue, what.
ever might have been their stations, to their dc
scendants we do not pretend to say, that
they did not look over their broad acres"
with excusable eomplacency; did Est act, as!
conscious Of their ability to extend to others!
bounteous hospitality without stint or measure; :
and had not their way of life somewhat
marked BY the peculiarities which will always
tinge the characters Of those who are masters
over servants of another race and color But
that they were saristocratsa is, we repeat, not
true. And their political principles, their in
tercourse with their neighbors, their eager
ness to reward and encourage merit where
ever it was found, their delight to recognize
and elevate talents, wherever exhibited, even
amongst the poorest and humblest, their pleas
ure to witness the success of self. made men, as
they are called; and their willingness to assist
the struggling youths of genius to mount the
ladder of fame-giving them their votes, and
their voices, and opening their purses for their
aid-all prove that it is not true But, say
our traducers,T :sssocial distinctions!'' All!
of these .ssocial distinctions at the 1North-in
their own be-praised and be-lauded society,"
We are not to defend the follies, the fashions,
and the nonsense that may prevail IN social
life. We desplse them as much as any man
can do, who believes as we do, that worlh-aud
intellect should aalone be regarded, and that
these are as often found with the working poor
man as with the richest and least occupied.
But the beaus should be taken out of other
peoples eyes, before the mote in the eyes of
the Southern people is commented on. We
have known the most e:evateda and the Wealthiest
Virginia gentlemen to- have their nearest and
best friends-their bosom frends-among their
poor neighbors; and we have known tha best
Virginia ladies in the land to, welcome and en-
terrain the humblest Of their SEX, II deserving
of their esteem, with the dignity, and grace,
and courtesy which would have marked their
intercourse with the wealthiest Of their ac
uuaintances. That some trihiug young men,
and some vain and gddy girls, sometimes acted
differently, was their fault, not the teaching of
their parents True politeness in Virginia was
the rule of life, and true politenessJ wlll.ex-
clude and shut out sel6shness and shateul
But, if all the statements of the ohservans OF
Northern society are not false, it is glesqltera
than .ln Tsyalnsa, that shoddy ar,stocracy, and
shoddy exclusiveness, and shoady vulgarty,
.'reign rampant and supreme. s." 1t is in Bos-
ton, that "hub of the universe, "that the mean
est Kind of s'arist 9esaey' exists--it is in the
Sixth avenue palaces ia New York, that the
mushrooms Of arstocracy, transplanted from
what they would themselves now regard as the
"dunghll Of Gte," thrive and fourish-iti is ia
the great and growing cities of Chicago, and
its compeers inthe Northwest and Vests IS
in the midst of the marts Of trade, and bust
ness, and hustle, and extravaganza and folly, !
that newly acquired wealth faunts In its gayest
and gaudiest colors, and says to those who |
have no n,oNey-''stand off % and be We sepa-
rate" 1t is there, ants amongst these people,
who are IN. truth ashamed Of their own
hoo6. ana ignore the memory OF their own
fathers, that this low, vulgar, miserable ''aris
tocracy,' exists; as contemplate in. its pre-
teLtons, ssit is vicious and disgusting in it's |
presumption. Merit, with such people is not !
the touehstone Money is the god of their |
Moiatry, and Mammon the shrine at which |
they worship! ! Il. .a.=f e;La8ufIGl9
At the recent Lord Mayors dinner in Lon
don, at which all the British Cabinet members |
were present, Earl Derby made a speech. in |
which he expressed the desire of the Nlfaistvy |
to earn the good will of the English people, |
but thought it would not be else at that time
to state in what manner s. was proposed to
carry that desire into eject. He paid com
pliment to the UpAsd States, and expressed a
hope that the. agitation now existing iJ;here
would be. speedily quelled, and peace reign
from epe end of our shores to the other. He
also intimated that a proposition for an ar
rapgement of the differences between the two
countries with respect to the Alabama claims !
would be fayorably, entertained, and that the |
duties of neutrals. IN maritime wars, might, i'll
necessary, be reconsdered. @2@ta q. 3 Is.