Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1868-07-25
RISING IN THE r

lnere Is q peculiarly among certain
people that might be styled Ragged
rascalism." Its older and most dra-
matte form is illustrated by the portly,
somewhat pompous, well.to-do gentle
man, who addresses a speech to an ad-
miring crowd. He tells his hearers of
a poor frieudless boy, who was left to
shift for himself in early life ; he recites
the story Of the early struggles Of the
youth dilates particularly upon the
ventilated style of his trousers about
the time be got his first small lift in the
world, and then launches out into q
recital of after efforts and after tri-
umphs, and his speech eliminates in
fine theatrical style, with I" Gentle
men, the little ragged rascal now
stands before you, and has the honor OF
addressing you" A house that would
fail to be brought down" after such
an grafton and q peroration would be
sadly unappreciative. Andrew johnson
is one of the most striking instances Of
ragged-rascalism" in American his
tory. There were doubtless times when
the pantaloons Of Andrew Jackson and
Abraham Lincoln needed the care Of
the sempstress ; but while neither Of
the statesmen named would have been
shocked in after life to be reminded OF
the circumstance, they never made the
fact the pet pivot of the circle around
which all their speeches, both State
and popular, swung. But there is
plenty Of ragged rascalism' outside
Of the White House. It is seen
in the Church, it is seen ut the Bar,
it is seen in literature and in
science, and it is seen in trade.
In point of principle there is no real
difference between the dragged rascal
ism" Of the Tennessee politician, who
was a peuuiless boy and without friends
land who still remains in the latter pre-
dicament) and Mr.. B%ounderby, the
"bully of humility" who, pointing to
his ships and his houses and to his big
bank account, proclaims himself, in
season ard out, the "little ragged ras-
cal" who had accumulated it all. Very
frequently dragged rascalism" exists
where it does not take this coarse and
boisterous shape. There is dragged
rascalism" in the constant reiteration
Of advice to interiors in point of fortune.
The "peuny saved is two pence clear"
and the "be q good boy, and honest
aud industrious, and you may yet be-
come a rich man." only leaves it to be
inferred, 81 was once a poor boy (; a
little ragged rascal like yourself; now
look at mel" There is ragged rascal
ism" in the ridiculous affectation of
expense, in enormously e%xtravagant
equipages ; in cloud dress and furni-
lure aud in tawdry displays Of jewelry.
They all say to the world, "You know
what a little ragged rascal I once was.
| Oaly look at me now!" dragged
rascalism," 10 all its multiform shapes
and DISCUSSES, is simply the outsrowth
Of excessive vanity and self. conceit.
The afectation of humility is as gross
and offensive to the appreciative as
would be a display Of pompous super
ciliousness or strutting coxcombry.
"Lit,le ragged rascals" have a
right to rise in this country of
ours. In fact they are expected to rise,
aud where they fail to do 80 it is more
apt TO be the fault Of themselves than Of
fortune, just as the converse Of the
proposition holds good, with many
men who have grown rich and
powerful, with nothing but good
fortune and golden opportunities to
thank for their success. The common
schools are intended to give the " little
ragged rsscals" a chance to rise and
place themselves as nearly rs possible
on q level with the sons Of the rich In
the outss. Of the great race of life. All
offices Of public trust and emolument
are open to the humblest, and the pres
ent incumbent Of the Presidential chair
demonstrates that neither early position
nor high personal character or attain
are absolutely necessary to ena-
BILE q determined man to reach that
lofty position. The man who honora-
bly, gains wealth and distinction by his
own exertions is entitled to honor. So
is he who honestly and faithfully tries
and fails. But the nan who only sees
in his unexpected success in life an evil
dence of his W superior wisdom, viz
tue and industry, runs into one OF the
many phases of dragged rascalism,"
and is moreover apt to be one who Is
more indebted for his success to good
and adventitious circumstances
than to the possession Of those quail
ties which he imagines grace his char