New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-02-26

A great deal .ef twaddle and cant is
heard every. day about the tendency in
this country to an aristocracy of wealth,
and the inferiority of ''mere wealth" to
mental requirements as a reason forsscial
distinction. But what is 'mere" wealth !?
Such thing is very seldom seen, and
when seen, as nthe case Of a miser, COM
anands no social distinction. This is al
dated only to riches which represent en-
terprise, industry, liberality. A large
fortune accumulated by its possessor is
ucually sign of so much brains and ca
ergy; of broad and comprehensive plans:
correct understanding Of the drift of
public events; an enlightened foresight,
making use Of opportunities which to a
duller vision are recognized only after
they have passed. Ehe acquisition Of
riches, in its primitive form of securing
more than is demanded for immediate
use, A2aying by something for rainy
day, storing ones cellar with summer
fruits for winter use, is the first step from
barbariam to civilizations; and with civil
ization ccme multiplied waits, the graft
tication Of which from luxury soon be-
comes necessity.
Thus riches are comparative. John
and Mary, in the delights Of the honey
moon, sit down at twilight in their vine
covered porch. resting after the labors Of
the day, and congratulate themselves on
their good fortune, although they do not
even own the co ttage which shelters
their love- Later in life, John wants
horse, and Mary a sofa. Later still, John
must buy the cottage, Mary must sdorn
it with fine furniture. The vine-cosered
porch gives place to an elegant piazza;
and at length, the cottage, after having
been metamorphosed by various additions
and improvements into picturesque
country seat, is abandoned to solitude
for the greater part of the year, while
John and Mary are living in style in the
neighboring metropolis. And thus it
goes. Our humble couple are now
courted by the elite. The sterling sense
of the husband and the winning grace of
the wife, set off by comedy surroundings,
are appreciated and extolled by hundreds
who would never have noticed either on
that by-gone evening when they sat in
their humble cottage porch.
This is all perfectly natural, and no
necessary indication that the world is
given to fiunkeyism. The vine-covered
porch was dark and narrow: it concealed
the merit it sheltered. The cottage was
not large enough to contain, much less
accommodate, the crowd of friends that
years of after-success invited. No, riches
represent power, and as such always com
mand respect, unless they have been no
to,iously obtained by dishonest or un-
worthy means Even hereditary wealth.
though it is no indication of any special
worth of character in its possessor, be-
speaks good will and social welcome by
the grace and culture which usually ac-
have been educated amid elegan: s1u-
roundings. Paintings. and statuary, and
books. and music and flowers, and even
magnificent furniture, tend to cultivate
grace of movement and softness of voice.
The youth or maiden brought up under
such influences. all other things being
{,,1
and more pleasant in manner than the
one destitute of such advantages.
The love Of riches may, indeed, DE
the root of all evil, but it is at the same
time the root of much good: and to eradi-
cate it from tie human heart would be.
in ninety-nine cases ont OF every hun
bred, to annihilate all incentive to exer-
ton except for the mere satisfaction of
immediate wants. The exceptional cases
would still be stimulated by the love of
learning or Of virtue. Even of these,
however, the former requires the assist
ance Of wealth for the perfection of
its growth The appliances Of science
are costly. AS for virtue, it is not an
absurd supposition that the golden
streets" and "pearly gates of the
popular heaven have inspired as many
devotees as the intangible attractions Of
purity and love.
1t may do, then, for the unsuccessful
and the spiteful to inveigh against the
ascendency of wealth, to scott at NAM
mon worshipers, and to preach up an
aristocracy of merit but, while many
represent comfort and pleasure, power
and consideration, sightseeing, easy
travelling, choice company, the possession
of every object to crafty the taste or
elevate the mind, not to mention the spiri-
t,,al luxury of lavish benefcence, men
will prize it, seek it, plot for it, work for
it, cheat for it, rob for it, aye, and pray
for it as for any other blessing, for thrift
is blessing if men steal it not"
Riches, however, depend not so much
upon the income as upon the relation
between the income and the out-go.
Tittlebat Titmouse, in Warrens great
novel, "Ten Thousand 4 Year,