Knoxville journal. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1874-1986, 1876-03-02
The Arist0cracy OF All.

"Yes"-we hear it said, even in this
Centennial year OF the Republic" the
theory of democracy is well enough; but
after all the real progress is the result OF
class distinctions and privileges. Culture
implies spare time and abundant means;
in other words, an artstoCracy OF some
sort, which must be supported by the
labOrs of others. Only by the exemption
OF some from the drudgcry of selt.support
Is it possible for civilization To exist, much
less To advance"
The assumption--it cannot be called an
arguments plausible, but il will not
bear examination. However much the
civilization OF the past may have rested
upon systems of privileged classes, the
civilization OF to-day rests upon and Is
carried forward by the working masses;
not slayisb toilcrs, Kept down by class re-
strictions, rs of old, but irecmen, who use
their brains us well rs their hands, and
know that all things are possible 10 intel
ligence aud thrift 1t is by those who
personally earn the right 10 leisure time,
very frequently In the process OF earning
1t, that the great steps ol human progress
are taken. As HigginsOn Cicyerly re-
marks, history is not written by the priv
ilcgcs OF the rich, nor, we would add, by
the privileges of the high. born, but by
the progress of the many. Privilege
travelled in its carriage, with all clumsi-
ness, twenty miles u day :, but when the
people wished TO go, steeds swiiter than
the wind were harnessed, and long lines
Of steel stretched far away that they may
90 in speed In safety. Privilege could
only send its messages by fire on hill-tops,
and thus communicate slowly JOY grlei;
but for the messages of the people the
flames were condensed in one spark, and
sent across continents and under oceans.
Everywhere We find the failure OF prlvi-
lege. the success of the whole. An aris-
tocracy of all | want, where the humblest
child may come from his cradle into
grand and glorious career"
This IL the ideal that was aimed at by
those whose actions we commemorate IN
this Centennial year. Impractical achieve
ment may be celebrated hundred years
from now. The arstocracy Of birth
hereditary rank, we mean, not inherited
virtue, intelligence and personal power
is done with. Its place has been usurped
by what Higginson styles the aristocracy
Of the dollar In the struggle for posi-
ton, wealth leads, for IL has the adyaD-
tage OF power.
TO acquire wealth requires In the main
the possession Of force, albeit rude and
pushing. To keep wealth requires, even
more impcratively, personal ability. SO
the arist0cracy Of the dollar is as foam on
The waves Of progress, bright, eyanesccnt,
changeablc as ne wave Itself. Ii repre-
sens actual power, not past possessions
like hereditary aristocracy."
But ability to hold IN not common in
heritanee Nature is ayersc 10 hereditary
rank. and titled families soon run out un-
less sustained by pleblan blood; ard still
more heavily weighted In the race for life
Is hereditary wealth. The aristocracy OF
birth is Of the past. The aristocracy OF
wealth rules to-day. BUTT, TOO, Is doomed.
There is but one stable aristocracy posi-
BILE. and that is the aristocracy OF all,
based on common freedom, common yir.
tue, universal intelligence and universal
labor. The doors shall inherit the earth.
--4Sctentye american.