The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1876-07-29
The Spirit Of Patronage.

Inc spirit OF patronage,
II was not uncommon in the old times,
to include among the hattering epithets,
applied to the reigning monarch of Eng
land, that of "Patron Of Religion" Such
q phrase used to describe any living man
now, would, to modern American ears at
least, be simply offensive and revolving.
We no longer tolerate the idea Of patron
age being accorded to things too high and
holy for aught but devotion and aspiration,
or elevate any man so far above his fellows
as TO conceive Of his STOPPING down to
protect that which all others are reaching
up to attain. Indeed the whole system Of
patronage has undergone gradual but
vital change within the last hundred years.
Formerly all civilization, science, art and
improvement Of every kind depended upon
It for their very existence. Without the
condescending interest of the rich or the
titled, or those high in rank or in Office,
education would languish, inventions would
never see the light, literature would droop,
and the wheels of human progress would
almost stop. Was a new discovery made
in science, q new method invented TO save
human labor, new book to be issued, a
new country to be explored, new pro-
blem to be solved, the first step was to
enlist the attention of some one Of distinc-
tion, through whose influence the work
was to proceed. If this could not be
done, failure was anticipated. Nothing
was expected to stand upon its own merits
or 10 work its way into popular favor
through its own intrinsic value. In the
same way individuals were largely depen-
dent for their success in ordinary under
takings upon the patronage of men of note.
To be shoemakers to some branch of roy
atty was pretty certain to ensure fortune
in that line; to minister to any OF the wants
Of Duke or an Earl was sufficient to at
tract crowd Of people eager to be served
by the samo hand that had done such
honorable service. Much Of this is even
now in vogue in monarchial countries, and
many of our imports are stamped with
similar recommendation to the favor of
our democratic countrymen.
Even here we are by no means free
from the same spirit, though shown in less
marked manner To say nothing Of the
efforts to secure patronage in the world Of
politics and business, and of the often in
equitable use made Of It on both sides, we
find the influence at work in much Of our
social and private life. The man of
wealth and the lady Of fashion patronize
their poorer neighbors, who in their turn
extend the same condescension to others
a little lower in the scale. When they
confer a ben eft or do favor, il is not
with the respectful sympathy of one broth
er for another, but rather with feeling
of disdain for those needing to be helped.
This patronizing spirit mingles largely in
oil our benevolence, and curdles it, When
charity is tinged with contempt, all its
grace and beauty have departed. The
kind action loses all its favor, when per-
formed witha supercilious air. The graft
tude that would descend In refreshing
showers upon the head of the beneactor
Is sometimes frozen in its course by the
cold superiority which he assumes. Even
in domestic life, where, If at all, senti-
ment of equality would seem likely to pre-
vail, we see the same insidious inAue nee.
Differences of age and sex are made the
feeble pretexts for scornful or sighting
demeanor. Perhaps the brother holds his
sister cheap, because she is girl; or the
older members spurn the younger, and ex-
pose or ridicule their childish blunders;
while all perchance unite in disdainful
or patronizing behavior towards those who
render them necessary service.
All this is utterly at variance with the
spirit Of our Constitution, and the princi-
pies upon which our national existence is
founded. These emphasize the essential
brotherhood of men, their equality in
broad and vital sense, and their mutual
obligations. The spirit of patronage, on
the contrary, is ever emphasizing the diff
ferences between men, not the real differ
ences Of character and true value, so much
as the outward and transient inequalities
Of condition and circumstances. It de- |
stroys that fraternity of feeling which lies
at the basis of all social welfare, and sub |
stitutes an artificial aristocracy, which |
quickly suuders the bonds of human re- |
gard. Not until We have learned TO re- |
spect human nature as such, to acknowledge |
every one as brother having equal rights
and equal claims, and also learned to cease |
looking upward to the rich, and downward
upon the poor, can we truly enjoy the
blessings Of that freedom which We 50
proudly boast. Not until then shall we |
be released from the patronising spirit
which so often spoils our social relations
and ncutralizes our philanthropy
NM NM .,