National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1879-11-15
MISCELLANE
A TIRRINIA CHOLLOP.
Southern Aristocracy and Northern Bar
barism.

Southern Aristocracy and Northern Bar
barism.
From the Richmond (Va.) STATED
We are all hero-woishipers and only differ
in the choice Of our gods; but we like to pick
out our own IDOLS aud naturally FIX our hearts
upon those Of our own section. That tho
people of the North should bow down before
General Grant and elevate him rs n god among
them is very natural. lie ia the embodiment
Of their rude aud uncultured civilization. We
must not expect people Just from the plough
handle and the work bench, who have no ira.
ditional past, no historical ancestry, aud found
all their claims to consideration on the filthy
lucre they have been fortunate enough to make
by hook or erO'k, to have any very elevated
ideas or discriminating tastes in selecting tho
object they are to fall down and worship.
golden calfo or n brazen monkey is all the Same
to them and as for heroes why, they would
just as soon take him from the prize.ring or
out of walking contest as fresh from the field
Of Mars with his honors fresh upon him.
vulgar hero raised by chance from the viest
slums, serves their turn just as well and, in
fact, much better than if he had the honorable
quarterings of u score of generations of noble
ancestors aud in personal attributes aud repu-
taton was entirely above roproach. We find
that this low instinct is tho ruling ono at tho
North. SO bluntcd is the general sentiment
there TO everything ennobling, and 80 unpopu-
lar is it for any one to trace back family his
tory in the eyes of the great mob, that even
people who can lay some claim to respectable
connections arc compelled TO disown it ii they
would find favor with the public or look for
ward TO political or social prcierment We have
a case in point. There is General Hancock,
gentleman by birth and breeding, and SOL
der second to none who ever bore arms There
is no suspicion OF his loyalty aud patriotism,
and nothing against him but his politics and
birth. These alone no doubt kept him back in
the late war and prevented his promotion to
command, while such men MS Grant, Sher-
man aud Sheridan, the mere ''nobodies" of yes-
tcrday, were dragged from the slums aud
pushed forward, elevated from Tho very gutter
like the cubbler of Bagdad TO high place which
fitted them as poorly US the new garments in
which they had been 80 suddenly clothed and
in which they cut US sorry figure as the
drunken clown in the royal robes of his mas
ter. But though they could never fit tho gar.
monts, they very soon made the garments fit
them in every angle and crease, and these un-
gainly figures with bodies msshapen rs their
minds were cruel and brutal, have now be-
come the idols of the people whom they so
much resemble. 1t is the old adage over again
carried out 10 its extreme ultimate" Like
master like man. The one is the exact mem
tai and physical counterpart of the other, aud
thoy are alike worthy OF the mutual admira-
ton they excite From such u people, with
such chosen masters aud leaders, what hope is
there for the respectable minority tho majority
OF decency, which has its headquarters in the
South, with larger portion of it's adhereuts,
while only here and there q forlorn hope is
scattered throughout the North2 Very little
indeed. If it should select from among this
Northern fraction gentleman in whom iI
| could put its faith, such, for instance as Mr..
Bayard or General Hancock, what would be
the consequence The Radical party would
simply put up one of its vulgar pets, and the
lower aud more degrading his origin the bet
ter and sweep the field Oh the leveling cry Of
the mob that could swell from the slums aud
greet, us ut every point. 1t is useless there
fore, to attempt to offset or upset tho craze of
the North for their vulgar military idol by
offering them better and Drawer soldier ono
wOrthier Of their admiration and support
They do not want u gentleman like General
Hancock. Ho is too Tar above them--beyond
their familiar reach and beyond the reach,
too, OF corrupting influences. Nor eau we ex-
pect them to take kindly TO gentlemen like
Bayard, for has he not been styled tho Cheva-
lierP