Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1888-06-29

ana check and nipdrance to
is the practice among public n
ing 10 what are supposed to
feelings and preiudices. "
ticlans and so called
seem to consider the n
something entirely apart fro
selves The lowest and most i'm
prejudices, which are really en-
by perhaps but small factiol
people are considered rs the evil
people" Politicians are apt to vi.
the sense of the people in favor of
ana justice. They are afrad TO col
prejudice or an erroneous principle
may be advanced by some lew who
themselves "workingmeu, or "frien}
the Worklngmen,' for fear that they
mus ALLEVIATE the popular vote. If
theory OF our government were logic
carried out, politicians and states
would never pander to the prejudice
the ignorant They would on the o
mana, always strive to find out wha
pesC, ana to bring the whole people u
support. They would not descend IL
leVei oil The ignoran and prejudiced
would ann to bring them up to the
plane OF Intelligence and true eXpeo
Wblch they would occupy
When the theory of cur Cover
snail have become substantially I'll
tlce OF our people when the mas
voting population shall support
election, only those candidates.
ever party nominated, whCE
promises most surely to advpx
OF good government, and to
and efficient administration
OF the whole people wht
party spirit shall be, not
Tor that is not to be hoped
great extent in the Ian.
lngton, "mtigated and
the use OF money for tbs
voters shall have ceased, Of
lar aim nlshed as to cease
to the continuance aud integ
lar government, then it VIII
tnat IN the solution of the ''DOll,
lem, we as people have done V.
toward Solving the human pI
and promoting the civilization OF
ton.
Next to be considered is the effect u,
civilization of the solution of the social
problem in this country. 1t is little
difficult to state precisely what the "solu-
ton is. We have practically, as well as
theoretically, abolished the distinction of
ranks and classes. Each mans social
standing depends upon what he is, what
he knows and what he has; not upon the
condition in life of his fOrefathers The
doctrine of the Declaration of Indepen-
dence, that all men are created equal,
though frequently sneered at and some
times denounced, construed in its true
SENSE as referring to rights and not to
surroundings and opportunities, is one
that practically controls our social system.
The result of this, in one aspect, IL TO pro-
mote and advance civilization for the
spirit of servility, of snObbishneSs which
=
ton OF superior and inferior ranks in So
ciety, the duty OF the latter being to admit
their own inferority, ard to strive to
please their superiOrs cannot be said to be
promotive of the highest and best civiliza-
Ut n. IT one is low in the social scale here,
II Is not by reason OF being born thus low,
but because ones character and capacity
have not been such as TO command re-
spect.
This practica abolition of class distinc-
tiouS, which may be said to constitute cur
solution of the social problem" has,
however, not been found Incompatible
with the growth aud existence of what
may be termed a wouldOe arlstocracy OF
wealth.
A plutocracy is perhaps rs dangerous,
and is certainly less "interesting," than
| an aristocracy of birth. The acCumula
ton of vast fortunes in he hands of in
divlduals, and the consequently increased
power and influence of money, do not
tend to the civilization or humanization OF
this country. There is great danger tina
| our land may come to pass where it may
truthfully be described as ore "where
wealth accumulates, aud men decay
The growing disposition 10 res ara money
As the one thing needful tt fill high
| offices with men whose chief or only
merit is their vast wealth 10 regard this
! pos session as an almost Indispensable quail
| ltcatiOu for candidates for great office is
| in its tendency degrading aud not eleVat-
| ing. Its natural effect will he o destroy
| the simplicity and integrity, Il" maiuten-
ance of which is indispensable national
| greatness and TO the 1lLAe'. and best
civilization For the false ehpement
| which springs from luxury, Is MT human
| lZlug or ClNllZluR.
There are many circumstances how
ever, which tend to couutcrCt these dan
gerous tendencies. Having no law of
primo venture, aud in most OF the States,
strict laws against the lonG suspension of
alienation OF property large for unes can
not well REMAIN Tor many generations IN l
f,t, ltt
luxury induced by the possession of
wealth, especially when sud ieuly acquir-
ed, often dissipate and dis .ubute such
wealth, and thus obvia the danger like
ly to result from the retention If colossal
fortunes in the hands OF individuals or
families J
Thus it has been seen thai our solution
of the political problem lght theoretical
ly to promote civilization hui that practi-
cally it falls short of accomplishing what
might be expected in lnls Respect Our
solution of the social problem does per
hapS, on the whole. tend t. promote civil
izatlon, if by that we mean the elevation
OF the nation rs a whole, and not the high
est cultivation of the few accompanied by
the EQUALIZATION and vnlgariAauOn of the
mass There are contendiug among us 4
many other forces and influences, ire
srectlve of the so-called political aud So
, clal problems. struggling with each other,
and tending on the one hand to promote
and advance, and on the other To retard
clNlllZdllon. Everything WuItu lenuS W
educate the people in learning, in art, in
the love of the good and he beautiful,
must help to advance civilization, Every
thing, of course which tends TO 4
brutalize, vulgarize or corrupt the q
individual is check upon civ -
ilization. 1t is well and wisely said ty
Mr.. Arnold that mere material achieve
ment IS not civilization. a nation cannot
properly be called highly civil
lied by reason of its industry,
commerce and wealth, or by req
son Of is liberty or equality, or evet
by reason of its numerous churcht
schools, libraries and newspapers, b,
these are all aids to civilizations. and
the utGer things necessary To civilizations
are added unto them, will help T. make
the civilization complete. hr. Arnold
say thai there is little here TO nourish
and delight the sense ot beauty so far
as this remark apples 90 architecture, pic
lures, CSthedytlS aud the IKE, ITS !,