The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-03-18

crest people will float Up II 1h9 to aud
naturally become the lea le's II there is
an aristocracy, it includes ltellect as well
IS wealth. That has always been the
case, aud will be to the end. 1t is true that
shoddy may hold for a time prominent
position, but it has nothing intellectual to
support it, and it will soon be relocated to
the obscurity from which it came. Due
credit should be given to the ability which
accumulates wealth, but it should not take
precedence over qualities which do more to
form tue character of the people and to
build up the power of the nation. 1t is all
very we'll to talk of reforming society. but
this viii be tie business of the true social
ist, not the mailman, who would do the
work with dynamite, but he of the noble
methods, whose example will tend to ele-
vate the masses, and eradicate all that is
standing like beacons in mid-ocean to warn
mankind Of the dangers which lie about
them. An attempt to change the present
order of society would, in my opinion, be
unsuccessful, and one might say to the refor-
mer who proposed it: Physician, heal
myself" The evils that exist Will be cured
by time. Like diseases they will run their
course and society in the end will suffer
nothing by them. The institution of
afternoon teas" which are growing so
rapidly in popularity, will be the great
pauacea in social reform, as the Zalinski
bombs viii be in warfare against the
enemies who come upon our coast, after
noon teas will elevate and purify to that
degree that there will be no further neces-
sity for attempting moral reforms, or in
fact reforms of any kind. What more en-
nObling sight can be imagined that one of
these social gatherings where thin girl
of mature age sits at table pouring from
an urn watery fluid, bitter to the taste,
and who offers you a cracker hard as gran
ite9 The latter images your store teeth,
but the mischief is u needed in the exalted
atmosphere by which you are surrounded.
Reforms will come of themselves in the
natural course of events. Social life in
America is constantly improving. 1t
doubtless lacks some of the qualities which
give charm to existence Ia other c0un
tries, but then may it not have compen-
sation for these defciencies2 There is a
certain charm in our simplicity that goes
right to the heart and will never be forgot
ten by foreigners who have been SO fort
innate as to mingle in our society circles
A high tone in politics is necessary to the
we'll being of the country. Our public men
should be selected for their high qualities in
stead or being mere politicians, who are
often taken TO fill high places, merely to
subserve local or private interest. We
should be able to boast as the years roll
by that our government is conducted on
the highest principles by statesmen whose
names shall go down to posterity, pure and
undefled. In Great Britain within this
century we have the names of Fox, Burke,
the Earl OF Chatham, Geo. Canning, Earl
Grey, Sir Robert Peel, Disraeli, Gladstone
and others, who. althouga they have COM
mitted mistakes, still stand in English
history as lights to guide others in the
path Of progress. They placed their coun-
try in a state of defense so that it could
defy the world in arms, carried England
fey through great wars, and made the
name of Englishman password over the
earth.
Our country is not in state Of defense
Our commerce has been driven from the
ocean. We have no policy except what is
embodied in the Monroe doctrine, aud no
navy to maintain even that We have
public men of as great abilities as those
of any other nation, some Of whom could
teach lessons IN practical politics that
would astonish the effete dynasties of
Europe. Our best men, however. are Oft
en- over-shadowed by small, local poll til
clans, who by their ignorance and Jeal-
ousies of abilities superior TO their own
keep in the back ground those who should
be leaders, the men OF broad views who
would have put the country on pinnacle
Of greatness it has never yet attained.
The result is that the greatest men are not
put at he head Of affairs, but others are
taken who are not always qualio1 for
their places Daniel Webster and Henry
Clay were two Of the ablest statesmen
that this country has produced, yet neitaer
could reach the presidency. But their
names are held in more venerAtion than
those of the Presidents under whom they
served.
It Is our general system of education that
has done the most to benefit tins country.
No other nation possesses such an extern
sive and elaborate system of public schools
and tue children Of the poorest people are.
as regards education, on an equality with /
the wealthy. The high schools of our towns
and cities are superior TO many s,-called
colleges, and appointments TO West Point
and Annapolis, two Of the greatest mill
tary schools ia the world, are frequently