The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-02-07


W. .ro vor,, rractical and commercial
people. We look at all things that come DE-
fore us In the light of business ana "eien anu
measure and value according 70 real lie.
And all this As 10 what is abstract and con-
crete. subjective and objective. the inner ana
the outer life and the combination OF both.
Aristocracy is thing very we'll known and
understood in America. 1t is thing Of trade
and commerce. az well as Of social and domes-
tic life. And we have taken specimens OF IT,
tested it. investigated it. sized" it and clas-
sifed it. and got it in hand perfectly and for
all it is worth.
The old European notion Of the divine
right Of Kings and hereditary nobility IS u
us thing very far of. myth belonging to
another world. Between US and 1t there Is
great gulf fixed. We are in q new order OF
things The Dragons teeth. or seeds OF
heroes that have been sown in this new world.
though tares were mixed with them. were yet
sown in new ground and fed upon fresh air.
and the rearing has been in natures clear
light. The divine infants were not sucked
by wolf. but By the very genius of lie and
vigor Of freedom and equal rights.
The essence of American manhood IS the
maturity Of the human race. And al the
elements Of all the nations Of the earth nave
met and been compounded in our citizenship
Briton Anglo-Saxon, Dane and Norman
made up the English And on that basis AZ
people have helped 10 build up the American
This new being. from his elevation views
the motley route" Of the nations OF
the earth. and with cold. practical ludg-
ment by the highest standard OF meas
ure and manhood, considers the missionaries
of the old world. The haunts OF heroes ana
demigods and great battlehelds and achieve
ments Of Greeks and Romans are to US things
almost of the nursery. Were not the great
Peloponesion wars waged IN little place we
hear of az Greece. and did not kingdom OF
It,lv and a city on the coast Of Africa make
tbe Carthacenan wars. They split much
blood and found good historians to teach
their lessons. But one Of our war steamers
with q few brieades and improved guns
could have cleaned ont both in SIX months.
And we have our Hercules and Ajaxes and
society Cleopatras and Eenuses with Million
aire fathers that could put the mythical and
b storic 10 shame And what are all the great
doings of all the past TO the gigantic achieve
ments of men Of our day in every department
OF science and art and mechanics. Indeed,
all the ideas Of old Europe and Asia are TO u.s.
in the light OF our civilization, but curious
studies. and 30 are their dynasties and patti
clans and nobilities and privileged classes.
Heroism. the source of aristocracy IS here
taught everywhere IT is the keynote OF
American life Not only our fremen and
engineers and policemen. but hundreds OF
plain men in common Offices live III an atmos-
phere of courage aud devotion - carrying
their lives in their hands. Responsibility
makes character, and character - the soul
Of aristocracy Every struggle and active
competition ends in the survival of the httest.
Aud the httest IS the aristocrat The elements
Of manhood insure living perpetuity, and
/ the outcome Of our social machinery is the
/ highest natural aristocracy. The mean effort
at social classes aud elite IS three-fourths OF
Che time a wretched burieslue and parade OF
snobbery. But the great soul Of America
can laugh at these absurdities. In per-
feet freedom here social circles crystalize,
and identity Of taste. character and cultiya-
ton determine companionship. Virtue and
Intelligence have their circles pride. glut
tony and extravaganza theirs, and yugafity
and vice theirs But supper bell, Ike the
grave. may sometimes Level oil distinctions.