The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-06-01
GLASS DISTINCTIONS.
They Exist Even in This Land of Constitu-
tional Equality.


tional Equality.
Much as repu biicans of this country
and Of France may talk about equality,
class distinctions inevitably arise in
society. irrespective of any grant of
patents of nobility. This need not
worry any one whe gets a true estimate
of what equality means or should
| mean. Manifestly. when in the declar-
alton of independence the phrase ''all
men are created equal is used it is to
be qualified by the following words of
the same sentence: THAT they are
endowed by their Creator with certain
unalienable rights; that among these
are life, liberty and the pursuit of hap
piness." In that sense all republicans,
at least, can stoutly maintain the equal
ity of men. Men have equal rights to
life, liberty and the pursuit of happi-
ness: they have right to equal oppor-
tunities, but they are not equally en-
dowed mentally or physically; they
have not all equal talents, nor even the
same talents; they are not equal in
fortune at birth and they are not
equal socially. The inequalities are
sometimes real and sometimes arti-
ticially created by tradition, prejudice
or fashion. Against the inequalities of
natural gifts it is useless to declaim
against the inequalities artifcially
produced it is well to be on ones guard.
While the distinctions between trades
and professions made in the social
world cannot be ignored, they should
not be slavishly respected, says the
Baltimore Sun. The professional man
may be boor or a quack, and should
be treated accordingly. The merchant,
or manufacturer. or mechanic may be
learned and cultivated, and is then en-
titled to rank with the classes of which
learning and refinement are character
istics. Thus while we may respect the
general rules which the common OBJ
servation of mankind has shown to be
proper in classifying and ranking the
several occupations of men. we should
never lose sight of the fact that there
are exceptions-suche exceptions. for ex-
ample, as made Franklin, the printer,
the peer of the most learned men in
Europe. Conspicuous exceptions, like
that of Franklin, are recognized by the
world at large, and even in countries
governed by an aristocracy commoner
of more than usual ability is admitted
into classes of society above his natural
rank. More especially should this be
the case in America, where the
ranks that exist have no official
recognition. Young men and young
women with false notions of So
cial standing are usually the
worst offenders against common sense
in this matter They follow too slav-
ishly the traditions of rank preserved
in song and story, and exaggerated in
the society novel. The young man
wants 20 enter profession that will
honor him rather than trade that he
may honor. The young woman too
frequently considers the social stand
ing of her wooer rather than his person
and character.
The real test of rank is ability, cul-
tivation, refinement With these ones
trade or profession is ennObled; with
out them it is degraded. The young
man choosing a vocation with a view
to social distinction should select one
that he can adorn and elevate, rather
than one upon which he will be de-
dependent for any distinction he may
gain. The young woman guided by
her heart as well as her head in choOs-
ing husband for she does choose,
though she waits to be asked. should
select one who. with other qualities
fitting him for the union, has the abil-
ity and industry to maintain himself in
the first rank of his occupation, what
ever that may be. The general inc
qualities in the social state will always
exist: the special inequalities may be
removed by the individual. No patent
of nobility could ennoble Gladstone,
nor can such patent save from degrade
ton those who possess the title of earl
or duke. Detroit Free Press.