The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-10-14
snfTaf, LEVELS.


SOCIAL LEVELS.
The desire TO raise ones self, though
not by every means, Is universal: IL Is
natural. and II Is most honorable. All
things animate seek the light and grow
upward Chiefest Of all animal CREATION
man whose Heaven-directed brow the
smiles Of Heaven adorn, was made up
right, and, within and without. Of rs
ing material Growth and improvement
toward the infinite, are the law OF his
individual being. Society and companion
ship are part OF him, necessary con-
diton of his life. And he and his com
pany must grow together. IL he does
not improve with his company he VIII
drop out Of It. II he is better than his
company, he Will rise to better Level
above it. The law Of specific gravity
determines the level Our city guager
knows all about that. Men will seek
and keep their proper level.
The question Of aristocracy and social
levels in America is profoundly inter-
esting one. The probability Is that with
in a comparatively brief period-f 1t
is not already a fact-this Republican
America will show TO the world form OF
aristocracy and social assortment purer
and more reasonable than the world
has ever known-since the Patriarchal
age.
The social levels OF the old world are
largely identified with education, man
ners, and character But they are largely
artifcially, sustained by the very ne
% 70
Therefore, while their standards may be
high, their realiZations are wretcnedly
mixed; and within the sacred closes Of
high life vulgarity and brutality are al
lowed and countenanced and accepted
with the very best. And good and evil
fair and foul. all COMPOUNDED. the mix
ture Is inhuman and offensive. And so
will all high life be where the false stand
ards of accidental birth o. fortune or
notoriety are the measures Of honor and
worth. And where force Of any sort
Anarchy is a sort of social cholera-mor-
bus. 1t is nature protesting against ex-
ising evils, and whatever Is unnatural
and inequitable. 1t is a passing revui-
sion, bad in itself, but on the way TO a
healthy condition: subsding with ma
lures order. Radical Democracy. that
exalts ignorance and vice, and makes
unworthiness a merit, is but a form Of
anarchy. Both Will wrong the wronser
till he renders right, and both will be
outgrown only by advancing virtue and
intelligence, returning soundness.
This country is already too great, too
well endowed with the attributes Of man
hood. to allow anything but virtue and
sense to be in the ascendant or deter
mine its grades. Its next great rise and
advance will be to whip from its saclei
Offices OF administration and halls OF
legislation, all inebriates, adulterers,
thieves. and oath breakers. and TO re
quire that its officers shall honorably
represent its respectable and RESPONSE
BILE citizens and not be an offense and
shame to them.
In the general country, where all the
elements and graces Of mind and heart
are free, a disqualification and assort-
ment will take place and be more or
less positive and permanent. Charac-
tiers, homes, families, social circles, will
crystalize according to taste, religious
moral and social principle. High or low
will be measured and marked, not by
the standards Of the ignorant, vicious,
or commonplace world. but BY essential
merit and goodness, and true and nat
ural standards-the weights and meas
ures of everlasting righteousness. Like
will to like: and natural affinity or re-
pulsion will determine levels, classes,
and social circles. The holiness of braz.
en- impudence will face earthward and
viceward and have its reward In its as
sociates. under its ragged standards
and daubed shows. Natural selection
will give men and women their deserts
knowledge and intelligence. a higher
education will be identified with the knowi-
edge Of God, and the world will see
social levels of a higher quality and
virtue than all the East has ever known.
Hearts and minds, fun OF humanity, de-
voted TO truth and loyal TO Heaven, will
mingle freely and happily. But while
these levels are forming themselves, vain
efforts at social position by wealth. no
toriety, ancestry, or place, any thing
than essential worth. and the buoyant
power Of increasing goodness shah show
itself more and more vulgar and despica-
be-more un-American.
Then let us pray, that come II may
AS come 1t will for a that
That sense worth DER a the earth