The herald., 1895-03-30
WHITTIER ARE we TENDINor

| In monarchial countries It is the custom
when a prince is born to ring bells,
chant the Te Deum, and put on the ap-
pearance Of general rejoicing. The newly
born scion of royalty may be an imbecile
or an embryonic tyrant, yet the forms Of
| Joy are pursued the same as If 1t were
certain that he would become al intel
lectual giant, and a benefactor to the peo-
pie. There is the appearance of general
belief that the event forbodes that which
will be of great value. and long accus-
toned to such manifestations it may be
that the people do believe that the new
birth is really fortune to them. These
demonstrations show how a nation of in
telligence may misplace their faith and
how easy it is for monarchial senti-
ment to become fixed in the human heart.
Such practices are repugnant to the
American ideas. as they are inconsistent
with the fundamental principles of our in
stitutions
Are we not. however. rapidly drifting into
recognizing and applauding that which
leads to class distinctions and which is
inconsistent with the purity and perpe-
tuity OF free government? When it is
announced that an American heiress is
affianced to foreigner of title. the whole
country watches with interest every de-
velopment. The case in public thought
obscures the proceedings of legislatures,
of Congress. OF the President or any event
of worldwide influence. The picture OF
the fiancee is in show windows and the
pictorials The trousseau and tiara are
minutely described and everything con-
nected with the affair is proclaimed and
discussed. American girls of superior
worth and beauty who ara in humble cir
cumstances who marry deserving young
men of the country receive no attention
beyond limited circle. In this respect
we are aping royalty and aristocracy.
Intermarriages of American girls of
wealth with foreigners of titles are becom-
ing numerous. and the public interest
taken in them indicates the tendency of
foreign to our theories of human equality,
and to a recognition of the superiority OF
wealth and rank; and it is a preparation
of the public mind tor acceptance of class
distinctions based upon other than con-
siderations of personal merit. No titled
European has ever sought the hand Of an
American girl without pecuniary fortune.
If the present tendency continues is there
not danger that the American people will
lose their Spartan virtues? There is not
so much danger from the mere fact of
great disparity in the possession of wealth
as that the sentiment of the people will
become so demoralized that they will toll
crate social distinctions based solely upon
wealth.
The habit of doing honor to wealth and
titles may become so established that
there will be ringing of bells and chant
ing TIE Deum when son of an American
princess, countess or lady is born, wheth-
er in Europe or America. The conspicu-
BUSINESS of marriages OF American girls of
wealth with scions of foreign aristocracy
has the effect to turn the heads of the
weak and vain of our wealthy country
women. They are sought only to replenish
the fortunes of bankrupts, and to trans
fer American money to foreign countries.
A sensible and healthful public sentiment
can only check the craze for marital alli
ances with foreigners of hereditary rank.
1t is not in this alone that we are be-
coming foreignized. Our people are
foreign manners and customs,
and we have acquired the habit of looking
to the other side of the Atlantic for COM
financial and economic theories.