The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1896-06-21

power bribe ana VINO To his people anu
hls principles was faithful even unso
death.
When ono coistcmpates the lives and
deeds S, Ht sh ,n, o,,r sou mro we can
'nhcritlnca az they have bcqucathct to
us and You San ask no nohler title or
am Il son OF tho South"
The poiaoal and military history of
tho South has heen written and the rank
OF her sons ms statesmen and soldiers
been fixed heyond Distraction, hut the
South has also her social history and
amid the tendencies and changing social
thar her historic social record may he
marred. and while we. recall the glorics
inn"Sa,i"ns OF ri ,hs presct ' which p"r,ens
danger to her soicai future.
Every people has It's social rharacieris-
ties. ITS unwrittcn rules. usages and re-
Iurcmcnts that are IN the nature of 80
cial laws binding upon tho whole body of
society.
cultured and appreciative of the proprie
ties Of life such social laws arc high in
their standard and rigid in Their nppltca-
ton.
Tho Refinement, tho breeding. the moral
standard OF any peonlc may be measured
by 10" Of ITS wonen h, ana uss
Of her treatment aud the character or
its women rs whole is tho surcst index
10 the degree of a peoples civilization.
Judged by this exalted burt lust standard
the south has for u century aud more
presented and still presents the highest
standard of human civilization ever seen
earth.
However closely lines of scotia, distinc-
tion aud position may have been drawn
Ia tho South under tho ''old regime. and
however necessary money may have been
to meet the expenditures of that period,
It was never made the tcst of admission
into society. nor could II buy admission,
and under no system was genuine worth
.rrcr OF cordial greeting. regardless OF
N . ~ ,t, u
Eut ahc st ,ndard OF civilization and tho
social syscm here established seems In
the eyes Of some. at least. not 20 have
met approval, for there he those who. in
tones OF patronage and pity. by precept
and example, seek TO inculcatc the idea
that tho possession of money alone ~
sufficient 10 hipg open as With the Touch
of a mas'c.an's wand the gates oil the
social heaven.
in its conventional phrase, is regulated
and conirolcd by Influences not moral. bmt
financial; nc, intellectual but commercial
not by breeding Ina; Nv bullion, not 10y
gentle blood hut by gilt-edgci bonds, not
by genuine worth hut by raudy apparel.
and a, It's doors modest worth may knock
IN vasn IL Il bear not golden keys.
This element OF modern society permits
freedom OF social intercourse shat ~
rcp"lani to every tradition OF Southern
society of tho oiden days, nnd 70 Judge
by the edicis Of fashion by II issued. a
woman ia high in socl"ty just IN proper
ton a. her dress is low at the top
Money, in the eyes OF such these,
Is the standard of value OF mon MS OF
merchandise, and Is In all things the
measure of merit. and having such value
and possessing sach magic power =, buys
wives and husbands. II soothcs wounded
pride. IT c1mpensatcs alike for an injured
purse AZ A injured honor. and II the mos,
sacred relations OF iifc be violated and
tho moat sncred rights be ,ramplcd on,
damages are sought In the cour,s and
1.-THE juggling al the guinea heals the hurt
that honor feels.
OFTEN A woman ia exchanged for n
tile and money buys n prince and mos
often pniiner aud pun combined In one,
lint she would laugh 10 scorn any poor
and Untitled aliitor. however worthy. who
wouid dare contest with the ROYAL
wf7orr, Vet there Is not an honest, manly
tor thousand of snch worthless advent
urcrs aud Titled hlackguarls.
Marriage with such these is mere
mntter of convcnienrc. q Kind of com
mcrc.a partnership easily entered into
aud as easily dissolved and thas the
sacrament OF marriage, ordained OF God
and imuutahly associated with the Mas
tors presence. Is made sacrileGo and an
Nuh 'linwcd PROCLAMATION.
Divorces are prornrod as rendily and
alrnsg ~ frequently as now hornets. and
women rhnrrc husbands and men chang
wives as deliberately as SavagcS swap
suulws.
II such conditions and usagcs ms pre-
vail among tbs .hoddy ari;iiouracy exist |
in any degree IN Tho South they arc not |
- domestic origin hat have hccn visited |
upon us rs that Horial clement which |
noal,d 20 he top atnid the oonVnsipn
and corruption Of civil war and which |
NOW proanmcs, +, exhibit 10 ns In the
working al Is social system what 1t Is |
pl, lscd TO tcrm higher civilizations"
TINS social tide which. laden with 60 |
many lmpnr.ites ana SO much of vulgar
mpforaiism, ig sctiiug 80 si rongls IN this
duo lion. nnsi be stayed. and 10 tn
end invoke the apirit al Tho ',ld r..
glmc FOR while that spirit iivos there
VIII not ho esinhi slicd here an nris'ocracy
of money. where there has been md yc'
a 40
virtue
That spirit lives yet, thank Cod War
ham no conquered ~. Poverty mud hard
snip haVc not crushed ~ out ''i'nc alings
ana nrro"a of outrageous fortune" have
not weakened IT'S pow"rs II ue' Is mo-
lbe alyeutniou MD Of g9ld and iewels
and rbovc, and J. 70 an heritage INST ha.s
passed IN noble blood from gcnoration
from dame 10 dauehter through line
OF knisblly men and goriopS women.
Moved by that srirlt we vii tell those
who. with no claims In social leadership
except rlethoric purse aud who. with
out educa;ion, breeding, refinement or
homes worth inaolcntiy demand admits
CONGO hold sway, that the talism,nic
charm OF gold. so potent in other parts.
ham hero no magic power; that We mold
gentle blood, honored Lineage and gcnuinc
worth of more value Lhnn bonds OF bull
Lon, 'ha' we Will not how In sl1vlsh sub.
mission 10 king shoddy'a' rule but wtll
ron against the sociai despoiism of the
dollar
Mency can erect costly mansions. can
adprn them WIN the appointments of
wrath and luxury, car ga'lnr clusters
of Jewels ana purchase purple and me
linen. but there are things 4 can not
buy
Tno prompiings Of true courtesy and
the gentle rraceR of noble man
hood aud pure aud modest Domanlood.
I'm capacity To appre. sat. and observe
ih' d'iiculr properties ihpl brighton and
swroton life. ID" refined ana tender sensi-
rillics TINT Drr observed ia noble IA
turos and prompt. uiiseNlsh dee Is are not
matters of purchase or Of rdncttion Int
AFRO Unborn and instructive and me poHfeS-
sion Of ih,vc unpuInhasahle sif;s Is the
royal stamp Whicn COD 1nd nature puts
on Ire gentleman and tho gcntl ,womar.
iou need not search ihp pages OF anci-
cnt history nor wander lnn foreign lands
TO mud social examples. 40 higher Illus
lrniions of noble rnbinood ana graceful.
cultured aud Nliu'pus "omanhood can be
found on oartp than may he seen IN this,
. fsf Ia nd |