The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1901-04-18
OBSTRUCTIVE FORCE OF ARIsrocRAcv


Those Americans, more numerous body than unapv of
their feowcizens suppose thinks the Cleveland Leader
who openly secretly approve the principle Of an arstoc
racy or dominant social element based mainly upon ance
try and family connections ought read the article by the
late Grant Allen, which is published the april issue of
the Cosmopolitan Its subject The British Arstocracy"
The author, who lived and worked so long in Great Brit
ain and became thoroughly English in most things that
his American origin hardly remembered OF noticed
wrote of science and letters student and distin
gus- authority the world Of learning The Leader
times He paid attention scandals connected with
the noble families Of the United Kingdom and his article
in no sense sensational It is merely clear and con
vineng statement Of the harm and injustice which must
always result from any social system which grades and
Classics according to their ancestry rather than their
personal merits and achievements
It is shown that hereditary arsocracy does not simply
exat unduy those who unworthy honor and disnc
t0n thereby establishing illogical and demorazng stand
ards for society great obstruction arfcay placed
ct the time in the path of genius and personal merit
The unfit are often made shameuy conspicuous and are
looked up to by multitudes Of and women who are
really their superiors and meanwhile natural instrc
tors leaders and of light and progress in the Brit
sh nation in greater less measure dwarfed hndered
and pushed aside the public esteem because so much def
and attention needs be avished upon persons
Of title and hereditary prominence
There is no logical answer such an Indictment Of the
SOCIAL system of the United Kingdom It is one of the mar
ve of the world that spite Of such powerful and ever
active Influences checking and beHttng the work Of the
great men OF the British nation England should still have
been rich in the manifold types of genius Only
people very notably endowed with great gifts could ac
comDish much in many high and noble aeds Of en-
deavor while the tendency of their social organization was
So potent breeding snobs aud hunkes and in snotherng
the natural ambitions hopes Of an those born to intel
ecua and moral distinction, but without family prestige
inherited position.
Now that the competition OF nations is growing keener
and the advantages which British fields and British
harbor have given the United kingdom are being neutral
lied by the development Of other countries even more
richly stored with the natural elements of wealth and in
dusal greatness 1t becomes vitality Important question
in new sense and degree whether the benumbing and
crushing effect of the British arstocracy upon the finest
elements Of the British people long be endured The
wsest and most alert minds the United kingdom realize
with painful cearness The stress and menace Of American
ana German competition. They see distinctly the nipera
tive need OF wider ana better education for the British
youth They realize the necessity Of more progressive
methods in business. Can they remain blind OF Indifferent
TO the suotherng tendencies Of the British social system
VITA undue oxaltaton family history and inherited
position ana its consequent low appraseeut of the value
of personal achievements and poWers2
il the fashion for Americans who know Frslsn5 ~
predict that What is VIII continue De indefinitely in the
social ana political organization of United finelo
They SAP thar Tie of British conservatism is too deem
and strong ana British love Of lords temporal ana ~
spiritual IS too lneraine5 and nearly arerai Re permit
any interference with aristocTaoy or tie established
church For Iew years decades they may right but