Arizona daily citizen., 1901-11-02
THE ENGLISH RULING CLASS.

timistic character to its readers,
has evidently had an attack of the
blues. In late issue, extracts
from which have been telegraphed
to this country, it discusses the
subject of English "discontent
with the ruling caste. " The body
of the British people, says the
Spectator, especially 'the middle
class, is much more bitter than
the party leaders imagine. Unless
the situation improves our London
contemporary is convinced that
there will be withdrawal of conf
dence from the caste, because it
lacks the qualities which in time of
emergency command success.
This is an ancient complaint of
the British grumbler. Whenever
things go wrong and the govern
mcnt by caste proves its ineficiency
there are threats of abolishing aris-
tocratic rule. Yet nothing is fur
ther from John Bulls intention
than to get rid OF the ruling caste.
He wouldn't be happy If the plain
people should get hold ofthe govern
a.,j ~,,., - ,,,;fE1.,f VI t,>
the pretentions Of those who claim
that they are better fitted by birth,
by social distinction, by long iden-
tifcation with the dominant caste
TO direct the destinies of the En-
pire. In his pessimistic moments
the 'middle-class" Englishman
may talk about the advantages OF
a democracy. He would be thrown
into paroxysms of grief il he really
thought that he would be deprived
ofthe nobility and gentry who lord
il over him.
OF course if John Bull prefers to
live under the rule of caste, that is
no concern Of other people. 1t is
largely matter Of taste, and, as
far as tastes are concerned, the
American people themselves are
not entirely removed from criticism
It possibly would not require Sill
pernatural gifts to discover that
castes are not wholly unknown i'll
the society and politics of the Uni
ted States. We have our "Fo ur
Hundred, in New York and else
where who claim to be as vastly su
perior to the common herd, in |
this Republic as the British noble
man is assumedto be to the average
middle class Englishman. The
daughters of our great inanciers
and merchants marry foreigners
with titles and seem to think they
have conferred great distinction
upon themselves and their families.
In view of these conditions it would |
not be truthful to say that all Anne
ricans are free of the weakness
which we deride in our Anglo
Saxon cousins. We have political
castles as we'll as social castes, but
i'll the main brains, energy and ca
pacity are still the qualities which
are requisite to leadership on this
side of the Atlantic in enterprises
not entirely of frivolous character.
In England the case is different.
The spirit ofcaste prevails not only
in social relations, but in govern
nient. 1t dominates the army to all
extraordinary degree. 1t is felt in
diplomacy; it is not without influ-
ence in the church. Everywhere,
indeed, it manifests itself, even in
the distinctions which are drawn
between the various classes of en-
ployes in mercantile houses. This
caste spirit is the growth of centur-
les. and Our English cousins are so
.habituated to it. that they would
find it difficult to get rid Of it even
If they desired to do so. When
man is chosen for an important
diplomatic position, not always be
cause Of his ability, but because of
his family connections: when social
infiaence 10 more potent in securing
a commission in the army than
soldierly accomplishments; when
Prime Minister selects men for posi-
tiotis under the Government not be-
cause they are specially adapted for
the work but because they are
arisfpcfats of his own strain Of blue
blood when these conditions are
tolerated BY the people without pro-
test 4 i plain that nothing short Of