Year: 1871

Probably one Of the most serious fail
ings in the American cl aracter is want
of dignity; especially in the public life
and intercourse. The tone Of the pub.
lie press is largely accountable for this
sad want; for a sad want il is. There
IS nothing 10 the form of Republican
life and government which legitimately
leads to any failure in courtesy. That
We do not accord homage to hereditary
rank, is no reason why We should deny
simple courtesy to any one. The very
fact of manhood eutitles every human
being to respect


In lieu Of hereditary rank and office,
we profess to have discovered more
excellent way. The honor of choice we
maintain to be better than the accident
OF birth. If this be SO, why should not
the holder Of official station be recogni.
zed as entitled to due degree of con.
slderatlon Why should newspapers
almost uniformly = us some partisan
sheets are in the habit of doing-men.
tion public men in style of rude fam.
iliarity? 1t may be said that these
things are mere trifes. But surely il
is no trife to be guilty of acts which
betoken i'll breeding and low associa.
tions. The reign Of violence, and the
necessity of compelling obedience to law
by sheer force, grew out of the free
manner in which our law makers and
judicial and executive officers are
treated by small politicians aud BIZ ma.
ny party newspapers. Some journals
there are which avoid low personalities
and they have the more influence.
Their reProols are all the more formida.
bic that they are cour,eously expressed |;
and their praise carries all the more
weight, that it is not done in a coarse
manner, disfgured with low illusions.


If the amenities of life were made
more study by the general public, the
exhibitions of rudeness in or Official
bodies would be checked. As it is, we
fear that some of the toughest speci.
mems Of our public men may fairly
claim to represent no small portion of
their constituents. There is a passage
in Shakespeare which is often commented
upon without Indicating the true point
which the poet made. 1t is considered
rather cruel 10 Prince Hal, when he be.
comes King Henry, that he aims to cast
off his low associations, aud when he
puts on the dignity of the king puts off
the manners Of the swash .buckler. But
Shakespeare knew that rank should re
quire dignity Of manner, as the COMES
sion Of responsibility. So should the
citizen of republic, called to au Office
of honor OF trust, "assnme virtue, il
he has it not, and 10 bis Official rela.
tions at least, forget the shall fellow
And both those who have contributed
to his election aud those who, though
opposed to him personally, acknowledge
the law under which he was elected or
appointed, should give the moral weight
OF recognition to the public officer.


Until Americans amend 10 these par.
ticulars, aud cease to treat republican
institutions as 0 huge aud not very re.
fined joke, government will remain with
out duerespect abroad or proper strength
at home. Men need not be ashamed OF
polite demeanor, nor need the newspa-
pers aim at studied contempt for respect.
iul language.


Whatever may be the causes, the un-
digniGed tone OF which we are speaking
does exist; and while il exists, is the
source Of more evil than the careless
observer would suppose. 1t is to be
hoped that, having long enough mista-
ken rudeuess of simplicity, aud impu-
dent familiarity for equality, the Amer
lean people may rise to sense Of their
true dignity, aud not affect themselves
to despise the men aud the institutions
for which they demand the respect Of
other nations.