Year: 1873

The. stealthy transformation of our
republic into a ringpublic may be
ascribed, in no small degree, to the
displacement of an element in the
body politic which was never appreci>
ated at its true value in the better days
of our national virtue 1t was then
decried and almost hated by the New
England and nearly the whole North>
ern mind. The same mind seems to
think that the suppression of that
element has been a triumph tor
the cause of freedom, truth and purity.
Indeed, its entire extinction is regarded
as consummation devoutly to be
wished. This sentiment has
become so prevalent that it may
subject one to the charge of disloyalty
to regret that an influence which
wrought so powerfully in shaping the
character OF the republic in it, first
and best years has been displaced by
another more popular. "Down with
the aristocracy !" is the watchword
of the social democracy, both in
England and in America and the
saue cry is passing through other
countries. This cry does not mean
down with men who have made them
selves richer than the hereditary
arisfocracy by sweating out vast
fortunes from the toll and industry of
single generation, but down with
historical or old families of the country,
who have retained in there possession
estates purchased centuries ago at a
shilling or two an acre, and to which
each century has added an increased
value. Down with men who have
become to large fortunes bv this slow
process of accreuon, and have not
jumped into great wealth by specula~
lation in stocks, or by trading or
manufacturing enterprise like the
great majority of rich people.


Now, the worst sin OF q landed or
hereditary aristocracy, in popular
estimation, in their esprit de corps, or
that pride of order which leads them to
feel it derogatory to their dignity to
engage personally in trade or in those
business enterprises which other men
of wealth pursue. Then this feeling
becomes additionally obnoxious by
stimulating what they call n " high
seDse of honor" kind of horror or
or contempt for small and mean acts
and ways of life aud thought, for a
trafficking spirit and habit of mind,
and for the everlasting talk about the
irrepressible dollar. 1t is these pre-.
tensions, this carriage and pose Of mind
and life, more than their absolute
wealth, than render an aristocracy OF
this order so repugnant to the popular
mind. especially in America. Fol
there is no country in the world where
men compass sea, land and fire with
more avidity for the aristocracy o.
abstract wealth than among US. Our
railroad kings and merchant princes
stock jobbing, and other potentates il
our moneyed world, constitute al
aristocracy as rich in dollars as th'
nobility and gentry Of England. Ant
these enjoy public estimation ant
exert an influence which fire thousand
with the ambition to attain the sam'
position by the same or more question:


BILE means Thus an aristocracy o
sheer wealth, however acquired, shor
of absolute crime, is the most popula
order in American society. And th'
more this aristocracy retains ant
exhibits the spirit of what the Frencl
call bourgeoisie, the more popular an'
influential it becomes, because i
remains in affinity, and on the sam
level of thought and purpose, with tn


great multitude of money-seekers.


Now, to thoughtful ,observant minC
nothing can be more evident and more
disquieting than the fact that this kint
: of aristocratic bourgto;sie has come t.


the front as the ruling power in thi
) country. 1t is moneyed aristocrac,
that thinks, plans and acts in tn


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