Chapter 1: lineage and education.
- All men are not created equal -- conditions that tend to produce superiority -- early settlers of New Hampshire -- the Butler family -- “Brick” Pomeroy considered -- childhood and first school-days -- early development of a tenacious memory -- learned political principles from grandmother -- in Phillips (Exeter) Academy -- Rev. Mr. Edson, founder of Lowell's schools -- clergyman objects to West Point -- intended for the ministry -- life at Waterville College -- Theological conflict with authorities there -- determines upon the law as a profession -- graduates, weighing ninety-seven pounds -- voyage in a fishing vessel -- study of law -- method pursued -- experience as teacher in private school -- examination for admission to the bar
The political system of this country is founded upon what Rufus Choate once termed a “glittering generality,” contained in the Declaration of Independence, that “all men are created equal.” This is a truth as applied to political rights, immunities, and burdens, but an utter absurdity so far as it is made to describe other mutual relations of people. He would not be considered sane who should solemnly declare that all individuals of any other of the larger species of animals are created equal. Take the horse, for example. All the world agrees to radical differences and varying capabilities among horses according to the race and “blood,” and all acknowledge distinctions in the higher class of “blood.” This recognized difference in the peculiarities of different classes of animals has led to grave consequences to mankind, causing one to be called to be a king, another a lord, and the great mass peasants.
This fact, misapplied in giving right and power to “blood,” still maintains itself in most countries of the world save ours, where it does not and cannot affect governmental action. That blood does not and cannot of itself maintain a class, either of intellectual superiority or of physical vigor, by “breeding in and in,” is patent from the well-known condition of the royal families of Europe, among whom there has been so much intermarrying for many years that hardly a reigning monarch in Europe has had any considerable influence in the conduct of affairs of his own government because of his inferior intellectual qualities. And so far as health and vigor of body is concerned, many people of the royal families can scarcely be said to have a “leg to stand on.” Wellington, Napoleon, Disraeli,
