Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-06-27

Against THIS lQe0 IL mas D0en urged that dis
tinctions of this sort are unrepublican, though
this assertion has never been backed up with
any very tangible reasons Most other repub-
lies confer them. Orders Of merit are insti-
tuted in Peru, Chill, Venezuela, Bolivia, Mica
ragua and other South American countries.
France has the famous Legion Of Honor, and
that most unmonarchical Of all republics, San
Marino in the mountains Of north Italy, with
its twenty-four square miles Of territory and
its independence guaranteed 20 long as it does
not keep printing press in its dominions
possesses its own system Of glorious awards for
virtue or eminence.
MEDALS DURING THE WAR.
But in fact the United States has itself had
such o system for ever 30 long. 1t was insti-
tuted during the war. when Congress provided,
In an '.act to promote the efficiency of the
navy" that petty officers, seamen, landsmen
and marines should receive medals for gal
lantry In action. That was in 1861, and in 1864
further resolution was passed decrseing that
In such cases the recipient of the award, on
recommendation by his commanding officer,
should be promoted to the post of a warrant
officer with commission from the President,
and should draw 800 in cash compensation
from the treasury.
Also during the war Congress passed two res
olutfons appropriating $4,000 and S2O, 900, re-
spectiyely, for medals to be conferred upon
enlisted men who have distinguished or may
distinguish themselves in the rebellion" Both
this law and that quoted above relating to the
navy were afterward extended DO as to include
In their provisions any man in either service
who should render himself at any time con-
splcuous for zeal or courage The army medals
are still conferred from time to time, but the
naval authorities have not given one for long
WHILE because in the latter department these
rewards are usually bestowed for saving lives
from drowning, and this purpose is covered by
the silver treasury medals of the life saving
service.
The war and navy medals are very much
alike-bronze stars with ribbons of red, white
and blue. Paper certificates for meritorious
performance of duty are likewise given in both
services Furthermore, when citizens of the
United States rescued from watery graves
by foreign sailors it is customary for the
latter to receive from the President a silver
watch apiece, worth $40 each Wholesale per-
haps.
DIFFERENT SYSTEM SUGGESTED.
Now, it is seriously suggested that the United
States might, with proper regard for demo-
cratic institutions. adopt different system,
modelled in some measure after the practices
OF other free nations. Cheap silver watches
are not the most dignified gifts for great
country like this to bestow upon foreigners.
Paper certificates are of no possible
whose mess chest they are slowed away
to yellow. The bronze medals referred to are
outrageously cheap looking affairs, by no means
Mt to wear as decorations. From time to time
Congress has granted big gold medals weighing
pound apiece to distinguished persons.
Where are these medals now? In the National
Museum or other such repositories exhibited
as curios. The owners have no real use for
them. How should they? The articles cannot
be worn, and they are only fit to be shown ON
shelf.
What man wants who has done a distin-
guished action said general in the army to a
STAR writer, sis to be able to wear where all
men can see it the token of his feats performed
You may call that vanity if you will, but glory
in this world is sought for the purpose Of ex-
citing the admiration Of ones fellow-men-and
women. Even the untutored North American
savage displays his feats of arms in the paint
on his body and the markings of
his feathers. Human nature is the
same all the world over. If fame is the incite-
ment to achievement, as may as well be ad-
mltted without argument, no sort Of encour-
agement can be so appropriately bestowed
upon American soldiers and sailors, and even
civilians, as the promise of reward in the shape
OF an advertisement of past meritOrious per-
formance that may be worn ON the lapel of a
coat within sight of all mankind.
A LEGION OF HONOR.
"Why then should there not be in this coun-
try q legion of honor such as exists in France?
Just for suggestion sake, let there be gold star
of three classes first class star with rays.
to be worn on the breast, with broad ribbon
across the chest. The second-class decoration
might be similar star without rays, attached
to the left breast by small strip of ribbon with
rosette. For the third class might be chosen
a smaller star, with similar strip of ribbon
without any rosette. These would be ap-
propriate for officers in the army and navy who
performed services of distinction A great
general might wear the star of the first class. a
colonel who had turned the future Of battle a
star OF the second class, while a captain of q
troop, who had done service Of conspicuous
gallantry. might well merit the star of the third
class.
Supplementary to these, for petty officers
and sailors or enlisted men, silver and bronze
medals might be awarded. The colors of the
ribbons would be important. For army men
they might be red, with a margin Of white and
an outer line of blue. For the navy blue would
serve, with white border edged with
red. Civilians who received medals for serv-
ices to the government, to science or to
humanity, would be appropriately adorned
with ribbons OF white silk with red and blue
margins Such decorations would be for dress
of course, corresponding ribbons in the button
hole being worn on ordinary occasions. or
necessity, laws would have to be passed. such
as exist in other countries forbidding the wear
ing of the insignia by persons not entitled to
them, under penalty OF fines and imprison-
ment."
ORDERS OF MERIT IN THE WORLD.
About 800 orders Of merit exist in the world.
Many of them possess much interest relative to
their history or otherwise. famous Ameri-
can order is that of the Cincinnati. instituted
in 1888 for the purpose of s'perpetuating friend
ship and to raise fund for the widows and
orphans of those who had fallen" in the reyolu-
tionary war. On the ground that right to
membership was made hereditary-in the male
lne-the society was violently opposed as
foreign to republican equality"
Crosses Of the Legion OF Honor, which were
established by the great Napoleon in 1902, are
worn today by go, 900 persons. There are five
classes-grand cross, grand officer, commander,
officer and chevalier. The decoration is OF
gold, save for the chevalier, which is of silver,
The Order of the Thistle of Great Britain in
cludes only the sovereign and sixteen knights.
1t is reserved chiefly for the Scottish nobility.
was established by James II and was re-estab-
lished by Queen Anne.
The Order Of the Garter was instituted bv
Edward III in l348. The origin is referred.
though not with any degree OF certainty, to a
court ball, at which the Countess OF Shrews-
bury dropped her garter. The king picked 1t
up and returned it to the fair owner, saying:
''Honi soft qui NAL y pense." This order is
limited to the sovereign and twenty-five
knights.
Among other British orders is that Of the
'Bath," conferred for civil or military merit.
Another is that Of the INDIAN Empire" con-
ferred only for service in India, and estab-
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