Evening star., 1896-04-06
Mr.. HARRlsoN's MEDALS
HonGs. Whidh Osngress Has Authorised
Him b Receive
Not Without Precedent - Medals ot
a. Historic Value.

The action OF Congress In authorizing
Gen. Harrison to accept two medals from
foreign governments presented to him in
his official capacity Of President Of the
United States is not without precedent in
the history Of the republic If the medals
were presented to him individually no
action on the part of Congress would have
been required, inasmuch as the cons.itu-
tfcnal provision against the acceptance of a
decoration or medal from q foreign power
without the consent Of Congress applies
OILY to person holding an office of honor
or trust under the government, whereas
now Gen. Harrison is but private citizen.
The medals in question, however, were
presented to the President of the United
States. and were supposed to have been
gifts from one country to another, One
was addressed to Mr.. Harrison, President
of the United States, and the other was
addressed simply to the President. lnas-
much as there was doubt as to their
ownership, Congress passed the Joint reso-
luton authorizing Gen. Harrison to accept
both Of them, and President Cleveland ep-
proved the measure. 1t therefore appears
by the government of the United States.
Aside from their great historical inter-
est the medals are Of considerable intrinsic
value.
A Spanish Souvenir.
The handsomer Of the two is the one
recognition of the celebration of the fourth
centenary of the discovery Of the new
world by Columbus. 1t was struck in COM
memoration of the historical exposition
held in Madrid in February, 1893 1t is
about two and a half inches in diameter
and rests i'll a red velvet case, the cover
of which bears the Spanish coat of arms
us two sides depict two important scenes
in the life of Columbus. The diverse, or
face, bears bas relief of the scene on
board the caravel when land was first
sighted. Columbus is shown pointing to-
around him. In the circle between the
edge of the medal and the central COM
position is the inscription in Spanish:
'Christopher Columbus discovered the new
Isabella and Don Ferdinand were reigning
Ill CASTLE and Aragon." The reverse bears
a bas relief showing the reception of CO.
lumbus at court by Ferdinand and Isabella
dians bearing baskets, parrots and other
objects. The work is most delicately ex-
ecuted, all of the details being noted with
extreme finish. This medal W. 8 presented
TO the president of the United States.''
A Medal From Brazil.
The other medal was presented to Presi-
dent Harrison by name, by the president
or Brazil, through the Brazilian special
envoy, Admiral de Silveira, in 1880. It is
VI lHo aCIiOn OF the gov
ernment of the United States in being the
hrst government to recognize the republic
OF Brazil. The medal is three-quarters of
an inch in di lmeter and one-quarter of an
inch in thickness. 1t weighs l4A ounces
1t Is made of palladium "a rare silver-white
metal, resembling platinum), which is in
tended 10 be symbolic of Brazil and of
gold, emblematic OF the United States of
America.
The face has head of liberty and two
crossed sprigs Of laurel The reverse con-
tairs the eagle and shield of the great seal
OF the United States surrounded by several
consultations. 1t rests in a polished oak
case with satin lining, decorated with the
coiors OF Brazil and the coat of arms of
the United States.
The two medals are now in the library of
the State Department, where they have been
on public exhibition since their receipt In
the same case is valuable decoration, pre-
ser ted by the Sultan of Turkey in commen-
Grafton Of the discovery of America 1t is
an elaborate affair of gold, set with a pro-
fusion Of diamonds and other precious
stones.
In 1S29-3O a medal was offered to President
Jackson by Simon Bolivar to commemorate
the friendly assistance afforded by the
United States in establishing the South
American republics. Congress passed a res
olution authorizing the acceptance by the
President of this medal but at the same
time specified that the medal should be de-
posted in the State Department and not
given to Mr.. jackson until he had retired
from the executive chair.