New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-02-18

tuon or deprivation OF which would be an act Of
spoiation- NO country in Europe is more care
fui OF the rights OF property of individuals
IMAM france. and rather than that its fair
name and good faith should be called into ones
uoh II actually continues 10 pay from the ma
uonai treasury annuities 70 thirty-seven dukas
princes and counts whose ancestors were
lowered by the First Napoleon when he con-
ferred their titles upon them hundred wears
ago or nearly eight hundred titles of nobility
conferred by the first Emperor Just a century
since, there only thirty-seven authentic ones
stlu In existence-that is TO say which have
been inherited in the male line direct (aIthough
mere are quantity Of them which have been
assumed without authority by cousins, nephews
sons-in-law. or even by the husbands of the
grandd2ughters Of the original holder Of the
ute). The first Emperor in creating dukedorns
prlncedoms and other titles OF nobility invari-
any accompanied the honor by the grant Of an
annuity payable by the government treasury as
long as there was legitimate descendant in the
male line the idea being. of course. to assure
the people whom he had thus honored and their
descendants that there should always be enough
TO maintain the title with the proper amount OF
dignity Repeated attempts have been made to
aoohsh these annuties. But the proposal has
invariably been opposed by the government OF
the DAY, no matter what its political texture
on each change OF regime in France one of the
first acts of the legislature has been to assure
the credit Of the nation, and thus faciIitete the
financial operations of the national treasury by
placing the creditors of the state under tie
safeguard OF the honor and loyalty of the French
nation" Among the creditors of the state are
these thirty-seven holders Of anc1ities con-
ferred along with titles of nobility nv the First
Napoleon and which are inscribed according to
official parlance. the Grand Livre de France"
that is 10 say. on the Grand Ledger of the
State in France AS long as the French gov
eminent continues TO pay the Dukes of Rivon
and Of Bassano and the Princes Of Wagram and
OF La Moskowa (the latter linesl descendant
Of Marshal Ney). annuities from the national
treasury for the avowed purpose OF maintaining
their titles with the proper amount of dignity
there can be no question Of the non-exlstence
officially speaking. OF a bona 1de and authentic
nobility Of France.
It must be thoroughly understood that the
revolutionary decree of August 1889. abolishing
titles and nobiliary distinctions IN France was
modified by the First Napoleon through the
grant during his reign of 500 titles OF nobility
and afterward completely restored by King
Louis XVIII on the Bourbon restoration in 1914.
when the following decree was substituted in
its place: The old nobility resumes the titles
which belong TO it The new nobility. that is TO
say, the Napoieonic, is authorized to retain its
titles. The King will also create mobiles as he
sees fit But these titles carry with them no
exemption from the jurisdiction Of the laws Of
the land or from their civic obligations" After
the revolution OF 1S4S the Republican govern
ment, by decree dated February 20 Of that year.
declared all titles Of nobility are abolished and
their use is forbidden" Four years later on
February p. 1852. the government OF the same
republic. by a decree bearing the signature Of
Napoleon as President curtiy annulled the de-
cree Of 1913. abolishing the nobility. On Nav
IS 1893, another law appeared, prohibiting
under heavy fines and Imprisonment the assump-
ton Of any title or name without due warrant
and authorization by the government and fin
ally. on May s. 1859. still another law was pro-
mulgated, forbidding. under divers pains and
penalties, the use or adoption Of foreign titles
without their having previously received, in due
form, the authorization and sanction Of the
French government There is no record OF any