New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-02-03
French Republic Defines
Its Attitude Toward
NobiIiary Honors.


pronounoerlent in the national legislature Of
SIS attitude with regard TO nobiary titles, and,
In view Of the number Of marriages that are
constantly taking place between American
women and members Of the Gallo aristocracy'
f IS well that the matter should be made widely
known in this country, where so much misap-
prehension exists with regard 10 dgnities OF this
kind.
There have been brief cable dispatches to the
effect that France had decided TO impose q tax
upon titles and had. therefore. decided to rec
ognize them from henceforth- But this informa-
ton was nlanifesty sent IN ignorance Of the
real views Of the government. as contained in
the numbers OF the journal Oflciel" which
have Just come to hand. For, in the first place,
the legislature has enacted no new tax upon
titles, and certainly there cannot be any Ques-
ton OF a new departure being made in accord
fng recognition to nobiliary honors, since that
recognition has never been withheld by the
present republic.
II IS a mistake, too, 10 imagine that nobiliary
oignites have been abolished by this republic,
sn spite of all the statements which have been
made to the contrary. There have been but two
DEGREES enacted during the last hundred and
fifty years in France abolishing titles and each
of them has been repealed In August, 1883. at
The time Of the first revolution. a law was en-
acted doing away with the nobility as it then
existed, and annulling al the privileges and
prerogattves which it had up 10 that date en-
soyed Napoleon on his proclamation as EN-
peror some years later created entirely new
nobility, consisting OF dukes. counts and baronA.
After his downfall the Bourbon government, in
fits national charter and constitution of 1914
decreed that ell Napoleonic titles should receive
recognition, and thai the Gobiiary dignities
abolished by the Convention in 1889 should be
restored to the old aristocracy, though without
any political or official prerogatives and immuni-
ties. In 1S4S. after the overthrow of King Louis
Philippe, the provisional revolutionary govern
nent issued a law once abolishing all
titles Of nobility and prohibiting their use. But
this law repealed by a subsequent one
dated February "a, 1852 and has never been re-
enacted since that time.
It IS therefore altogether wrong to say that
titles are abolished in France. Quite the con-
trarY is the case. They exist by virtue Of the
laws Of 1914 and OF 1852 which still IN
force and, what is more, they have all along
been officially recognized by the government of
the republic The latter. moreover. has con-
tinued without intermission to tax these titles
and 70 derive a revenue from their use, and II
the matter was brought Up IN the legislature the
other day IN connection with the discussion Of
the budget, It was merely for the purpose Of de-
vising some kind Of penalties for those evading
the payment OF the statutory impost upon their
nobiuary titles 1t Is estimated that at the pres
ent moment the treasury suffers loss of nearly
100000 francs year through the non-payment
Of this particular tax. which is IN the nature Of
she succession OF duties IN England; that is TO
say, It Is not payable annually, but the regis
tradon OF the titles by the Department Of JUS
tice at the head of which is the Keeper OF the
Great Seal of Franco Fees Of a considerable
amount are imposed for registration. which Is
required on the succession OF heir 20 title.
or on the assumption by an individual OF titles
which belonged TO his ancestors and to which he
has a right by virtue OF descent IN the male line
direct, but which for one reason or another have
lain dormant for some time. Thus few years
ago the Couate Armand &c IA Rochefoucauld
On assuming his fathers title OF Duke Of Bisac-
cia. furnished the necessary proofs to the De-
partment OF JUstica and paid dues 90 the extent
Of 5000 francs-that Is TO say. about S1.0o0-re-
ceiv1ng IN return the recognition by the govern
uaent Of the dignity in question, and the au-
thorization TO use II in legal and Official docu-
rnents as part and parcel OF his name For one
case such as that OF the Cornte de Ia Rochefou-
cauid. where the statutory fees have been paid.
there are thousands where the requirement has
been either uncensciously neglected or else pur-
posely evaded. and until now there has been no
means OF bringing these tax dodgers 70 account
The law ss now amended provides that titles
shall be used IN official IN legal documents
unless they have received the statutory recogni-
ton by the government and imposes q consider
able fine upon any mayor, register, consul-in
fact upon any government of1cial-who has per-
rnitted the use OF q nobniary title in q public
document without having assured himself Of the
recognition Of the dignity by the Department OF
Justice A fine Of anywhere from S100 10 $1,000
IS a very serious matter to q rural mayor, and
tt Will cause him to insist upon q, very careful
scrutiny OF the necessary authorization Of the
Department Of Justice before he permits any
title 70 be mentioned In documents TO which his
sign manual and seal required. 1t will like
wise serve TO put an end to abuse which is
largely responsible for the extraordinary number
Of fictitious dukedoms, marQuisates, countships
and baronies now in existence In France. Here
tofore # has been an extremely easy matter for
any one taking the trouble to ingrattate him
self with g village mayor. any public func-
tionary OF the same class. TO induce him to prefix
the predicate Of baron or viscount, Of marquis or
prince to ones name In official documents.
Sometimes It was done by the official In question
70 obIigs the owner OF the principal chateau in
the district In other instances 1t would be
done In return for present, either In cash or
On kind But the document thus obtained.
whether Il be q certificate Of BIRTH or marriage
or Of death. or even mere notarial act, would
serve from thenceforth to the parties who had
obtained It as q prima facie proof that the dig
mites which they had assumed without any war
rant whatever were sanctioned by the state.
The government does not propose to enforce
that particuler law, still IN existence which pro-
y.des penalties for those who use titles unwar-
rsntably But what 1t IS determined to insist
upen is that from henceforth no patrician title
shall be used IN any official or public document
unless it enjoys the recognition Of the state, that
IS TO say, of the Keeper of the Great Seal Of