The daily democrat. [volume] (Anadarko, Oklahoma) 190?-1908, 1907-07-09

Surely Americans cannot complain
at the lack of honors which foreign
countries and societies are bestowlng
upon citizens of the United States for
noteworthy achievements and distin.
gushing services. And while there is
no undlgnified eagerness on the part
OF Americans for medals and decora-
uons, there is still a warranted pride
In receiving such marks of distinc-
tion. The already long list of those
who have been thus honored Is grow.
Ing apace, and IL all whose names 40.
pear there were to form a society of
decorated Americans Il would start
out with a membership far in excess
of that with which most organizations
begin.
Such a society would not be in
much favor with intensely democratic
Americans who have been wont to re.
gard decorations almost in the cate.
CORY of bribes. but such feeling is
surely without warrant and is growing
less each year Said Count Casslni on
this point not long before he left
America for SPAIN Il have received
~ decorations. and can II be possible
that according to the old notion !
have been bribed 33 times? have
recommended the bestowal of many
decorations, but they were given in
recognition of favors rendered without
thought OF return. Indeed | have
many times during by life been very
glad that | could make use of such
orders. Men have done me very kind
and substantial favors. could not In
honor OFFER them 500 or $500 They
would have been insulted by such
crude form of gratitude. The only re-
course at my command was TO give a |
decoration or a gold snuffbox. The |
latter the recipient would never use |
and could find little pleasure in, so |
have chosen to give the decorations |
where | could"
Congress has but twice in 20 years
given It's consent for officers of the
government to accept decorations that
have been rendered them. Further.
more, 1t is the law that all decora.
uons that foreign governments may
wish to give to American officials must
be deposited with the state department
until the question whether they may
be accepted or not is decided.
Thus 1t is that there is a beautiful
order In gold of Grand Oficer of the
Legion OF Honor lying in the vaults OF
the state department for Gen. Chaffee.
Some time congress may allow him to
receive 1t. The time may come when.
as with Admiral McCalla last March
he lies on what his fearful family or
dearest friends think is his deathbed
Or Ii may happen that even then the
desired permission will be withheld.
and only after the brave old soldier is
dead ana gone will the decoration pass
to the hands of his wife and children.
to whom IL will be a treasured testi.
mony to the worth OF the man whom
II was intended to honor. And vet II
the order were to be allowed TO be
given to Gen. Chaffee he could not
wear 1t as other men wear theirs on
public occasions. No officer OF the
army or navy nor any civil employe
OF the government is permitted by law
to wear such an emblem Of favor with
foreign potentate. This applies to
the retired officer as well as those in
active service.
Once In long while an official has
chance to get decoration by what
Is at least a pardonable evasion OF the
law. Secretary II. II. d. Pierce last
year. when he resigned his post OF as.
sistant secretary of the state depart.
ment to accept the appointment as
TO Norway. spent day I'm
private life between the two positions.
and in that choice interval took good
care 20 call for his decorations, which
had for years, in some cases, laid in
the vaults OF the department. Among
them were the Order of the Double
Dragon, conferred by the Chinese gov.
ernment. and the cross OF comman.
der of the Legion of Honor.
In the same way William F. WIN.
oughby, formerly expert of the bureau
Of labor, and lecturer on social eco.
lomies at Johns Hopkins and Harvard.
stepped out OF government employ a
few days before accepting his appoint.
ment as treasurer OF Porto Rico. and