The San Francisco call., 1908-05-24

TIE constitution OF the United
States Is the ark OF the covenant
and the palladium OF our liberty
and lots OF other things. accord
ing 20 the fourth Of July orators. but
there is q little paragraph-No. s. TO be
exact-of section Of article that has
caused more heart burnings among
sent thss country abroad than al the
other provisions put together.
Os course no American wants a title
OF nobility. Perish the thought. That
IS. no male American. however desir-
cSle the ducai strawberry leaves or
other insignia OF rank may appear 10
wealthy American heiresscs. But there
are some genuine Americans Of the
real. heaithiIy democratic type who
would not objee; TO accepting a pres
ent" or -en-olament' from a king.
irince or foreign state" end stan con-
s-der themselves perfectly loyal to the
,acip.es set fcrta in the aforesaid
al q the covenant They subscribe
T4ost heartily 10 the broad spirit of the
c Gss,i-u;ioa. bat they cannot see. for
tie Ike ot them. WAY taey should not
te pei -nitied II accept and TO wear
} .,.l-I or q c0raii. n with q piece OF rib
bsa. esq ,ialiy as TIE donor OF the trim
...sn9t Ire made 10 uadt rstand aag
i7r.n n the pro-fefing OF this lItSle
artesr.
.. al .he isl-ie problems with which
tie 4, sartsss n, 81 state has TO deal
,te .,rs. ably not one that has Civ
"a $ sccs s..v, setresar.es more trouble
t-ss :his oae o. she acceptance of dec
cations by our diplomats and other
rrcss atatives abroad. Secretary Root
sasr.y lost PATIENCE over the petty
a- arising sr5n the question.
sos "a he aervss SO that lie has
sane iA;aer eazstlc letters 10
g IS o. thc ssis.ct.
IS .xesy Pers3n at all conversaat
.-lh tae matter is aware. the bestowsi
~ me5ais - decorations is merely
tile old worio courtesy that Is il
Gaiged in Iy foreign governments FOR
rcts or services that seem meri;orious.
t.on or distiacttoa on the part Of the
recipient For instance. john Fowler.
United states consul st chefoo. China.
lad Conferred gRon him the decoration
a. the order o. tie Double Dragon b.
iae Chinese government.
IL the note q the Chinese govern
lent Il was stated thu. Air Fowler.
curing tee boxer troubles %. isos. "a
company with oi.er foreign eonsals.
co-operatec with the local authorities in
Maintaining peace and order. These
decorations were conferred upon all the
foreign eozsuis stationed al Chefoo.
Henry vsgaaud was granted the dec
oration OF the Legion o: Honor by
France. This was conferred out of CON-
liinent 10 the United states and as
marx OF special regard for Mr. Vignaud.
who has been for many Years In the
American diplomatic service at Paris.
Captain y. r. Nolan. L. s. A.. also had
the decoration OF the Legion OF Honor
conferred upon him by France. merely
Tor the reason that he attended the
French naneGvers in the autumn OF s0s.
John @. Leishman when serving as
American minister at Constantinople
vas given medal by the sultan. No
reason was given for the courtesy.
Nor was any reason given for the be-
.s,owal Of the decoration OF the Order
Of OsmsriIeh by the khedivc OF Egypt
upon Ethelbert Walsh. at that time
consul general at Cairo. This merely
goes to show that these decorations are
forthcoming either as recognition Of
merit or simply because they have the
medal giving habit more strongly de-
velcped in the old world than il is ia
this country.
Bot the letter OF the constitution is
observed Everything that can be con-
strued as present or "enoiument' is.
included in the restrictions. when the
Coiumbia carried the remains OF the
late Ambassador Aspiroz TO Mexico the
officers OF the vessel and the command
er OF the detachment OF marines were
presented with photographs as q me-
mortal for their services. Even the ac-
ceptance of these photographs was
barred When Arthur IL Beaupre was
secretary OF Legation and consul gen.
ersi OF Guatemala he acted as arbi-
traitor in the clain< OF the owners ard
masters OF the English sloop Lottie
May against the government OF Hon
duras. AS q slight token OF esteem
from the British government he was
presented with a silver inks.and. But
once more the hoary figure OF the con-
stitution was interposed between the
recipient and acceptance
As a result OF the provisions in para
graph 6. section 8. article i. Of the con-
stitution Of these United States the de-
pertment OF state has a large safe. or
perhaps several OF them. crammed with
the crosses. medals. jewels and ribbons
ard even watches that have been con-
ferred upon citizens OF this republic in
q neEent OF courteous generosity.
These tr1nksts are In safe keeping. for