The Washington herald., 1909-05-30
By Ex-ATTAcHE.

Z the pecunarity OF OeinS composed. not OF
the people who have done something for
the nation, but Of their descendants The
newest Of these organizations TO come
/ into existence is one which restricts Its
membership TO the descendants Of those
peds0ns who served the Union govern
ment during the war OF the rebellion in
some civil capacity" and they will take
I their place along with the Daughters Of
the American Revolution, the Daughters
Of the Revolution. the Danes Of the Rev
olution. the United States Daughters OF
ls12, the Colonial Danes Of America. the
Sons Of the Revolution. the Sons Of the
American Revolution. the Society Of Gin
cinnati, the Aztec Club. the Order Of In
dian Wars, the Society Of Msyfower De-
scendants. the Huguenot Society. and in
Vulnerable other associations in various
parts OF the country. which each and
! every one Of them exact certain ancestral
qualifications.
That importance should be attached 10
the latter has recently been made the
theme Of assertions in the European as
well as in the American press. TO the
effect that the people Of the United States
are drifting toward an aristocracy. not
OF wealth. but Of birth II is pointed
out that aristocracy implies the posses
sion OF lineage. and that II is nothing
more nor less than certain social emf
nence and prestige. based upon the in
heritance OF honor and fame, acquired
by ancestors.
While this IS undoubtedly true. vet there
IS no reason whatsoever for fndulging in
jibes al the expense Of the patriotic socie-
ties in question OF 70 assume Nat their
growth and popularity implies a-departure
from the principles upon which the great
American republic Is founded. nor that It
indicates a swing toward a system Of
nobility eliminating in monarchy The
possession Of ancestry, the respect for
lineage, and the preservation Of family
traditions. are in no manner Incompatible
with true democracy and sincere repub-
licanism as long as no endeavor is made
10 invest these advantages Of birth with
special prerogatives and immUnities with
held other citizens.
AS long as the respect for ancestry has
no other object than the endeavor on the
part Of those possessed thereof 10 live Up
10 the standard OF conduct OF their for
bears. 10 keep the family name untarnish-
ed, and 70 maintain fl all their integrity
the traditions OF the family, nothing but
good can result 70 the nation. Anything
that tends 10 keep the moral tone OF the
citizens at a certain height is conducive
to the welfare OF the commonwealth.
In no country Of the world is repub-
licanism more advanced than in Switzer-
land. where the doctrine Of civic equality
is carried to such degree that the 5000
a year chief magistrate IS not permitted
TO hold Office for longer than twelve
months, lest he should become imbued
with a sense Of superiority. Yet not even
in Austria or In Germany Is there more
importance attached 10 ancestry. lineage.
and family traditions. no matter whether
the family be OF the peasantry. OF the
great merchant dynasties dating from the
Middle Ages, or OF the untitled patriciate.
whose line goes back without q break 10
the era OF the legendary national hero.
William Tel.
No greater mistake can be made than
70 imagine that the respect for ancestry
and the regard for family tradition are
restricted to the classes. Their influence
IS just as potent with the masses. a fact
readily comprehensive when II is borne
IN mind that people on the other side OF
The Atlantic are. as a rule. content with
their social status.
The yeomsn farmer in England takes
pride in the fact THAI his ancestors for
hundreds Of years have been yeoman
farmers. Ike himself. often IN the occu-
patton OF the seIf-same land. and edu-
Gates his children 70 live Up 10 the tradi-
tons Of their forefathers Thus al Vay-
mol, Charles Assheton-Smith's ancestral
place in Wales. which has been IN the
possession OF his house for seven cen
tUries, there are eight families Of yeomen
farmers who have rented the same farms
without any interruption, for over SO
years There are peasants in Germany
and IN Brittany, as well as IN the United
Kingdom. who can trace their descent
back to the Middle Ages. a knowledge
which imbues them with a sense Of re-
sponsibiiity and dignity. In the same
way the retail and wholesale traders OF
Europe. in Switzerland. and France, as
well as the monarchicai countries. take
an honest pride in the fact that their
foTbears were traders like themselves.
and 1t Is the traditions Of their ancestors
which constitute the principle incentive
for preserving untarnished by any failure
OF commercial dishonor the good name
which they have inherited
In France the lawyers in particular are
fond OF pointing out how their fathers
and fathers fathers have been honOred
members Of the magistracy and OF the
bar. and they, too. strive 70 live up 10
the traditions Of what Is known in the
Gallo tongue as the ''noblesse de robe. "
To the actual aristocrscy. Of course.
lineage and tradition are a still more
important and vital consideration. form
ing, indeed, the basis Of raison d'etre OF
the class
Tradition and ancestry are about the
only things that cannot be purchased OF
sold. They can only be inherited and
are a species OF inaIensble heirloom.
which may be tarnished to such an exten,
as to become an object Of ignominy rather
than Of dignity and value, but which
can never be transferred OF negotiated.
Family tradition may. therefore, be con
sidered as enc OF the guardian angels OF
the people Of the Old and New World. It
exercises a restraining influence and
causes both men and women Of every de- |
gree TO pause before enbaTking upon !
courses Of action or Of speech entailing |
possible disgrace. not only 70 themselves. /
but also to the name which they have In |
herlted. and which they are bound in /
honor TO bequeath, free from stain, to I
their descendants.
Inasmuch as all these patriotic societies. |
which are fouTishing and developing in I
the United States. have no other purpose /
in view than the cultivation and preserva- /
ton OF family traditions. seek no pre-
negatives from the State, nor even social /
privileges or superiority. but content /
themselves with endeavo-ing to instiIl /
into the minds OF their members the |
Of living up 10 the names which /