The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1909-02-16
FREDERICKSBURG, VA, TUESDAY FEBRUARY 1e 1900
MISUSE OF TITLES
To The Free Lance:

To The Free Lance:
The Baltimore suns leader OF several
weeks ago, entitled Mr.. Knox VIII Not
be 'Premisr' or Prime Minister -. Is
educational, valuable-a resume OF facts
and reasons for ready reference on the
meaning, distinctions and duties OF the Of
tces oil premier, prime minister" and
Secretary OF State | quote the fol-
lowing:
" aen IL was announced the other
day shat Senator Knox, Of Pennsyl-
vsnis, would be the Secretary OF State In
the admistrstion of Mr.. TAFT certain of
our contemporaries made the Interesting
statement in editorials, IN dispatches and
In headlines that Knox will be premier.
hnox VII! be prime minister Some
nen In public life, who surely ought to
know better, were credited with COM
ments upon the 'premiership' OF Mr.
Knox. So lar ss we are advised, MIR.
Knox VIII oe, as bis predecessors In that
Office have been, solely the head OF the
Department OF State. He viii not be a
premier In any official sense or degree,
Tor the good and sufiicient reason that
our ~ stem oil government does not In
cluoe q premier or prime minister. The
country has managed to get along with
out dignitary OF that KIND for over a
century and quarter and does not
need one now"
While the remainder IL the gist OF the
editorial stop with the foregoing. as it
serves my purpose, which is to call your
attention TO another fragrant misuse of
stiles by the Dewspspers | refer to that
constantly appearing in the daily press
as His E1cellency, Mgr. Diomed Fal-
COMO, apostolic delegate TO the United
States, or "pspal delegate to the United
States There can be no apostolic or
pspal delegate To the United States. The
position and title are repugnsnt TO the
institutions and contrary to the Consti-
tuition Of the nation. A papaI delegate
Is without standing before the nation.
The country has managed to get along
without a dignitary ci that kind for over
century and a quarter and does not
need one now"
The position Of apostolic " or
'pepal delegate to the United States" Is
without legal prerogatives IN the United
States, und such title, in any application
to the nation, IL au absurd misnomer.
and is un-American. But it Is a position
and title of honor, responsibility and i'm
portance In those States or countries
recognizing papal delegates, and such
delegates vie In splendor and power with
duly accredited ministers aud ambassa-
dors Of nations.
In America, such position and title are
against the national principle and prac-
tice that church and State shall not mix
and they are against the Constitution in
that it guarantees the separation OF
church and State
Despite the fact that the position and
title OF apostolic" or "papal delegate
To the United States" Is without legal
prerOgative In the United rtstes, the
misuse of such titular dignity by the
press, the Roman Catholic church and
many well-meaning persons, while at
nrst arousing repugnance AMI upposi-
ton by all good citizens. will, after
while, insidiously poison the national
conscience aud slowly dull the national
eensibiiity, In the passiveness OF which
foreign conditiC ms will take root, leading
60 the mixing OF church and state.
The source which sanctions and au-
thorizes the use OF the false title OF
apostolic" or 'papal delegate to the
United States, also uses the press TO
propagate and spread it. The press
pubnshing IL commits a public wrong
The press, being the greatest and most
powerful public educator, Is also the
greatest power for public good or I'll and
iss editors and managers, being mould
ers OF public opinion. should purge the
press OF false matter for the proper eiu-
cation aud public good
The press should discard the use OF
this un-American title and instead use
that of apostolic" or "papai delegate
TO the Roman Catholic hierarchy In the
United States Then all would know
what 1t means and it would not falsely
educate the masses.
When the press falsely educates 1t fails |
It's true purpose for public good and |
falls short Of the ideal OF the Immortal |
author OF the Declaration OF Indepen- |
dence in saying; The basis OF our gov
ernments being the opinion OF the peo-
pie, the very fret object should be to /
keep IL right; and were it left to me to |
decide whether we should have agovern-
ment without newspapers. or news
papers without a government. / should (
not hesitate a moment TO prefer the lat
ter"
Andrew Jordan Green.
Washington, Feb. l1th, 1909.