The Washington herald., 1910-03-30
The Blight of the Bauble.

The Senate Committee on Foreign Anatrs
has submitted report on the bill grant
| ing. permission to certain officers Of the
United States to accept gifts from the
governments Of foreign states. For the
first time there has been laid down some
! semblance OF a rule which shall govern
! the Congressional authorization Of the de-
livery OF these testimonials. The Consti-
tuition contains a prohibition of the grant
ing of titles of nobility and forbids the
acceptance of presents by officers Of this
country from foreign pOtentates without
the consent of Congress. 1t has now
been decided that no decoration shall
be received save when it is conferred for
some exceptional or extraordinarily meri-
torious act. and that no presents shall
be received except those which may be
classed as souvenirs and marks Of
courtesy. Accordingly, the authority has
been granted for the delivery or certain
presents which are considered as coming
within these classes. while in some 10
instances the consent of acceptance has
been refused. and this embraces all the
offers of decorations.
It Will surprise most people to know
that so many presents and decorations
are in the possession of the State Depart
ment awaiting distribution In glancing
over the list which is regarded with dis
favor. one cannot help being impressed
with this form OF generosity as it prevails
in other countries. According to the Sec
rotary Of State, there are now about 221
diplomas, decorations. medals, and other
gifts in the custody Of the chief clerk Of
that department. 1t is not made known
what will be done with the gifts and
decorations which are not bestowed, and
it might easily appear to the source OF
such compliments that the indifference
closely approaches an affront. There is
no avoiding the impression, also. that
some OF these decorations have been
given without much regard to the neces-
stiles Of the circumstances described as
justifying the issue Most of the army
and navy officers who are indicated as
recipients simply did their duty to their
own government, such as serving as mill
tary or naval attaches; and there are
several instances of decorations con
ferred "for reasons not known" Some
of the presents have a value which does
not seem TO be in proportion to the event
they commemorate, being. for instance.
in number OF cases. souvenirs OF the
visit of a squadron to some port. Per-
haps these decorations are more appre-
ciated abroad than they are in this coun-
try, and doubtless the gentlemen who are
designated appreciate them at their true
sentimental value. 1t is well. at ali
events. to have an understanding and
something approaching a system by
which these gifts and decorations, medals
and diplomas may be accepted.
1t would seem. however, to do no
damage to American dignity and our
Evolutionary veneration for unadorned and
untitled democracy to accept without
much question all Of the presents and
insignia winch a. described in the copi-
Gus list furnished to the Senate by the
Department Of State Few OF the gifts
are Of intrinsic value. and all Of them
are intended as compliments to repre-
sentstives of the government on the part
Of foreign nations. II will obviously be
a difficult matter to draw the line or 10
make distinctions. and the rejection of
the 10 decorations Is not needed to pro-
tect US from the corrupting and democrat
izins influence Of an European or an
Asiatic medal or parchment. There really
does not seem to be any occasion to fear
a loss Of American simplicity through
the Establishment Of the bauble.