The Greeley tribune., 1910-09-01
FOREIGN TITLES FOR AMERl-
CANS

Il
CANS
A curious question has been sub
mitted to the state department re-
Gently to which it has given but half
an answer, says the Boston Evening
Transcript An American citizen
has asked If his acceptance OF a title
of nobility would work forfeiture OF
his citizenship. The response of the
department in effect, is that while
such acceptance would not work
expatriation". it would be "a cir
cumstance to be considered In deter
mining whether of not an American
citizen had expatriated himself.
Such a comment is as far as the de-
partment can go, for obviously 1t
has not the powers necessary to de-
termine the matter on which the
constitution itself is not as explicit
as Is desirable. II is equally plain
that the department is right in hold
ing that the acceptance Of title Of
nobility is contrary to the spirit OF
her institutions"
The common Impression Is that
the constitution in so many words
forbids an American citizen to take
foreign title of nobility. and Inn
poses on him a severe penalty for 30
doing. whereas this is all our organ
ic law has to say on the subject:
mo title OF nobility shall be
granted by the United States: and
no person holding any Office of
profit or trust under them shall,
without the consent of the congress,
accept of any present, emolument,
Office or title. Of any kind whatever.
from any king, prince or foreign
state"
The purpose of this clause 10 evil
IDENTIFY to express general sympathy
with the democratic ideal. but while
it strictly prohibits the creation OF
an order of nobility in the United
States, it makes a reservation with
regard to titles or other "honors
conferred by foreign powers on
Americans in recognition Of distinc-
tions and services An American
officer, civil or military. may re-
ceive such honors, marks Of distinc-
ton. membership of foreign orders,
and wear the accompanying insignia
II congress consents. but its consent
m n 70 hn Oht tot I'D
Only the past winter congress was
very scrupulous as to approving
these distinctions. and actually with
held the license some officers solicit
ed. The plain everyday American
citizen holding no Office OF trust or
emolument is not compelled to risk
the veto of congress In becoming a
member of the Legion Of Honor, or
any one of the several German ord
ers membership of which is confer
red for merit. In fact. he may re-
ceive a. many marks OF distinction
az foreign governments are pleased
to award. It II also a matter Of
common notoFiety that there are
American citizens holding titles Of
nobility abroad. which they never
display at home, whose civic status
has, as q matter Of public record,
passed unquestioned.
The United States takes q differ
ent view Of mobility" from that of
several other republics. because 1t is
not only a republic. but an avowed
democracy. In Switzerland nobility
comes down from the Middle Ages
by prescription. France has time
and time again decreed that titles Of
nobility are unrepublican and as
such are abolished. Nevertheless.
they survive, and NO one thinks of
Withholding them from their pos
SCISSORS in social usage. "Monsieur
le Due" Is still Monsieur e Due" to
the average Frenchman. and receive
Difference accordingly. Notwith-
standing the fall of the empire titles
still exist in Brazil. and Baron Rio
| Branco has long been in charge of
its foreign relations. An American
who enters into foreign allegiance.
and as q nobleman takes up his con-
stitutional duties in another coun-
try, expatrfates himself.