The Washington herald., 1913-05-11
WHY KINGS DON'T CALL.
This Country Could Not Receive
One OmcialIy.

If King Alfonso of Spain can per.
suade his government to let him visit
our shores-a feat he is trying hard to
accomplishing will be the first reigninz
European king TO drag the royal purple
over the land of the free and the home
of the brave.
We have had monarchs here before.
and indeed reigning ones. but they were
usually from the CannibaI Islands and
coral reef circuits. For instance, about
a quarter of a century ago that dis
tinguished potentate, King Kalakaua of
the then primitive and un-Americanized
Hawaiian Islands, used to transport his
august person across the Pacific and
favor us with a visit now and then.
Within the last few years the highly
civilized and progressive Gaekwar OF
Baroda has twice visited America, and
his son is even now a student at Har-
ward The Gaekwar's throne is under
British protection.
Kings do not call on US as a rule,
though they frequently drop in on re-
publican France and are welcomed
there. The reason is simple-we could
not receive a King officially. Though
we have all kinds Of systems from the
tipping system TO the civil service sys-
tenn, we lack the system that nearly
every other nation revels in the sys-
lChi VI RANK, WHICH IeCCRulZeS
hereditary dignitaries.
King Alfonso goes to visit the Kali
ser. Just before he reaches Berlin he
will remove his common clothes and
don the uniform of a Prussian regi-
ment of dragons, Of which he is titu-
lar colonel The Kaiser Simultaneous
ly will hurry to the storehouse called
his wardrobe and array himself in the
uniform of the Royal Spanish Lanciers.
i'll which he, in turn, is titular coll
onel The Emperor will meet his au-
gust brother at the station with a full
military escort; the crowds will cheer,
the bands play, the monarchs bow, and
so triumpahntly they will arrive at the
palace as self-respecting monarchs are
accustomed to arrive
Now. if King Alfonso comes to this
country his reception will, sad to say
be far, far different. He cannot don
the uniform of an officer in a crack
American regiment because he has no
authority to do so; neither can the
President. for various reasons, don the
uniform of Spanish regiment of lam
GERS. Nor will there be any consider
able part of the United States of Amer
lea waiting to greet his majesty as the
ship comes in.
AS he steps down the gangplank a
newsboy may very likely brush the
royal sleeve with a newspaper. A GUS
toms man may insist on the King sign
ing his declaration with his last name.
Once the King is allowed to step on
our little island the best he can do is
to proceed incognito to a good hotel,
register as Count something or other.
grant an interview or SO, and take the
earliest train to Washington.
The President and he will exchange
visits in the course Of which the Pres
ident will address him not as your
Majesty" but as Great and good
friend" Such is the formal White
House phrase for all similar purposes.
The poor monarch will have to look
for entertainment as a private person
wherever the official representatives of
this nation are concerned.
Can any one wonder that no King
who has been nicely brought up can
think of an official visit to America
without a shudder?