Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. MONDAY, JUNE 26, 1911. DEMOCRACY AND TITLES.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10271, 26 June 1911, Page 4

Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. MONDAY, JUNE 26, 1911. DEMOCRACY AND TITLES.

One of the most istriking criticisms of the action of Sir Joseph Ward in accepting a 'Baronetcy is made by . the Auckland Star, <a journal which. iba.s consistently supported, the Gtov- ' eminent, The Star says :~--"Tlhe suecial title that (lias been offered to Sir Joseph and accepted by binx is' one.that in our.opinion no man- who calls himself a democrat could' conscientiously assume; and our firm conviction' is that our Premier, in taking this step, has committed a grievous error of judgment which he ■\viill find 'it exceedingly (bard to repair. It should (hardily ibe necessary to point out that from the democrat tic standpoint what renders the title of 'Baronet objectionable is that it is transmitted from lather to son. Now, wihat effect will the introduction of such ia title into this country produce upon our colonial institutions ? It means the setting up of a hereditary aristocracy, the establishment of that peouliairly privileged class TvMoh in all countries and in all periods of the world's history has been the most obstinate and dangerous enemy to progress and liberty. Surely with the case of England before our eyes and the turmoil of the great constitutional struggle (still ringing in our ears, the citizens of a colonial democracy should have no doubt about the risks that we would run if we consented to* the adoption of hereditary titles here. And this danger of iSietting up artificial social distinctions and in- . venting invidious class privileges is •» ot the only one that we* would have to irace. Sudh a title must be "kepi up"; that is to say, out of respect ■feo thj© Crown, firom which it draws its origin, it must be supported with

appropriate dignity. Now, the , means taken in England to secure this end—the system of primogeniture and the law of entail— are among the very worst forms of those social and .political abuses, which democratic reformers are striving most earnestly to sweep away. Is it conceivable or tolerable that the people of New Zealand should he expected to go out of their, "way to perpetuate in this young and democratic country the very evils that have so long and so grievously cursed the Old Land? Are we to ha.ve here a hereditary aristocracy, Avith all its hateful accessories of minute and jealouslyguarded social distinctions and its vast monopoly of public privileges, built up by slow and insidious encroachment upon the rights and Liberties of the people? Are .we to have our land Jaws modified to suit the exigencies of titular succession, and to see growing np in our midst the vast landed estates which in all other countries have been always traditionally held to be the indispensable light'of a hereditary nobility? Even to ask these questions is to supply in a breath a host of reasons for the repugnance with which hereditary titlea are always regarded in democratic communities, and to jus- | tify the terms in which we have commented upon the most unfortunate step tlhat Sir Joseph Ward has been. | induced to take. It may he that 1 some of our readers will imagine that f this .strong objection, to hereditary | titles is due, in our case, to personal prejudice. We remind them that in the most highly developed of modern democracies the .assumption of such titles, is absolutely, forbidden. France destroyed the hereditary principle in the Revolution; and the people of the United States have taken the most elaborate precamtioasthat the system which has always been the .sworn, enemy to popular liberty elsewhere shall never (take root in their country. In the American Constitution it is specially provided that, "No title of Nobility .shall be , granted by the United States, and no person holding any office or profit or trust tinder them shall, without the (consent of Congress, accept any present, or title of any kind whatever, from any King, Prince, or foreign State." And if this were not ' a sufficiently strong safeguard, fit is further ordained that in regard to claims if or naturalisation "in case the allien, applying to be admitted to citizenship, has borne any hereditary title, or been of .any of the orders of nobility in. the kingdom 'or State from Which he came," he must make an express renunciation of his title !and rank lin the American courts before he can be (admitted to citizeaj ship.