210 TRAVELS IN THE CONFEDERATION 



may be in need. Each member subscribes a monthly 

 sum towards the establishment of a fund for these 

 purposes ; pious gifts also are accepted from other 

 patriots not of the society. Moreover, since at all 

 times there are to be found men in the several states 

 who are distinguished for their talents and love of 

 country and whose opinions may correspond to the 

 views of the Order, it is therefore stipulated that such 

 meritorious and worthy characters be received as 

 honorary members, but only as individuals ; and with 

 the condition that the number of honorary members 

 shall not exceed the proportion of a fourth part of the 

 officers or their descendants. 



The perpetuation of the Order through male heirs 

 and the arbitrary union of officers in a society which 

 by inheritance and merit should rank above the other 

 citizens of the state, these things could hardly fail to 

 be disquieting, since at all events the object seemed to 

 be the bringing-in of a distinction of class. It is a mat- 

 ter of wonder how in America, where no titles are 

 allowed and the citizens are forbidden to receive titles 

 from foreign states, how here an institution such as 

 this could be projected and go so long undenounced.* 



America has been known hitherto as a land given 

 over to the business of commerce; but it will shortly 

 be seen that the sciences and the arts will make good 

 progress there. The war just ended has already 



* After Mr. Burke's brief but manly protest + had once 

 aroused the attention and the jealousy of the American states, 

 there was haste to check by adequate measures the confirma- 

 tion and spread of the Order. Several states declared all 

 members of this Order incapable of holding any office under 

 the government ; it was pronounced an illegal institution, now 

 and always to be opposed. The Cincinnati were therefore 



