that the commonwealth should enrich any of its citizens to such an extent as to enable them, if so disposed (and most rich men are so disposed), to oppress or corrupt their fellow-citizens.
But there was a reward to be coveted by inventors which could hardly become dangerous to the commonwealth—honor. Men in all ages and under all forms of government have coveted titles. Civilized or barbarous, royalist or republican, all are ready to risk life, endure suffering, and even give up wealth for titles, or, in other words, honor. When titles are bestowed on the worthy and do not carry with them undue power or a revenue wrung by privilege and monopoly from the people, and are not hereditary, giving to a person, however unworthy, power and honor merely on account of what his father did or was, they are something not to be rejected and despised by a wise social economy. So it was enacted that the Governor of Aristopia should bestow titles of honor on persons of conspicuous merit or who had rendered signal service to the commonwealth. Prominent among those to be so rewarded were inventors. These titles were not to be hereditary nor carry with them any
