Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-08-13
AMERICAN LOVE OF TITLES.

A Joke has been going the rounds Of the
newspapers about Dutchman, who was en-
gagged in ferrying passengers over a western
river and who became so accustomed to hearing
those who passed over, called by high-sounding
titles, that when he encountered one who called
himself plain mister, he was so surprised and
delighted that he carried him over the river
free of cost, and told him that he was the only
yankee gentleman that he had seen for a long
time who was not either his honor" q gen.
eral, colonel, or at least solemn captain.
There is much truth in the Dutchman's re-
mark. Considering that this is republican
country, and that the Constitution says, first
that mo title Of nobility shall be granted by
the United States and no person holding any
Office of profit or trust under them, shall, with
out the consent Of the Congress, accept Of any
present, emolument Office, or title, Of any kind
whatever from any king, prince, or foreign
State; and secondly-that mo State shall
grant any title of nobility" considering these
things, it is somewhat singular that such an in
ordinate love of titles should prevail in this
country.
Ambitious men love distinction, and all men
are more or less ambitious. Ambition runs in
various channels; its successes become distinc-
tons, and those distinctions are indicated BY
particular marks or titles.
| There are certain Offices to which titles must
necessarily attach. 1t is absolutely necessary,
and it is very useful, that such titles should be
| assigned. For instance; in the army there
are various grades-the general, the brigadier-
general, the colonel the lieutenant-colonel, the
major, the captain, the lieutenant, the sergeant,
the corporal. In the army these distinctions
are necessary. 1t is needless to enter into a
tedious argument 10 show that necessity.
Every man Of good sense will, at once, perceive
| il. Nor would we invade the almost ludicro-
solemn sacredness of the militia system in the
States. The militia officers cling to their titles
with brave tenacity. The general is a general
the colonel, a colonel the major, a major; and
the captain, a captain. They have been elected
-gravely and solemnly elected. It matters moi
whether their FalstaHf regiments are mustered
with, or without arms, with umbrellas or sticks
bare.footed, or well shod, they have still been
elected and they are entitled to their titles.
But there are great many sham-militia gen
erals, and great many more spurious colonels
If decent looking man travels, some polite
fellow.passenger who has occasion to speak te
him salutes him as Colonel, and he proudly as
sumes that title. Here, in Washington, every
man is ut least q colonel.
But we now come to civil titles, 'His Elk
cellencyi'' That is either the title Of the Pres
ident or Of Governor. His Honorp Thai
is the title Of either member Of Congress, q
Judge, or member Of the New York Legisla
ture--for we see that it is assigned in New
York to the members Of the Legislature.
There are such things as professors. These
professors are men who are distinguished fol
their attainments in science, and in compliment
have received from authorized institutions tho
honorable title Of Professor. But the whole sys
tenn is thrown into ridicule by teachers Of music
Of dancing, drawing, jumping, boxing wrest
ling and magnetism. Every mountebanl
claims the title Of professor, and SO advertise
himself.
From time immemorial we have had doctors
but now days every man who draws tootl
or eradicates corn smbitiously claims tn
title of Doctor Wherever there is genuin
, coin, there also will be found a counterfeit
The professors ought to be called professors
|, the teachers Of dancing, dancing masters. Doc
J tors ought to be called doctors, and dentist
dentists. They are just as respectable with, a
without their appropriate titles.
But we will return to those other titles