Smyrna times., 1858-06-10
Titles and Democracy.

Few persons who are in the habit of observ-
ing aud thinking, have failed to notice the al
most farccal use which is now made of titles.
1t is not enough that everybody Is a Mr.. or a
Mrs, but verythlng which asplres to the dIg.
NIFTY of the masculine gender becomes an ESgr
| it he hrppens to be of sufficient importance.-
Professional titles have become a drug in the
market Rev. aud DIR. have become almost as
meaningless as ESqr ,-espccmlly the latter.
Ii a man wants to be dubbed Doctor, ali he has
TO do lSt peddle some quack n0slrum for f. W
weeks, or relieve horse of the b0tts, and the
thing is done. The fact is this indscriminate
use OF tltlcs-prehXes and suiXes-has become
serious Inconvenience to The printers, and we
think ot resolving, for perhaps the twentieth
time IN our editorial career, not TO allow them
IN our paper. In looking over Randall's Life
OF Jefferson Gone OF the most interesting books.
by the way, we have read for many a day) we
were pleased to find the following paragraph,
containing sentiment just IN point from that
good old father of Democracy. HIS blographer
says, that under date of August 8, / 7e9 Jeifer-
son wrote to Carmichael on a topic winch, in
Its day, attracted no little notice. and caused no
little feeling in the United States:
"The Senate and Representatives differ
ed about the tile Of the President The
George Washington, President of the United
States and Protector of their Liberties" The
latter insisted and prevailed TO give no title
but that Of office, TO wit, George Washington,
President Of the United States | hope the
terms OF Excelency, Honor, Worship Esquire,
will forever disappear from among Us, from that
moment: | wish that Of Mr.. would follow
them"
The mind of great man must naturally look
with contempt upon the idle parade of tIlleS,
dress, and sncE vain trites. We need not Won
der, therefore, that man of such sound sense
and practical democracy Thomas Jefferson,
should be disgusted with them. A great mind
"a soul that has high mission IN the world
has neither time nor INCLINATION to pause and
attend to the curling Of moustache the ticng
OF cravat-tO look IN the glass SIX times a day
to see IT every hair on hs head is in the place
where the eye of fashion, with her idle lmpcr-
tlncEt gaze, will look for lt--Ur to keep his eve
on the ground lest his boots should lose their
polish without his notice. Nor does such
nnd place any value on titles. Ii rises above
them-looks beyond thcm-lIvcs in contempt
OF them. Titles, to many men, are what fine
clothes are to others They are only valuable
as a substitute for brains. Aud even in this re-
spcct they can be made avaIiable only IN the
society of those who are weak enough to be
deceived by appearances. In the society OF
such as Jefferson, FrauklIn aud men Of that
stamp, who had good old fashion of looking
into things, ard right through them sometimes,
a title to the name of Ounce would be regard
ed as of no more value than Jewel from gift
book store set in sWIne's snout
What "A world of beauty, and meaning, and
dignity, in simplicity! George Washington
Thomas Jefferson! benjamin Franklin! What
would be thought of him who would attempt to
improve those venerable names bv adding ESq?
Geo Washington, Esq Thos. Jefferson, Esq
How much better the style of title adopted for
the President than that proposed by The Sem /
ate Every American citizen has abunda nj I
cause to be grateful that this plain democratic
idea prevailed, and that our country was saved /
The curse Of u UNDERSTANDING title at the head of
the government; and our only regret is that
the hope Of the great jefferson was not real ,
lied that all such titles, from " HIS llIghncss''
down to " Mr." would " forever disappear from
among us" They are Inconsistent with genu-
inc democracy, and are by no means neces-
sary element IN the measure OF good sense or
true gentll ty.-LancaSier Express.