The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-10-20
THE I'll PRESIDENTS TITLE.
The Proper Formula for Addressing
the Chief Executive of
the Nation.
"Your Exellency," "Your Honor"
and Like Phrases Are
Not Correct.
He Is Plain "Mr. President" and Other
Expressions Are Improper-Address-
ing q Governor,

If you ask a presidents private secretary
he will tell you, among other things, that
not one person out of ten in writing to the
president addresses him properly. Each
correspondent seems to follow his own
sweet fancy. Thus the man who writes
and asks for a pension OF ran Office on the
ground that he served in the war is apt to
begin his letter Dear General,'' and after
having told his wants, he signs himself,
Yours fraternally."
This is pretty familiar. The president
isn't e. general. except that he is COM
nhander-in-chief of the army, and as for
all men being brothers, it is true as a
theory, but is hardly correct on all occa-
slons as a practice. If the letter from the
old army man is answered, as nearly all
letters are, the writer is addressed with due
fornality as Sir" and not as "Dear Com
rade." This ought to be a sufficient hint
TO hlm to keep his distance, but it is not.
and a week later he hobs up serenely with
another long communication to his "Dear
General"
There are a number of his correspond
ents who wish to be very formal and re-
spectful, and they always call him Excel
lency." 1t sounds go big, is such a pleas
ing mouthful, that many people who ought
to know better cannot resist the temptation
OF using this form. AS between such an ex-
preston as Dear General'' and your Ex-
oellency" the former is preferable, for there
is no law against it, while there certainly is
an unwritten law against the latter. When
the constitution was framed there was a
great deal of discussion as to the form of
address that should be applied to the presi-
don't. Some people thought he should be
addressed "Excellency," others would be
satisfied with "Your Highness,'' while still
others thought he should be called "Mai-
esty." The New Workers who bore In mind
the days of the Dutch republic wanted the
head of this republic called Ellis High
Mightiness."
After a good deal of ~wrangling and con-
siderable exhibition OF party feeling over
the matter, it WAS finally decided for all
time to come that the chief executive
should be addressed simply as "the presi-
dent of the United States" That settled
II, ana made it an improperly to call him
"excellency.' The governor Of a state has
more; form about him in correspond
ence than the president. for unless there is
a clause in the constitution of the state ex-
Lpressly prescribing some other mode of ad-
d ess, 1T is correct to call him ''excelleucy."
Inc democratic spirit of some states has
hterfered to prevent this. and it has been
Prescribed that the governor receive some
simpler title, but there only two or three of
these states. As a general thing the rule
can be laid down that the governor of a
state should be addressed, "Your Excel
~lency." To begin a letter to the president
in the same way is to establish an equality
between the two executives that does not
exist.
Another frequent mistake is made by
those who begin their letters to the presi-