Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-07-21
Mr., Esq, Hon., and other Modes OF
Address.
To the Editor Of the New York Sun:


To the Editor Of the New York Sun:
Sir,-I notice that you usually prefix
Hon" to the names of Grover Cieve-
land and Benjamin Harrison. and some
cad frequently uses Mr. and Esq In
connection with these names. Is this
correct etiquette? / think not.
When Abraham Lincoln became Presi-
dent there were the unusual number or
five living exPresldents- namely; Van
Buren,, Tyler, Fillmore, Pierce. and Blu
chanan. AS the secession movement took
shape IL was proposed that these venera-
BILE men should be brought together and
attempt an adjustment Of the dispute.
They were addressed on the subject Ex-
President Pierce was addressed as
Franklin Pierce" Somebody took UNI
bragg at this, and discussion Of the sub
feet followed, bringing out the fact that
IL had been decided that neither Hon.
"AIr.," nor esq" should be used in adj
dressing an. eX-President, his full Chris
tian name and surname being all that
etiquette permitted. Therefore, accord
ing TO this authority. you are to speak Of
ex-Presdent Harrison as Benjamin Har-
rison." and it was decided in the Con-
stitutional Convention OF 1883 that the
President should have no title whatever,
though many people address him thus:
His Excellency.
"Grover Cleveland.
Executive Mansion,
Washington,
I'D. G."
Please LEI US know what's what
a. DELAFIELD.
Custom pre1xes Honorable to almost
every holder OF public office; yet, so far
as we know, no citizen, not even an Off
cial OF the past or present, is styled Hon
orable by legal authority. In the old
Commonwealth Of Massachusetts the Gov
ernor is his Exeelleroy. and the Lieute-
nant-Governor IL RS 'lfonor by the Con-
stitutlon. He might, perhaps. be address
ed as Hon All other Honorables are so
by impulsive courtesy. Happily the Pres
ident OF the United States Is the model
for the manner of addressing every one
of his fellow-citlzens. To send n letter
10 the President properly to-day. you
must write Grover Cleveland" Buzzards
Bay. To say his Excellency, Grover
Cleveland. would be an offence against
the specific decision of the Fathers of the
Republic. To write Hon. Grover Cleve-
land is to follow an old custom without
satisfactory justification.
1t Is harsh TO charge caddishness against
the use of the sufiiX Esquire, after il has
spread so universally among English
speaking people; but II ought to be stop
ped, as caddish, as unnecessary. and as
contrary to the genius of the future.
Originally II denoted a certain one of the
many social ranks among the English,
which was higher than some and lower
than others. That distinction has gone
out but II IS still used in England to de-
note gentleman as contrasted with
brakeman" A gentleman is Esq,
and Mr.. is a tradesman. Roscoe Conk-
ling by the way OF condemnins this sort
OF caddishness. and perhaps Of throwing
higher light on his own individuality,
once struck off the Esq. which the printer
Of one OF his speeches had placed at the
end OF the authors name. Mr. has still
the usefulness Of enabling married women
TO be known as Mrs. but Esq. Is piece
Of social frippery. and should be abol-
ished.