The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-02-06
WHY ARolLsH .HoN.f,

WHY ABOLISH "HON.sv
A. number of censorious mortals have
been heard of late making much cutlery
against the use or misuse of that harm
less little designation, Hon" They tell
Us it is un-American; that it is borne by
a number of scalawags, as well as by IL
decent man here and there, who has en-
deavored to serve his kind in public sta
ton. They say it is meaningless except
IN English social and political life, AMI
that its application to those who serve
IN public capacity in this republic is
a mere absurdity.
Why do Americans use Hon" as a
designation? They use it in recognition
CT the fact that the person to whom it
is applied has served or is serving in pub
lie station by the direct choice of the
people. 1t is in recognition of the honor
of holding public station that it is APP
Piled. 1t is not used in the sense of a
title of nobility, such as might be con-
ferred under a monarchical or aristicratic
state of society. The effort is apparent
~ to distinguish the man who has had
the honor conferred upon him of having
served the people in a public capacity,
The honor is intended to the station held
rather than to the person holding It,
Wherein is the use of this designation
Offensive? If man having served in
public office, to which he has been chos-
en- by the vote of his neighbors and fell
lew citizens, abuses the dignity con-
ferred on him, he is unworthy of the
honor which is sought to be expressed
in applying that little designation to him
1t would be a delightful reflection if
every man to whom it is applied was
conscious that he had so used the priv
he held as to do himself and the Of
fee like honor. If he is not conscious
of this let the fault and loss be his own.
His neighbor need not for that reason
be obliged to discontinue it's application
to those who while in public station
sought to discharge its duties to his own
satisfaction and to the advantage of
those who chose him to represent them.
We hear great deal of the sort of
carping that is involved in this assault
on an fnofensive little word. The wise
ones of the world are fond Of telling us
from time to time that one or other of
the little harmless things we say or do
or believe are hopeless nonsense; but We
go on doing, saying or believing just the
same, and there is a strong suspicion
that we are all the better for It, 1t is
far better to believe that William Tell
did actually shoot the apple from his
sons head than that the memorable scene
between him and Gesler was never enact
ed. ;:
If these purists in Technology are to
have their way, we ought. no doubt, to
give up the weakness of applying Rev
to the gentlemen of the spiritual calling.
and in addressing the court lawyers
should be called upon to call 'tHis Honor
by his name, Tom, Dick or Harry. as it
may be.
Whatever little embellishments or dig
mites still apply to the public character
we may quite as well leave alone, among
them the harmless, and, perhaps, sense
less, designation of Hon" But whether
we do or do not-whateVer the wish or de-
sire of our superior fellow creatures may
be-tne common, ordinary, everyday fell
low will go on in his own way doing just
as he chooses to do in this and other
like directions.