The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1902-11-13
TITLES IN MAINE.

What the formal and irreproachable
college of heralds at London performs
for the ROYALTY and nobility OF Great
Britain, big Abel RUSSELL in the offce
of Secretary of State, does tor the
citizens of Maine, when i'll the course
of his official duties he is called upon to
address them by the titles they have
acquired, says an Augusta special to
the Boston Globe. Just now Mr.. Rus
sell is busy making out certificates of
election and sending them to the mem
bers of the senate and house, Which
will assemble when the legislature
meets next January.
The rule which Mr.. Russell follows in
the bestcwing of honorary designations
is as exact as that in any of the courts
of Europe. An election to an office
gives the holder right to a certain
title, and no matter how many places
the man has held in the past, his grade
in the Russell catalogue is fixed by his
present standing in official circles.
For example, under the custom bor-
rowed from England no man i'll this
country can rightfully wear the title of
esquire unless he is a justice of the
peace, though the sutlix esquire" is
frequently bestowed by courtesy upon
those who are no more than plain
minister's"
Measured by the Russell rule of otfi-
cial etiquette, any man who has been
chosen a member of the Maine house
is an esquire, though he may have held
no office of any kind previous to his
membership i'll the house. \ man may
be elected to the Maine house year after
year, he may become the leader on the
floor and have a greater power in shap-
ing legislation than the Governor, but
unless he is elected speaker of the house,
he is still holding the humble rank OF
an esquire.
The title next in rank above the
esquire is honorable" which is canned
not only by an election to, but by a
candidacy for the State senate. In case
the vote i'll a county is so close that the
case has to be taken to the senate for
decision. the official envelopes, notify
ing the contestants of the time and
place of meeting. are always sent with
honorable prefxes.
The heads and deputies Of the dit
1erent state departments receive the
title of honorable by courtesy, and with
the senators and the speaker Of the
house, wear it during life
In official address the Governor is
termed your excellency," while he
holds office, and is called 'Govemor'
until the end of his life, never descend
ing to mister or esquire.
Every judge of a Maine Court, Wheth-
er he be chief justice of the Supreme
Judicial Court or a common trial jus
tice, has rightful claim to be called
your honor" while in office, though
he descends to a colloquial squire" or
common ''mister' when he casts Off the
ermine. While a Judge is his honor
during office only and still remains
| Judge while he lives, no precedent
can be found for calling him oraddress-
ing him as ''honorable.'
| Outside of the above list all other
! honorary titles, whether by appoint
ment or election, are of a military ma
lure and are received by commission,
except in the case of the attorney gen
eral, the law official of the State-and
are worn from the date of issue until
death, after which they usually find
places upon tombstones