The Kanzas News

Anti-Republican Manners and Titles.

N. P. Willis says. "We should be glad to see a distinctly American school of good manners, in which all useless etiquettes were thrown aside, but every politeness adopted or invented which could promote sensible and easy exchanges of good will and sociability. Good sense and consideration for others should be the basis of every usage of polite life that is worth regarding. Indeed, we have long thought that our country was old enough to adopt measures and etiquettes of its own, based, like all other politeness, upon benevolence and common sense. To get rid of imported etiquette is the first thing to do for American politeness."

We recommend the above sensible remarks to the consideration of the candid reader, and would apply it further and deeper than the writer has gone. Is it not a living disgrace—a perfect hiss and scorn—to us as a people, that our fresh, young and vigorous life should be trammeled and tainted by the affected and worn out customs of ages mouldering in their tombs of corruption and tyranny— that even the courtesies of social life must be twisted and shaped upon models formed in the licentious and depraved courts and saloons of the old world. What more is required than a manly and womanly recognition of each other's social privileges, by those claiming to be Republicans.

The American people are fettered too much by the musty proverbs and mouldy traditions that were framed by priestcraft and kingly cunning for the binding of the true soul, and never were meant to be guide or teacher for a frank, out-spoken republican sentiment. Away with all these remains of an age fleeing fast, and let us live out in manners, teach in morals and work into every day life a simple, pure, loving, living Humanity.

With the affected manners that have been fraudulently grafted on our American stock, must also be reckoned the vain and foolish custom of titling those who may be serving the people in various capacities. Such titles as His Excellency, Honorable, Esquire, are foreign to our institutions, and should forever be ostracised by all true republicans. If a man is acting as a Governor, call him by the name, for to serve the people is honorable; but let it go no further. Honorable and Esquire are words that now signify nothing that is truly desirable, and have become so common and unmeaning that we for one will eschew them, unless obliged to use them in official forms, &c. It is anti-republican and anti-American to bow to such a mania. Above all, it becomes us, citizens of Kansas, to put our faces against its progress in our midst. If we would be true to the great principles for which we are struggling, we must, above all, recognize no prouder title, ask no higher honor, than to be known and respected as MAN and WOMAN.