The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1853-09-29

| the sign End the thing signified. The nick
name is an arbitrary affair altogether--a mere
catch word, which must be meaningless. for
fear of transcending the capacities of rabhle
partizans, who are to yelp it through the
Union. At first. those to whom they are APP
piled become indignant, but at last glory in
their new name. as did the French revolu-
tionists in that of sans cniottes." In that
case the name expressed truth, and was
strictly in accordance with the Fitness OF
things" But pray tell US what propriety
there is in calling political parties "Coons'
Locofocos," Barnburners," Hunkers,
I" Hard Shells and "Soft- Shells ~ Certain
kinds of wit need a deal of explanation be
fore they become Ineligible, and perhaps 10
the initiated, such vulgar nicknames appear
very funny or sarcastic, but we own that
they seem to us simply ridiculous. A foreigner
who should come among US during one of our
intermittent electioneering fevers, would be
sadly puzzled TO understand whether the con-
test was between men or animals. To other
nations we must appear like pack of over
grown and i'll bred boys, who know no bet
ter than to spend our time in bandying stupid
nicknames, and to grin at our own folly.
This nieknaming process is applied not
only to parties, but to candidates. To be
popular each must be called by name diff
ferent from that of his family, and from that
by which he was baptised. If he is to be
rery popular he must be 'old," at all hazards.
For instance, we have had Old Hickory, Old
Rough and Ready, Old Tip, Old Bullion. Be-
sides these epithets in which antiquity figures
so largely, we have The AIill Boy of the
Slashes, Black Dan, The Ohio Wagon Boy,
and it being at one time deemed necessary
to have a second hickory he had to be made
youthful to distinguish him from the old hard
tree; so he was called yoGng hickory. Scores
of others might be named, which sparkle in
our newspapers like gems of genuine wit and
humor, and give zest to bsr-room discussions
for while TO give place to others as insipid
and as foolish. 1t is time that the press,
which in this age is so powerful i'll forming
the taste and cultivating the minds of men,
should abandon the use of these wretched
nicknames, and all the slang phrases which
are their usual concomitants. They never
aided in conveying single truth, or in any
thing else, unless in lowering the character
of the journal employing them, and injuring
the reader by gradually reconci!ing his mind
TO the use of very abominable slang.
ANOTHER DEMOCRATIC DEMONSTRATION IN
New yoRx.-The - Hard Shell" party held
their grand Mass Meeting in New York Mon
day night, to ratify the ticket which their
branch Of the famous Syracuse Convention
nominated. The meeting was held in the
Park and numbered, 1t is said, about 10, 600,
AUGUSTUS ScHELL President 1t is repre-
sented as having been even more enthusiast
tic than that of the other division held at
Tammany Hall. The speeches were re-
narkable for their intense bitterness towards
the Soft wing of the party, and
throughout the proceedings, in the speeches
and in ali the demonstrations. there appeared
determination never again to unite and act
in harmony with that section. Mr.. Ex-Sena-
tor DICKINSON was the leading and most con-
spicuous actor in the meeting. He devoted
his speech to the exposure of the treachery
of the Free Sellers and the insolence of their
claim to control the Democratic party A
strong speech was made by Mr.. JAMES T.
BRADY, who fred hot shot into the Sachems
of Tammany Hall, denouncing them as false
TO their principles and treacherous to their
friends. Pyrotechnics were even pressed
into service to increase the consequence of
the demonstration Their lurid displays and
explosions and son.: wound up the affair