The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-03-05
"Their humor
is nothing but mutation. AY. and that
From one bad thing to worse "

One OF these tinkers offers to rebaptize the
nation, and exchange the grand historic title of
these Uni ed States for the appellation of Ame-
1ica. Conceivlng that the era OF 1868 created
new heavens and a new earth, he hastens to dub
with a new name those OF its inhabitants who
occupy the favored region that gave him birth.
Not that either reason or fitness require ii; but
then his Smith or Brown handle will go down in
history tagged on to the new designation for the
qualification Of vanity as childish and as bar
barrie as his who nred the Ephesian temple.
The first essential of a national name which is
chosen, not sprlnging from the soil like that of
China or Chlli, is significance. There is a
Tdison detre Tor the official title Of the United
Kingdom-a Geep purpose in the christening OF
Italy by its old name under the new sovereignty.
So when our fathers founded the republic, after
weighing all the same considerations that can
be urged at this day, they introduced 1t among
the nations of the earth by a name closely re-
lated to its birth and beng, which was symbol
OF its complex nature.
States composed the new natlon-States
whose separate and differing laws touched the
people under their dlstInct control at all points
where liberty, life property, and the domestic
relations were eoncerned; States entered by
special representation as such into the very
framework of the new government; States must,
therefore, share IN its name, II that name COL
formed to truth and reality. The tie by witch
they bound themselves together, and the form
which the new nation presented to foreign
powers, were well expressed in the term United,
and tho des gnation of territory was added to
marx inc ulsIuCItOu IIOu1 u european power OF
similar title.
Has the name United States lost any OF its
Significance through the events Cf The late war
The individual States remain, apd the import
ance 10 the general good OF their lawful action,
by their own constitutions, upon their own peo-
pie, has been powerfully illustrated during the
war. The Union remains, neither curtal ed nor
enlarged in its authority over the States, what
ever the frenzy OF the hour may rave. Nothing
has efaced the ancient lines that mark out our
relations to each other and to the general Gov
ernment. Nothing has rent the form under
which we stand as nation among the other
nations OF the earth. Any new title would,
therefore, be as unreal as unnecessary.
The name America far tIom being exactly de-
scriptive, would import both an exagg aration OF
truth and q contradiction TO it, The word itself
has no more original right IN the New World
than a cuckoo in robins nest. The great navi-
gator who discovered this continent should have
written his own name Immortality upon it. But,
tliht alter hOnOres-and the worlds negligence
has confirmed Vespuccs fraud. And were we
to take his title, we should not only share his
wrong, hut commit the added one OF usurpaton
Brazil has as good territorial right to, the name
Of America as we have. II we are the lea ing
power OF the northern half she is the chief Sta,e
OF the southern half OF the continent. Nor are
Canadians and Mexicans any less Americans
than We are. f ..r. t.l KAN
We would as soon disown the name Of father
or mother as pvt OF the title under which our
country WAS born and has lived! Is the old
name spotted till 1t is badge OF disgrace! or the
old flag so stained that we must strlk its stars
and hoist the Clootz orifamme OF universal
l. regeneration! The sentiment OF great people
is too deep for such rihing; the subtle tibres OF
association spring from too many hearts, to
cling and cluster around that hopoIed ham e,
| that they can be wrenched away by che clumsy
! touch of an unfeeling relormer Oar fathers
| baptized us these United States OF America.
] The glorles OF all our past and all our receqt