The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1872-02-28

PERvERT1NG WoRDs.-A late number
OF the Atlanta (Gs.) Sun asserts that the
compilers OF the last edition of Wehster
have introduced into tho BODY of the
work such slang words as s.Ivcofoco''
aud "copperhead. The first is defined
as applied to so member Of the Demo-
cratic party" and tho last to '.n North.
ern eympathizer with the Southern rebel
lions" while the word "scalawag" has no
political significance given to it, and
''oarpet-bagger" is not found in the
work. In regard to the word s'scala-
wag." the interesting fact may be stated
that it was first used in the cattle reports
OF the New York Tribune, by Solon
Robinson, who adopted the expression
from the drovers to designate lean,
scrubby cattle. The word as thus used
was corruption by the tirovers of Gal
loway, species of horses of G small
size, first bred in Galloway, Scotland.
Mr.. Greeley was the first in this country
to give scalawag q political significance.
using 1T as long ago as 1855 to describe
sourvy politicians. Thus much might
have been mentioned in the last edition
OF Webster without detriment to the
most loyal sensibilities. We do not at
taoh much Importance to the omission
OF carpet-bagger. rs every one knows
what that means.
1t Is also alleged that in the Last ed;-
tion, the definition of "Congress, and
all such words as State" s.constitu
ton" and compact" have boen changed
from all former editions. In the former
edition OF the work. Congress was de-
fined ms follows:
'Ihe Assembly Of Senators and Rep.
resentatives Of the United States. uc-
cording to the present constitution or
poiitical compact, by which they are
united IN federal republic"
But IN this last edition it is said to
have been changed to read as follows:
The Assembly Of Senators and Rep
resontatlves OF the people of nation
especially Of republic for the purpose
OF enncting laws aud considering mat
tens OF national interest, and constitut
ing tho chief Legislative body of the ma
ton"
La this edition the words Omitted
States have been changed to "nation," /"
and IN another line federal republic" is
stricken out, and u "Detion" substituted
in it's place.
AN attempt to pervert tho meaning of
words IN the interest of political party
must be condemned by fair minded men
OF oil political ideas. To make d politi-
cal text book Of Il dictionary is certainly
n new idea. This latest edition of Web
ster Is edited by certain DR.. Porter.
Lo! THE PoOR HEATHEN On account
OF the inadmissibility of Chinese testi-
mony in the courts of California, we are
told that the first of the miscreants tried
for his share in the Los Angeles riot
which resulted in the murder of num-
Der of unoffending Celcstials, was ac-
Quilted without having to offer any de-
fence, solely because none but Mongo-
Ian witnesses (though of these there
were plenty could be found for the pro-
secution. Surely, such state of affairs
Is neither conducive to the maintenance
OF public morals nor altogether credit
aole to the consistency of civilization
which insists on first class hotel accom-
modatlons for peripntetio negroes, and
puts forth its might to monogramize the
Mormon. Granting that ethnologists
are wrong, and that the African species
OF the genus homo is higher than the
Mongoliun in the scale of creation: ad-
mitting even that, although no depth of
turpltude is deeper than hogging q
oolored brother, there is no particular
harm In killing Chinaman, no far, at
least, as the Chinaman himself is con
cernod; we submit, nevertheless, Tint
the avowed purpose Of law is to disci-
pine criminals and to protect the com.
munity at large against the repetition of
crime. without regard to the individual
worthlessness Of the person who is chiefly
injured. 1t is on this ground that the
man who should slay Senator Brownlow,
or steul tho putative property Of Gen.
Butler, would still be held amenable to
the penalties in such cases made and
provided, and for the samc reason that
rules i'll these extreme examples, it is to
the interest of Caucasian Californians to
bring malefactors to justice, though it
were only q Chinamun who was robbed
or murdered. But if tho preparation
OF such deed among crowd of other
Cinnamon be legally made equivalent to
its commission in impenclrable secrecy,
there is manifestly little use in having
any criminal courts ut ALL
ReU YOrh. World.
Sportsmen are now having IN exciting
tIp0n Rpoly