The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1872-12-19
NICKNAMES.
BIZ PROFESSOR WILLIAM MATHEWS. OF
THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO.

It is somewhat remarkable fact in the
history of the late political contest, that,
Notwithstanding its bitterness, so few
nicknames we're used. The London Sat-
turaGs Re0Ge,O, in an article upon this class
of words, expresses the opinion that their
moral influence has never been sufficient.
y considered by philosophers 1t is. in
deed, no easy thing TO estimate the force
and influence Of these ingenious appella
tions. Iu politics, it has loag been observ-
ed that no orator can compare for mo-
ment In effect with him who caa give apt
aud telling nicknames. Brevity 10 the
soul of wit, and of all eloquence q nick
name is the most concise and irresistible
1t is terse, pointed, short hand mode of
reAso ming, condensing volume Of mean
ing into an eplthet, and is especially pop
ular in these days Of steam and electric
telegraphs, because it saves the trouble of
linking. There Isa deep instinct in man
which prompts him, when engaged in
any coAtrOversary, whether of tongue or
zen, to assume IT, himselt some honorable
name which begs the whole matter in
dispute, and at the same time to faster
m his adversary n name which shall rem
der him ridiculous, oiious,or contemplate.
By tactI and logic you may command the
assent of the few; but by mechanics you
may enlist the passions Of the million on
your side. Who can doubt that, when in
the English civil wars. the Parliamentary
party styled themselves "the Cody" and
their opponents "the Malignants," the
question at issue, wherever entrance could
la. ~ e. 81 IL 1 Z
seeded? Or who doubts that the odious
name, "Copperheads," which was so
early la our late civil war affixed to the
(nnrthern sympathizcrs with the Sou b,
had an incalculable influence IN gagging
their mouthS and in preventing their
numbers from multiplying?
There is no man so insignificant that he
may not blast the reputation Of another
by fastening upon him an odlous or lu
iIcrous hickman Even the mlst shining
charac'er may thus be dragged down by
the vrry reptiles Of the race to the depths
Vt infany A parrot NAV be taught to
cali names. and. IF you have a spite against
your nelghbor, may be made to give n
deal of annoyance, without much wit
either in the employer or the pupet. Hot>
spur would have had a startling taught tn
speak unthing but Mortimer in the ears
OF his enemy. Who could associate with
the name of Van Buren, the idea of craft
ar cunning after he had become known
as the tx. derho"k Fox" or who ever
looked up with awe or respect o Presl-
lent Tyler as the Cher Magistrate Of the
nation, aften he hal been politically bap-
tized as "His Accidency?" Who ca1 Eel!
how far SCOTS prospects for the Presi-
dency were damaged by the contem ptu-
GUS nickname OF "OId Fuss and Feather"
especially after he had nearly signed
his own political dea,h-warrAnt by that
fatal allusien to a "hasty pl4te of coup"
which cnnvulsed the nation with laugh er
from the ST. Croix to the Rio Grandr?
The her" of Chippewa found it hard to
breast the torrent of ridiculr which this
derisive title brought down upon hun I,
would havs been easier far to st2ud up
against the iron shock Of the bat. le-6eld.
VINO, again, has forg 'tten how the would
DC naval bard Ot A merica. "The-Sun has
gone dOwn-wIth- his battle stained eye
Pa ten, was damned to everlasting
fame by a verbal tint pail attached 10 his
name in the form 4 oue o. his own versssG
II have heard au eminent character boast"
says HlZlitt, "that he did more to pre-
duce the war with 3 lsaparte by nick
ming him the Corsic+n, than 81 the
state papers and documents on the sub
j"ct put together" GIVE dog a bad
name, says the proverb, and you hang
'ln. 1t was only Noes AIRY to n ckname
Burke The Dinner Bell tn make even has
rising to spea signal for Il general
emptying OF the house.
A nickname is the most stinging of al
species IF satire, because it gives no ehancr
OF reply. Attack a man with specific
point-blank charg es, and he can rr&S and
irepel tn m; but q nickname baffls reply
ny It's very vAguen ess; 1t presents mo- tan.
gible or definite idea tn the mind, nc
horn of dilemma with which the victlm
Can grappe. The very attempt 10 de.
fend himself only renders hlm the murr
ridiculous; it looks like raising an ocesn
t" drown fly, or dschargiug cannon
a. wasp, tn meet petty bIbc with for
NAL testimony r G abOrAte argument. Or.
II your defence is Listened 20 without
Jeers, it avais yon nofhing 1t has no
effect does not tell,-exciteS no seasa
ton. The laugh is against ysu, aad vi
your protests come like the physician
prrscr ptlon at he funeral, 100 | tie.
The significance of oickoames is strIk-
ingly illustrated by the fact that, as the
R UsoW suggests, you Cannot properly hate
n man Of diff rent opinions from your own
I'LL you have labelled hIm with some un-
pleasant epithet. In the 'Iogic,l drb4tes,
4 hereto may he drf0ed as 4 man with n
nickname. TIL We have succeeded IN
fastening n me upon hlm. he i, con
founded among the general mas. Of the
orthod *, his p cnlIarItIes rre prssnmably
not sum :ient To constitute hIu into .ey-
arate species. Bur let the naMs come 10
Us By y fash of Inspiration. and hwy il