The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1883-12-13
WHOLE NO. 1919.
Amerioanisns,

The stigmatizing of word, or a
phrase, or even pronunciation, as an
Americanism, by any censor, however
accomplished or however thoroughly
English, or by any authority $50
called), British or American, however
| high, is not to be regarded of very great
moment in the settlement of the ques-
ton, still less as at all decisive. 1t is
very rarely tnat word or phrase can
be set down as an Americanism except
upon probability and opinion; whereas
the contrary is shown, if shown at all,
upon fact-proof that cannot be gainsaid.
The citation of a word from English
literature at or before the time of Dry
den shows that it cannot possibly be
American in origin; evidence of its
continued use by British writers during
the last century and the present proves
the impossibility of its being an Amer
icanism in any sense of that term. In
deed, evidence and proof should hard
ly be mentioned in relation to this
showing. OF words and phrases which
have such origin and history as has just
been specified, it is simply to be said
that they are English, To stamp a
word or phrase as an Americanism,
it is necessary to show that Cd it is of
so-called American" origin-that is,
that it first came into use in the United
States OF North America; or that (2) it
has been adopted in those states from
some language other than English, or
has been kept in use there while it has
wholly passed out of use in England.
Now these points are very difficult of
sufficient proof; and the defeats of those
who have sumed them in various in
stances are almost numberless. The
production of unknown and unsuspect-
ed evidence has often toppled bold as
sertiOns over, and swept into oblivion
judgments long reverently accepted;
and it may at any time do so again.
When those who assume to speak au-
thoritatively upon the subject declare
that word or phrase is an Ameri-
canism, they must be prepared with a
full and satisfactory answer to the
question, What do you know about it?
They may perhaps know what is En-
glish, but how will they prove the neg
ative, that this or that word or phrase
is not English? Indeed, generally the
declaration that word is an Ameri-
canism Cor not English) can only be
(what it almost always is) the mere ex-
preston of the declarer's opinion that
he or she does not remember having
heard the word, and rather dislikes it,
and therefore assumes that it is not En-
glish, but american" At its strong
est, such a Judgment is the mere opin-
ion of a critical scholar whose reading
in English literature, both ancient and
modern, has been both wide and OBJ
servant. An opinion from such quar-
ter has some value; but it becomes alb
solutely worthless in the presence of
adverse facts.
Now it is very significant of the diff
Guilty, which besets this question that
British journals of the highest standing
keep up the manufacture of an ever
lengthening chain of blunders in regard
to it; each one, now and then, as if i'm
PEELED by some blind instinct, adding
its little link of welded ignorance and
prejudice; and hardly less remarkable
is it that Studious men, not taught by
study the wisdom of reserve, make as
sertions which rival those of the Jour-
nalists in rashness and in error
Richard Grant White IN December At
ld1Itic