Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1884-01-16
IS a II ~ f&
American;sns.

The stignatixing of a word, or 4
phrase, or even pronunciation, ~ an
Americanism, by any censor, however
accomplished or however thoroughly
English, OF BY any ..atithority" (eo
callcd), British or American. however
high. 10 moi - ~ rskefdcdf of yssy Gssae
moment in the settlement OF the ques-
tion, still less as at all decisive. 1t Is
very rarely that word or a phrase can
be set down as an Americanism except
upon probability and opinion; whereas
the contrary is shown, II shown. At ~all,
upon fact-proof that cannot be gainsaid.
the citation of word from English
literature at or before the time of Dry
de0 shows that 1t cannot possibly be
American" in origin; evidence of its
continued use by British writer's 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
~ be mentioned in relation to this
showing. Of words and phrases which
have snch origin and history as has just
been specified, it is simply TO be said
that they are English. To stamp a
word or phrase rs an Americanism,
it Is necessary to show that Q) it is OF
so-callcd american Origin--that is.
that it first came into use in the United
States of North America; or that (2) 1t
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 assumed them in various in
stances are almost numbcrless. The
production of unknown and unsuspect-
ed evidence has often topplcd bold AS
sertions over, and swept into oblivion
judgments long reverently accepted;
and 1t may at any time do SO again.
When those who assume to speak au.
thori'atively upon the subject declare
that word or a phrase is an Ameri-
canism. they must be prepared with
iuli and satisfactory answer to the
question, What do you know about 1t?
They may perhaps know what is En-
elisa, but how will they prove the neg
ativc. that this or that word or phrase
is not English? Indeed, generally the
declaration that word is an Ameri-
canism (or not English) can only be
(what il almost always is) the mere ex.
preston OF the dcclarer's opinion that
he or she does not remember having
heard the word, and rather disiikes 1t,
and therefore assumes that it is not En-
glish, but american. At its strong
ion of a critical scholar whose " IS 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
solu.eiy worthless in the presence OF
adverse facts.
Now il is very significant of the diff.
Guilty. which bese,s this question that
British journals OF the highest standing
keep up the manufacture Of an ever
lcngihoning c.ain of blunders in regard
10 il; each one, now and then, as if inn
PEELED by some blind instinct, adding
It's little link Of welded ignorance and
pref .dicc; and hardly less remarkable
10 il that stud Gus nlen, not taught by
study the wisdom OF reserve. make as.
sertions which rival those OF the jour.
nalisls in rashness and in error
R.cjaarI Grant Whi.s IN December At
,nRlte,