Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1885-01-11
SOMETHING IN ANIME
Mr.. Shaksspsaro.s Sheer to the
Contrary Notwithstanding.
An Argument Against the SupsriuOus Mid
die Name, With a Diagram---Ihe
Dislike Shown yAmericans Of
Men with Three Names.
Boston Gnk

Bostoa GLIB.
George Washington, Simeon Bolivar, Ma
poleon Bonaparte, Oliver Cromwell Have
not these names more blood and bone, a
holder and more heroic sound, than they
would have if they were changed IN this
wise: G. J.. Washington, Simeon ?. Boil
var, Napoleon Joseph BoDaparte, b. Oliver
Cromwell?
That which we call a skunk BY any other
name would not smell as bad. When we
speak of Benedict Arnold, the traitor, we
instinctively feel that we are not referring
to a commonplace character. How would
| il be If his name had been written IN history
as A. B. Arnold? The plain %cleancut ring
of the name William Andre is unquestiona-
sbly what first attracted Mr.. Fields atten-
lion. touched his sense Of the romantic, and
led him TO erect a $25, 900 shaft to the mem
ory of the warrior who struck US below the
belt. Following this it was the simple,
| easily remembered name OF the spy
that called out the destructive tenden-
cies in the patriotic men ofTarrytown, and
caused them to blow up the granite me-
| mortal. If the ~unsoldierly Majors name
had been W. II. Andre the sleepy villagers
would have forgotten ere the rearing of the
shaft the army to which he belonged. Had
it been A. j. Burr, this generation would
not have known that this tricky ex-Ntce
President ever wrote a love-letter, or re-
moved his hat in the presence of ladies with
more grace than the man who made his
clothes.
Why do parents, otherwise gifted with
good sense, persist in weighing down their
children with this third unbecoming, com
monplace and su~per1uous name? The
p~raciice is modern, and its overthrow need
not shock any feelings ofreverence. 1t does
not come to US from the passenger list OF
the Mayfower or the regimental rosters Of
the Revolution.
1t is not heroic. II is announcement,
Americans have shown a singular dislike Of
IFS use in the names of their leaders. Or
The twenty-five Presidents
il we may anticipate a little and include
Grover Cleveland, only seven have been
burdened with three names. There is some
thing more than accident in this. II IS a
conflict between the three named and the
two named, and is an attractive a study as
the ~ntverending war of the coffee drinkers
ard the tea drinkers. The people innS,,
other things being nearly equal, that thstr
chosen men shall bear names which can be
pronounced in full without trouble aud re
membered with ease. So strong was this
sentiment during the heroic period hat III
the first electoral college, although the
votes were divided between dozen mea,
only one-Robert H. H~arrisou-wore a
middle name.
In 1892, when Washington was chosen q
second time. the many.named men had not
rallied from their repulse Of SO, and none
entered the contest in that year. Charles
C~otesworth Pickney came forward in 1896,
but plain John Adams distanced him,
When Thomas Jefferson was chosen in 1900
the three named men pushed Mr.. Pickney
forward again, but only to an inglorious de-
feat. Even bis own State Of South Caro-
lima withheld her support. The still IN
daunted three named men
Rallied About PIckney's Standard
agnin in 1904, but Thomas Jefferson swept
hy him again. LEAVING to the credit Of the
three name btrdened statesmen the votes OF
but three little states. Pickney again raised
his standard il 1905, bat the sesl Of popu-
lar approval was set upon the every day
name of James Madison. This ended the,
Eght for that generation and until 1871,
when John Quincy Adams and William Il.
Crawford reopened the war of names. An
drew jackson led all in the race, and, but
for 6 division among the forces of the two
named people, would have received a clear
majority in the electoral college. Indeed
when we combine the votes Of Henry Clay
and Andrew Jackson, the result is q major
ity of IL over both Adams and Crawford.
The election went into the House, aud nov
ONE the first instance of treachery IN the
two named camp. Henry Clay threw his
weight to Adams in consideration of the
| promise of a Cabinet position, ani we were
given the first president with more than two
nsmes-John Quincy Adams. With this
the people had nothing to do, and the lost
ground was recovered four years later,
when John Quincy Adams me- a crushing
defeat. The routed forces did not mass
again until 1886, and then only to be de-
feated.
The victory of the
Three Named Folks
in 1910, whea William Henry Harrison won,
is chargeable to the iusufferable arrogance
of the favored opposition, of which the PEG,
pie had tired. They compromised matters
and softened the fall ofthe two named men
however, By electing John Tyler Vice Presi-
dent over K. NJ. johnson. In a month Har-
rison was dead and Tyler President. That
alone ought to reveal to US which side the
gods are or.
The triumph of James K. Polk in 1914
wss due to the memories Of the treachery
Of "a which still ranked in the proud
breasts OF the simplicity and brevity people.
Rather than elevate Henry Clay to the
Presidency they chose to give away the
race. Nevertheless q bold front was pre-
sen,ed four years later. and the S~uPerauity
men laid down their arms at the outset.
Zachary Taylor became President and,
diving before the end Of his term, Willard
Fillmore succeeded him, such was the wise
forethought of the people who had chosen
this two-named man for the vice Presidency
over W. o. Butler, an unexeeptional soldier
and statesman.
In 1852 the superiority candidate, John
P. Hale, did not get a single electoral vote.
These muchchastened men we're led by
John C. Fremont in 1856, but again to de-
feat, James Buchanan becoming an easy
winner.
Then simplicity
Won Two More Victories
under Abraham Lincoln's leadership, de-
spite the sturdy contest waged by John c.
Breckenridge, Stephen A. Douglas and