Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1888-02-10
The NAMES OF THE STATES.
Something About the Group Of Com
monwealths Which Compose the

monwenlths W men compose ths
Union.
The great group Of Commonwealth which
compose the United States is as whole very
fortunate in lis roll Of names They have al
once flavor Of the soil, aud fitness 10 thcif
place aud use, which constitutes high excel
ence. In general, they have a dgnlt7, mel.
oily aud character adapting them for familiar
use. ami they have beyond doubt helped ia
cultivate the patriotic aud loving sentiments
with which they are associated IN the minds
Of good citizens.
The best by far, as well as the most nulner-
Gus, are those which arc Indigenous Wsat-
ever the fate Of the Indian race may be, II has
contr buted 10 American civilization fund OF
names, sure to be perpetuatcd and priced
more aud more, and those which have heen
appropriated by the States are among the best.
They are melodious aud fine, aud if there is
here and there "a harsh combination, a. IN Con-
nccticut and Massachusetts,, time and use
have smoothed the roughness, and made them
fayOriie. Nothing could be better than Ala
bama, Dakota, Idaho, Kentucky, Nebraska,
Ohio aud Oregon, aud II any reader wishes 10
extend the list by adding his own fayorite
name or that OF his native state, he can do So
freely aud safely. There is not "a name Of the
thirty Of native origin, which we could vii.
lugly spare or change. There are three names
of native growth, though not Of Indian origin,
which are felicitOus aul worthy OF their place
Indiana, Montana AMI Vermont
IL is scarcely 10 be regretted that small
contingent OF these nam has been trai >
formed and transported from Europe. They
furnish an agreeable variety, and most OF
. he nf he 10
We have put them. Naturally these are
among the o. Ter names adopted before the
fathers were emaucI'ated from A long -llnger-
/ ing half hOmesickucss in the Western wilder
I ness. aud while in frequent contest aud con
slant dread of the Indians they were scarc'I'
prepared 10 appreciate the beauty and nobH
ity Of the names with which the red men hao
enriched their rivers, lakes aud mountains.
Hence ten OF the original thirteen names be
long % this European group louisiana has
pleasant suggestion ia her name OF her his
/ tory, aud Georgia. Maine, Maryland Carol u'
aud Virginia a. names have historic naVo
winch enhance their value. The poorest @
our State names are the three which trans
port names Of English counties, good IN then
place, and Il stinguish them bf the prem
New New Hampshire would have been
far better as Chocnrua, Lacouia or Merrlmac
. ami il is not less than national IN slortuu
/ that our Empire state was not enuOOled b
I the splendid name Ontario. II was LETT To
+ wiser uelghbOrs on the North 10 apprOprlat
I this fine word To which our title Was OF III
best The duplication Of the same nam
1 New York for both the state aud her grea
il NV is especially iufcliclOus, producing con
I fusion when IL is not avoided bY incOnvcu
lent circumlocut on All which Is the nor
10 be regretted when SO fine name AS Man
haitian awaited appropriation 20 the islam
city. II only we had the state OF ontario an
the City Of Manhattan!
Another capital error was committed Whcl
North aud South were introduced u dlsl
yuish the Carolinas and load down thcl
names. Roanoke would have been worth
name of "A grand state, and both sentiin"u
and convenience would have been great
favored by It's use. When Virginia was Il
vided we did escape the inhction OF East bt
West was saddled upon Us, and the opp1
tunity 10 place the good name hana"l
upon our list passed unmprOvcd.
Our roll of States is yet far from compiled
and other names wait for a place IN OF
splendid galax,. 1t is 10 be hoped that v
NAV be a. fortunate in the future as In o.
past, and that we shall be wise enough
+ avoid repeating aEy of the errors We hay
made. II Dakota is to be divided let Us hay
20 North or South or West Dakota. II is ba
enough that these Objectionable ADJECTIVE
have once been given place; the conlusiO
aud Inconvenience would be much more tha
double if the error were repeated aud we on
IL 10 our chldreu's ch Id en- to save them fro
cusable when name so good rs Pembina ~
longs To the region and wa Is for such use.
has the making OF one OF our pest name
Gentlemen OF Dakota and OF Congress,
you look u thisl
New Mexico is also unfortunate in the M
IF the adjective. This may have become I,
well established for change, but, If pOss ibl
il is greatly 10 be desired that before IL com
% the dignity OF Statehood, relief should
found in some good name for the State
which the future can find more satisfactiO
How would Aztec doi And WsshingtO
should be changed TO Tacoma. So far, uulc
I Pennsylvania be a partial exception. no pc
sonal name in our own history has been a
corded the transcendent distinction OF Apr
priation TO a State The wisdom OF III
reserve can scarcely be DOUBTED, and
should hesitate 10 repeal an unwritten la
which has served us So well. If WashingtO
then Lincoln and Grant, aud then whomi III
quality OF our capital roll OF names will suif
II II Is brought down 10 such questions
these, aud We shall do well to abide by Il
traditions OF the past In important
matter. Tacoma, too, i a name so eXcelle
as strongly 10 invite such adoption.
Aud why not say columbia" and omit Il
~ strict or IN our familiar usagei II won
be far simpler aud more convenient; and 1t
not clear that any good purpose is served
the use OF the awkward combination, inste;
If the simple and good word which fifty,
not adequately, houors the memory OF u
treat discoverer 49, Boston 4 iUsrtiser