The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-07-14

lean Cyclopedia tits conjectured that the
oldest written use OF this word is probably
in this passage of the "Diary OF John
Adams" dated Boston, February 1868:
This day learnt that the Caucus club
meets at certain times in the garrett of
Tom Dawes, the adjutant OF the Boston
regiment. He has large house, and a
movable partition in his garnet which he
takes down and the whole club meets in
one room. There they smoke tobacco till
you cannot see from one end OF the garnet
to the other. There they drink flip, l
suppose, and there they choose modera-
tor, who puts questions TO the vote regu-
larly, and select men overseers, collectors,
wardens, fire-wards, and representatives
are chosen before they are chosen by the
town"
Herein is told plainly enough what the
Boston Caucus club OF that day was. but
the passage gives not the slightest clew TO
the origin OF the name.
In Gordon's "History Of the American
Revolution" under date l775-about
twelve years later than the Diary OF John
Adams-occurs this passage: -"More than
fifty years ago Mr.. Samuel Adams father
and twenty Others, one or two from the
north end OF the town where all the ship
business is carried on, used to meet and
make a caucus, and lay their plans for in
Producing certain persons into places of
trust and power" This passage-if the
authors information was trustworthy
shows that the word caucus was probably
used in Boston about forty years before
John Adams wrote ii in his diary, but
leaves its origin completely in the dark.
From thaaa tNyn q uat haraI
about all that is known of the history of
the original Caucus club OF Boston,
rs IL existed more than 100 years ago.
1t has been conjectured that Every likely
the Caucus club was originally mechan-
les club, called from the leading trade in
1t, the Calkers club, and that this name
was afterward easily corrupted into Caucus
club" This conjecture isshallow enough,
to say the least, for II is exceedingly I'M
likely that tho calkers, an inferior
grade of mechanics from the Bos-
ton ship yards, represented "the
leading trade" in the club, and were
so numerous and influential rs TO give a
name to IL. Gordon, as we have Just seen,
mentions only zone OF two" members in
the ship business, but does not say that
either OF them Qf there were two) was a
calker. Evidently there was nothing in
the little that is known OF the history OF
the club TO suggest any connection Of its
name with calkers. Indeed, there is not
a hint that II was even u mechanics club,
properly so called, much less calkeB'
club. Nothing rs palmer than that this
ridiculous derivation was suggested 10
some one by the accidental resemblance in
the sonnd OF calkers and caucus. OF
course the invention OF still more ridicu-
lous theory 10 account for ii was weak
after thought.
There have been sundry other sugges-
tons rs TO the derivation OF caucus; but /
can here notice only one more-that from
Florida" by -. D."-which has recently
gone forth into the great world OF letters
for exhibition as a choice specimen OF
Florida philology.
Our Florida philologist suggests that
''thc true derivation" of caucus Is from
the Latin cucus (blind, hidden, obscurc).
This derivation seems very improbable for
the reason that II was the usage OF En-
glish and American scholars OF tho last
century land has been until very recently,
10 give the Latin the sound OF before
the diphthong u. Even now many old
fashioned English and American scholars
adhere TO the usage, and pronounce csecus
rs II Il was written seekus. This was un.
qucstionably the pronunciation OF this
word when the Boston club used 10 meet
in Tom Dawes garrett; and u ogcus was
really its original name, Il lies with j. ID.
TO rise and explain how II was that
c;ccus tscekus) ever came 10 be called
caucus (kawkus).
Since tho so-callcd Roman method oil
pronunciation has come into fashion school
boys are now taught In our best schools u
pronounce c,ccus kaikus. II our Florida
philologist can prove that this Latin word
was 30 pronounced in Boston in the latter
half OF the last century he may then argue
with some plausibcneS that caucus is O
conubtion OF kaikus; for the corruption m
this case would be- nothing more than the
abnormal change Of the dipthong ri into au,
instead OF the normal one nj into no or q
long. as is regularly seen in words transfer.
red by the ancient Romans themselves
from the Greek language into their own.
Until lac can prove this his derivation OF
caucus from crcus must DO regarded ~
not whit more plausible than caucus
from ''calkcrs" OF frum ''caw-caw soas
oughcs."
must here enter my protest against J.
D.. notion that the Latin adjective cccu,
is derived from the verb c'ccarc. In th,
former is seen the simplest Latin form o.
the root c,cc, which appears under othei
forms in kindrcdlanguagcs. C@cus is not,
therefore, verbal adjective formed irou
the verb csocac, ~ hc seems 10 imagine,
but cecarc Is a dcnominatiyc verb formed
from the adjective cpcus. II. as etymolo
gists say, the primary sense Of prcpos,er
Gus Is hind end foremost, his way Of put
ting this matter Is prepostcrous, 10 say the
least; for Il Is certainly putting things hind
end foremost TO derive III, parent from III,
child, or tho fountain from the rill tina
flows from Il.
When J. d. was looking for IAtir
\ origin Of caucus, wonder II did not occui
20 him that cautus (cautiousl might he
better guess than c5ccus blind or hidden.
Cautus becomes caucus by simply passing
from dental 90 TO cultural, lc harll
and Il would seem 10 DO quite natural io
u smooth dental sound 10 b. corrupted In
10 harsh cultural, or throat sound in thl
mouths Of the muddlcd Zip drinkers IL
Tom Dawes garrett Al know that 1
/ drunken mans tongue il partially para
lyzcd, and behaves badly in failing 10 nc
against his teeth and palate, ~ Il ought
when he talks. Hence Il IL, that th,
words come gurdng M from his throa
in ridiculous, maudlin jnrgon. II Is thu
easy 10 explain how cautus may have got
ten TO caucus lIowbcit, there l. n,
need OF argument on flip hypo
thesis, or ON any other. 10 prov,
what must bc manifest 10 MI
Any ono may 900 At glance that cauius
even In the mouths Of tcctoialcrs, woul,
be much morn likely 10 driit into caucu,