New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-11-06
THE PROPER NAME OF TIE COUNTRY:
PROFESSOR TYLER, OF CORNELL UNIVERSITY
SHOWS THE FITNESS OF AMERICA.

PROFESSOR TYLER, OF CORNELL UNIVERSITY,
SHOWS THE FITNESS OF AMERICA"
meeting of the New York Historical Society was
held on Tuesday night in the library of the society at
Eleventh-st aud secondave. An interesting paper was
read by Professor Moses Colt Tyler of Cornell Unver
ty on "The Historic Name of Our Country Professor
Tyler said in part: FIFTY years ago q
celebrated scholar said to John c. Calhoun, How
strange it is that country, rich in everything
else, should have name Calhoun replied we
have no name because we not Nation, only
collection Of States which not united Calhoun
| made a mistake. We are q united people and a
Nation and are entitled to distinctive name. The
United states of America is unsatisfactory to many
people, because 1t is mere proposition Of constu
| tona law and not name otler
| countries, they say, have single names. like
England France and the citizens OF those countries
| call themselves Englishmen OF Frenchmen but how
shall we call ourselves? To say American does not
distinguish our country. some say United States
history TO distinguish it from American history, but
| we are not the only united states in the world.
I eve want a name for a wstchword, one name that
shall signify to the Old World what great country
is tayond the sea- Never before has any nation been
without some particular and significant name During
the early years Of country a name was gwen
Columbia. Ten or twenty years after the heVoiu
lion MANY thought we would be called Columbians.
carried the flag around the world was named Columbia
Kings College was changed 10 Columbia, and the
country is dotted with the With all the struggle
IN have the NAME does not seem to be the name OF
our co,ptry No one thinks Of COumbians.
Another name was tried by Washington Irving. He
wanted 10 call the country 'Alleghenia' after
Tho Alleghenles or sAppalachia' The New
work. Historical society took up the subject
aud tried TO influence the United states to
change lis name to United States OF Alleghenia.'
.vesneria, was the next thought Of One OF
washington, 'Freeland' and 'Freedonia were the
rax+ two One man thought the country should be
called (abotia after the real discOverer. Another
s.,d we ought TO 90 back to the Norseman and call
1t 'Vinland.' .
.All these attempts to change the name OF the
country were futile and unsuccessful because they were
in violation OF the natural historic lew. The name
OF every country by gradual growth. Before
the Revolution the colonies were known "a the Amer-
can Colonies In the Stamp Act American trade Is
spoken Of In 1774 Patrick Henry said there was no
longer any New-Yorker or Virginian but only Amen
cans The treaty with England in 1888 applies 70 us
alone the name America. Washington In his fare
well speech addresses his countrymen as Americans
In the historic growth OF two centuries and nall the
single name America mas como to mean our country,
our customs etc. It Is entirely rsht and modest ioT
us to take the beautiful name America LEI II DC 10
the French Matthew Arnold said America holds Tn,
future. Let us hope that this may prove Uuy anu
that this name America may live through AL he
ages the talisman of all that is good and NOBLE