The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-06-14
UNCLE sAMy BROTHER JONATHAN
SpecuIations as to the Origin of These
Sobrfquets.
Philadelphia Press.


The sale of the Wilson homestead" at
Mason, n. H., a few days ago, where was
born and reared one Samuel Wilson, an
army contractor in 1872, who is believed to
be the original Uncle SAM" calls imme-
date attention to this very picturesque
sobriquet applied TO the government of the
United States. 1t is not at all unlikely,
however, that when those engaged in his
torical research run the term down they
will find that neither Samuel Wilson nor
any of his associates in the war of 1872 had
anything to do with the term. At least
that Is the conclusion one comes to when
the outcome of a recent study of an earlier
American nickname, Brother Jonathan,
is considered.
The case of Brother Jonathan" is easy
TO get at, since the term has been recently
made the subject of extended research by
Mr.. Albert Matthews, of Boston. Mr..
Matthews, as will be remembered, was re-
ferred to recently as the author of an adj
mirable monograph the term Indian
summer" The same painStaking care re-
vealed in the Indian summer study has
been applied to Brother Jonathan" with
most interesting results, as the report on
the subject by the Colonial Society of Mas
sachuetts shows. Mr.. Matthews takes up,
first of all, what may well be called the
Brother Jonathan" legend. This legend
appeared for the first time in the Norwich
Comm Evening Courier on Nov. r. 1916.
in the shape of story supposedly told by
octogenarian, describing how the term
Brother Jonathan" came into being In
brief. the original account declares that
American army by reason of habit Gen.
eral Washington had, when he got into
straits, of saying: I'VE must consult
Brother Jonathan on the subject:
this account, the well-known war Governor
of Connecticut. Jonathan Trumbull
This is the Trumbull legend in its simplest
form. 1t apparently had but to be stated
TO be instantly accepted as gospel truth.
and il soon was viewed as an article of
faith by all Connecticut folks, was ex-
panded by historians and popular writers
and finally became the one signal fact that
admirers of Governor Trumbul seemed to
feel was worth more to posterity than all
the real deeds of this brave revolutionary
leader. Mr.. Matthews ii need hardly be
said lays ruthless hands on the Trumbull
legend. He shows that it is entitled TO no
credence, since ii is a modern invention
which never had any contemporary recogni-
ton, but sprung full-hedged into being in
the Norwich Courier siXty-one years after
the death OF Trumbull, forty-seven years
after the death of Washington and seventy
one years after the period which is sup
posed TO have given it being
After disposing of the Trumbull legend
Mr.. Matthews shows that the term iona
| than as it originally, came into gen.
eral use in the revolutionary war. that it
was first applied TO Americans as mildly
derisive epithet by the loyaists and enc
mics of the revolution, that ii was avoided
by Americans themselves at first, and that
when they did use it, after the revolution,
! they applied the term TO country bump
| kin. Gradually, however the term grew
| into popular vogue on both sides OF the
Atlantic as an appellation of the American
people, and soon lost. in the minds of
Americans at least, its offensive significance
| and took its place with other national nick
names in familiar and respect. Mr..
Matthews gives line and text for his con-
| clusions and his data is most convincing.
| Having succeeded well with Indian
| be hoped he will take up Uncle SAM, for
| ii is term that needs calculating badly.