New-York tribune., 1904-10-30

Its status in this respect may be defined by
the phrase stand pat which. applied
10 one, might we'll apply TO both parties.
When we speak of the political - arena "
few of us dream that that originally
referred to the open space of the amphi-
theater, strewn with sand (drcnd). for
the purpose. chiefly, of absorbing the
shed blood of the gladiators engaged TO
make a Roman holiday. The forum
of debate, again. Was the place out-of-
doors in the principal open-air place that
became the civic center-the market
place. where orators discussed public
questions and lawyers became skilful
forcnsically," as the word came TO be
from This source The ''rostrum, often
equivalent TO our platform, and some
times used in the collopuial sense of
mounting the rostrum,' was the place
where the people of Rome recorded their
votes. also in the market-place, for the
candidates running" for office 1t was
so-called because the rOsfra, or prows of
ships. taken in naval fights adorned this
point of vantage. from which speakers
also held forth. These prows OF ships
were formidable affairs; and a man who
Was aggressive III his campaign was no
less man of Irowess than of ambition.
And what does ambition mean.
Nothing more than going about
(ambifio solicitously among those who
had votes To bestow AmhffiO. as ii WAS
called. Was legitimate; but dmbifuS was
moi. for this meant the giving OF bribes in
the going about seeking the votes, and
strict laws we're made TO prevent 1t.
The candidate himself was so-called
because he Was distinguished by wearing
a white erol,c-emlilcnatic. presumably,
of his candid. truthful representations IN
his aml,itary pursl'it-or canvas, The
candidates. indeed. had to conduct
themselves above suspicion, SO that
they would not suffer by others holding
uIp their candies before them for close
inspection. for these wOrds-candldate
candid and candle-arc of the same batch.
The canvass. bv which we understand
the means employed in seeking by per
4nral or other influence, the promise of
votes. really meant a sitting out OF
those who were favorable To "A candidate
from those who were not; the word
coming directly from Cdndbis the name OF
= coarse cloth used for the purpose OF
making sleeves. and which gave the name
canvas. a cloth. To us. The story told
bv this word is no more curious than
can le told bv MANY other words.
Campaign, like arena. revcrts 10 the idea
OF the place where the real struggle takes
place Campus field: from which source
we haze also the necessary champion.
But these. however interesting they
are. have nothing OF the local flavor that
makes words directly attractive. We
have a series of words of another more
homclv order. but even more expressive,
that are always worthy of notice: such
as presidential timber, political
boom" taking the stump, - log
rolling" upon the fence. barrl, y
~snag.'' platform and plank -
most of which are easily traceablc TO
their sources. as we'll as such familiar
word as the elected becomes acquainted
with in coming into contact with affairs
"f practical legislation. lobby, the
origin of which makes an unusual story.
Timber. translated into It's equivalent
ierm. the word first used Tor wood.
becomes familiar as material: 50 that. as
a colloquial expression. II Is really an