Omaha daily bee., 1910-10-30
ORIGIN OF POLITICAL SLANG
Party Nicknames in Common Use in
Former Campaigns.
TERMS FITTED TO CONDITIONS
FIntterinE and Opprobious Epithets
PIucked from known and Obscure
Sources words Given
New Meanings.

AFFORDED many opportunities lOI QDseINh-
ton Of political doings In those stirring
times, and thus speaks with authority on
the origin Of many expressions stln in use
in current political life Major Truman de-
clares that while many Of the slang express
slons used in the United States are called
"Americanism" most OF the latter have
been bequeathed us from early English, lit
erature. and away down that line from
Shakespeare TO Dickens; and some Of our
most common applications have been
adapted from the Bible itself But an eX-
ception may be made regarding our poliu
cal slang. nearly all Of which is strictly
original and few or none of our presiden-
tia campaigns have been carried through
without the production Of some new politi-
cal slang terms Of more or less effective
ness. Indeed, to go back only few pres
Dental terms, no future treasure house
Of American English words will be COM
plCte without the "mugwump" OF 1854. II
seemed expressionless and far-fetched, as
first applied-by some one never strictly
traceable-to those republican goody
goodys who broke away from Blaine and
helped elect Cleveland, and no satisfactory
conclusion was ever arrived at concerning
its prosody or etymology
when Democrats Were "Barnburners''
In 1894, the nickname Of 'locofocas' was
given to the adherents Of the democratic
party throughout the United States who
followed the course OF the majority Of the
members Of Tammany hall, who, when the
lights were turned out on them during a
tumultuous meeting, kept right on with
their proceedings by chickering's from loco
foco matches until candles were procured.
About the same time the members of the
more radical wing of the New York de-
mOcracy received the derisive name of
'barnburners.' CHASING them with a lot
of lawless incendaries, who for many
months vented their spite on the owners
of large grain and corn lands in the Mo
hawk and Oswego valleys by burning their
barns.
Along in the 4Os came the term "aboH-
tionists" and "freesoilers as applied to
the growing anti-savery element in the
north; and about the same time the nick
name Of "doughfaces," as applied to pro,
slavery men OF both parties in the north,
and that Of "fire-eaters," applicable to ex-
IRENE pro-slavery orators and newspaper
editors OF the south. Regarding the term
"doughfaces" there has always been some
differences OF opinion as to its photography
and meaning, but Hon. George Bradburn
Randolph, in referring to these northern
demagogues, from his seat in congress,
branded them as 'doe-faces.' Randolph
spelled the word d-o-e-faoe. in alluson to
the timid, startled look OF that animal.
which Is said to shrink from the reflection
of its own face in the water"
ECOppsFhehda" and "CarpetbaEEern."
During the civil war the pro-slavery
democrats and other rebel sympathizers in
the north were termed "copperheads."
after one of the meanest and most
venomous of snakes. II was Mr., Lincoln
who said that mot all democrats were cop
perheads. but all copperheads were
democrats" Immediately after the war,
those republicans who went south and
were elected 20 office we're called carpet
baggers," and all natives who affiliated
with republicans were derided by the
southern people generally as 'scalawaEs."
Probably more political slang grew out
OF the campaign OF 1870 than Of all the
others that preceded t. and the "barl OF
money" ''bulldozing" visiting states,
men," SOLID south" "stalwarts," ''shot-
gun policy" nineteen rebel brigadiers,"
counting out" returning boards"
nephew OF his uncle" and some others be-
long to that momentous year
A few years afterward Congressman
Flanagan of Texas contributed to our
political American!sms what are we here
for?' and Cobb OF Georgia asked Where
am at7'' But Senator Quay OF Pennsyl-
vania added a phrase to political literature
that will reach a good old age when he
wrote to friend; ''You do your part and
will shake the plum tree"
II was in 1915 that we first heard OF the
OZARK bOraa - p haa
ted out as that equine individual There
have been many attempts to hunt up the
pedigree OF the dark horse In politics, and
the following has been generally the most
satisfying A few years ''befO de wah"
there lived In Tennessee a trading horse
Jockey who had coal black stallion, al
most q thoroughbred. He entered this
horse in country race meeting where he
was not known and where the natives
heavily backed two or three favorites
against him Old Judge McAlinamee, the
turf oracle Of that part Of the state, was
one OF the judges OF the meeting and
when he was told how the stranger was
foolishly betting on his horse. he looked
at the stallion and said: Gentlemen,
there's a dark horse in this race that will
make some OF you suffer before supper"
Origin of "saIt RiveF'' Unknown.
tIAt imaginary stream called salt
river up which defeated candidates are
supposed 20 be rowed. is one OF the most
felicitous OF all our political Amerlcanisms,
although it's authorship is unknown. The
term caucus" was first used IN 1929. FL
bridge Gerry. a democratic Massachusetts
politician Of the latter part OF the eigh-
teenth and early part OF the nineteenth
century, was accused OF having instigated
the first division Of states into congressional
districts without regard TO the natural
order and conditions In order that his party
might succeed; thus, "gerrymander."
Probably the greatest excitment next to
the civil war, our country has ever known
was that in 1851, between the abolition
lists OF the north and the slave holders OF
the SOUTH for the possession OF Kansas
then opening to the advance OF immigra-
ton. and out OF which the terms bleeding
Kansas" Border Ruffins" and "Squatter
Sovereignty" became dramatically express
sive. and are undoubtedly defined IN al
text and phrase books.
The word Boss" was first applied by
Henry J. Raymond IN the New York Times
IN 1856 20 Isaiah Rynders. who was at IN,
head OF the democratic marching clubs OF