The discussion on Ghoti[0] around language standardisation reminded me of this essay. It's a review of an American Usage Dictionary[1] that centers primarily around the question of the purpose of dictionaries (as a prescription for the way language should be used, or as a record of use).
The post links to Harper's hosted scan of the original printing but it's a little difficult to read. There is a copy meant for screens [2] (under the title Authority and American Usage, subtitled or "Politics and the English Language" Is Redundant, as it was published in his collection of essays Consider the Lobster[3]).