Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1861-05-09
GInrr In 1hn ntnrn nnh s1rinea

1t is related in Baltimore that one of the
wounded Massachusetts, men-a mere youth
after the fight with the mob, crept into q
shop, and was kindly sheltered by the
owner, and on being questioned why SO
young a man as he came so far with arms,
he murmured family, but with a simple
affection" the account says, with dying
breath, "The Stars and Stripes u
lfany one goes around among our soldiers
. now, and asks many the reason of their en-
listing, they will very probably say, " 1t was
the insult to the old flag at Sumter" or, +" 1t
is for the Stars and Stripes" Many unre-
flecting people laugh at this as an ignorant
enthusiasm. But il is not. Who that knows
humanity, history, or human nature, can
doubt in regard TO the power Of an emblem
For eighteen centuries the hopes of human
ity, its highest life and its pledge of immor-
tality have been in symbol-the gallows of
past time, the Cross of the modern ages.
That simple emblem is a reality; il contains
a history and promise in itself
So with the tri-color: wherever French
man looks upon it, he sees not merely the
three bands of color, but a whole history of
glory and civilization. So with the red
cross-the Englishman reads in it thousand
years Of sturdy manhood and indomitable
vigor. O.
So with our glorious Stars aud Stripes.
Who that has seen it waving in foreign ports
amid the emblems of bigotry and tyranny
or has beheld it cleaning of late on some
border town, where to display it was danger
and perhaps death or who that saw its tat
tered folds sweep out from the flag staff of
Sumter in the iron hands of Washington in
our own city, has not sometimes felt his
eyes fill with tears, as he gazed at IT, IL is
our great emblem. II symbolizes the Amer
ican idea. OF late years, indeed, it has COW
cred so much baseness, and oppression, and
treason, that the love of our people for il
was growing cold. But now, in the time OF
its peril when the shot of traitors have
pierced it, when it is discarded and outeast
by those who have so long used il to protect
their iniquities, the feeling of the people
springs toward ii like passion.
Ii represents all that we have loved and
hoped for in America. 1t is symbol OF
equal rights of law, of country, and, above
all, of universal liberty. Thank God its
stains are washed awayl 1t is now an EN-,
blem of the most advanced humanity; oi
shelter 10 the oppressed; of free speech; Oi
the inalieDable rights of man; of we'll
ordered and lawful freedom. Ii is the white
plume Of civilization in its direfnl battle with
barbarism, on this Western Continent. The
hopes and prayers of mankind follow it. As
We look at its gay fianntiDg, we see in it O
| short but noble history the heroic war oil
Independence, the wise building of the Con-
stitnti0n, the growth of q great and prosper
Gus nation, which should shame all ancient
1 governments and secure justice and liberty
| 10 all men Of every cresd and condition.
The Stars and STipei ara but beginning
| their glorious career They shall yet wave
| over Richmond and Charleston, and Mobile
and New Orleans. They shall 20 On over
| new lands and new seas. They shall be the
herald and the banner of civilization and
humanity for many coming century. All
men shall look 10 them as the symbsl D
| liberty. tle st .taft ~ q st.I1 iti
Therefore, LETT the gl0rieas banner fanni
from every hOasetop, from wind0W anC
chimney, from monument and ohEroh---fol
no place Is too sacred Tor IT, In this time b
| its danger, We viii wear il over our breasts
and bear 1t upon our personal and y0u WhS
| 60 forth to defend the flag, remember tina
nothing can dishoaOr 1t bat tpeaehery anG
eowardicel Bear the old Stars and Stripes
| as the eEablem Of youE country before y0l
in battle; count il honor enough that yol
have been able to bleed and sAfler for it, AM
e sweet and glorious thing If for that flag yol
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