Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1865-01-17

NATIONAL SyNBoLs-The Il igs :of a nation
Represents The ldea of dutt4 Ut heroic daring; in
some instsnces-ss In present struggle
against tho reoeiiion-of freedom. of right OF
. national authority. OF rational unity. They
are the ~ mbols of the people a people. and
constantly remind them what is due 10 the ma
ton in honor and patriotic devotion. cit Is in
an. through symbols. says Carlisle. that man
consciously or unconsciousiy lives, works. add
has his being; those ages. moreover, are ac-
counted ehe modest which best recog
nizs ~ mboI.csI worth aid prize il the highest.
A soldiers fidelity TO bis ftg has In il something
sublime aud enDotliDg, and gives him a share IN
the national lite and The liberty OF which that Is
an emblem. Tsrered, shot torn. smoke h,srF
e4,ef IN is :. : ,.sO0T OF the highest
value and importance, and has power to direct
the thoughts anu passions Of individuals so that
q mighty host becomes one mail Moreover,
il is he symbol Of nations past Bngh,
memories of victory fash about 1t. or perhaps
some recolcctions live in its drooping folds of
day of disaster and shame. a time of oppres-
sion and suffering: so that, gazing upon this
SYMBOL. the citizen and the soldier feel the no.
blood ,hrobbing at their hearts aud the battle
light reddening on their brows.
One Of The emblems of nationality is the
eagle. and among warrior peoples il has always
been fsvoriie emblem. In mythology and his
tory il - everywh here present With outstretehed
wings and flashing eyes il seems to dominate
over the world of fable. always sacred. always
venerated, even feared. for in its grasp the light
nngs kindle
Among the Persians it was the symbol OF
Aithrs. the sun god. and Cyrus caused repre-
sentaIon of il 10 be sculptured in gold and placed
on the crest Of his standards.
The Roman eagle Is familiar to Masons rs a
symbol Ii was adopted by the Romans nj an
eaiIy period Of their history At first they
crowned with it the seep,re of their kings; at
later period il ornanented the baton of their
chiefs, and vas the ensign of their legions Un-
der the republic IL carved in wood. then in
oliver, With thuDderbolt of gold in is talors.
Under Cssar IL was cast IN gold without the bolt,
AID mark Of his cesseess desire for CONC uest,
was represented with outstretched wings The
legion each had its eagle by which the soldiers
swore. regarding such oaths as of peculiar sane
uty and force. aud was also place Of refuge; the
condemned Who could grasp the staff of the lance
on which &c was borne being thus protected
The eagles Of Napoleon we're regarded BY his
soldiers with greater veneration than the flag
beneath them. and IN his stirring proclamsuions
ne autuiiy refers TO them a. the symbols OF vic
tory. The double eagle OF Prussis is the well
known ~ mbol OF the higher degrees IN the an
cieht aud accepted rite, and was. no doubt,
adopted there part Of the exploded ial
lacy that Frederick the Great vas tue founder
pTactised- The German emperors for long
time bore but the single eagle. but this Was IN
remembrance of the Roman Caesars They
afer~ard assumed the double esgle the ~ ~
Dol OF the double empire Of Rome and CONSTANT
nople. Ohio " berg the first TO engrsye il on
the iDferisi seal. anu SisIsmund in the fifteenth
century. adopting il as the foundation OF all the
hersldic mysteries vi the empire
he kussi'ns. as their power increased. grew
Jealous OF this emblem, and err Joan III hay.
ing married the daughter OF Michel P.leolocus
etupe ~ o. the cast. considered him-elf entitled
20 The SINE bl zoa IA virtue OF this alliance he
ortefet ceu.le he-'iei eagle 10 be engraved on
nus coins, IN everE respect similar - that ct the
Dernash ahd Greek emperors bu, instead of be-
ing represented an expanded wings. like the
eagle OF the Sse srs. IT. wings were folded Joan
DAD no sooner asceftaired this distinction DE
tseen the NuseOsife aud the German eagle
thsn ne caused the designers and eEgravers 20 be
hsng The .NascoviIe eagle. however. remained
with folded wings. but is 4 cht it has never
theie-s equasied aud even disianced the eagle Of
the Germans