The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1871-03-11
NUMBER I.

'Besolyed, T hat the Flag o. Tho Tb;r-ae-
United States be thirteen stripes alternate rel
and white; That the Union be thirteen stars
white in a blue field, representing 81 new cen
steiiauon.'
l have thus hastily gi3en some Of the lead
lng features of Federal symbolism during the
Revolution. They are distinctive and ex-
pressve in their character, but. In a}l their
various designs they fail to show anything
recognizing pro-emineDce in PeuHsylvauia
or 6fr. lfortoR'S rotei and vet, vhoo hat
vote was given. our Philadelphia editor saws.
fennsy yivanla received the name Of the KEY
stone State-the thirteenth State-the block
Of The arch - Who, except himself has
ever called her the tHiHeeiHh State In all
official or historical alusions to her relation
to the thirteen, she is reckuned as the seceHt5
State, but by the admission Of Vermont and
Maine to the Union, She is now the Ninth
With this, perhaps, uuwarrantable digres-
sion from the point am considering. t.Le
progress and idea of Federal SYM bo.ism) (
will ask the reader TO hastily follow me III
the footprints Of history. from the close Of
the Revolution to the end Of the last certu-
Ty, and see what there is scattered along the
pathway.
Just at the close of the Revolution. tho
Society Of the Cincinnati was formed toy Tie
most distinguished oficers Of the army. ard
Washington became It's President That
society desired f1r each Of its members n
medal, aud Major ! Euiaut was directed 30
furnish design. Among the dosigus which
be accordingly furnished to Washington for
a medal. Ia June 1893. was deFce show
ing an eagle supporting a star with thirteen
points. This thirteen pointed star was 3
new modification IN symboll2iug the Federal
unity Of the thirteen States The device.
Er =
but one with thirteen stars was. Various
embtms aud symbolic devices we're also used
in the early coinage aud medals Cf that Pc
nod, all Republican ln their character, ard
many OF them F-Ctrai in some e their de-
vices, but hot ~strikiugy distinctive from
those we have already considered
When rev page 10 our couutry's history
was opened, ia 1851. 10y the formation of the
Constitution the great heart oi the Republic
was qulckencd in It's pulsagiousi and public
sentiment was expressed 10y many new Fed
eEal devices. each distinctive IN its features;
but all expressive in their design. They all
expressed an iHdicidgal Cguaht,i in FeGeyut
uHity; making the compliment States Of cur
Republic
Distinct as the Iil ows, yet one as the seal
It was. while the statesmen Of America,
-Ou the forum and through iaa press, were
10y ala the States unanimously, that Francis
Nopkiuson. who bad been member of the
Continental Congress uf fTTG from New ,Jer-
sey, aad as such had voted for and sigued
the Declaration uf Independence, bat vas
nov residing in Philadelphia. wrote h!s cei-
ebrated alcsorv entitled Tho New Rnof'
By IL lac represented tEe Republic as q Fed
eraI ecjice, which, under the Articles Of
Confederation, was not sufficiently protected
tTJm the storms thdt beat upon T. The
Constitution under consideration IT the time.
he described as .'tFe TOaf irLiri' vas needed
fer IT. lle beautifully allegorigcd the 5 atCs
as the thirteen rafters Of Ihe oii rO1i which
were still 5uuuG and needed somc additional
braciug and q proper union together, to give
all the needed strength to tae proposed mar
~o9f of the Federal Ei5hce, Sc. From ;iis
time onward. architectural designs became
jac0rJ, meth J 81 syu5nizing Federal uHi-
ty. Pillars rose one 10y one from their bases
as different States ratified the Constitution.
aud graceful arches rested On them Pillars
were jL.u the symbols Of the StatcS the
arches were only adornments.
This idea was beautifully and fully czem-
File,i ON the following fourth oi July (l7Ss)
il the city OF phiiads lpI.ia. Ga that day the
anniversary If American Independence was
celebrated IN that city wi;h more form and
spisEdar than perhaps 1t has ever been OF
any other occasion. Tie general arrange
meuts for different parts of the procession,
which were 10 eighty eight grand divisions,
were believe, devised by Francis Hcpkin-
soa, the author of the aIlegorv Cf lhs New
Roof" Among the many Federal designs
that adorned the procession, that Of The
tweaty-fourth division we have space only 10
give. and that only In part. i was
4 carria-p drawn bv ten white horses; ibUt ten
OF the States had ar ,s5t time ratified the Con-.
inrhian columns. rI.sci On T5csiestais proper to.
that order: tie frigZe decorated with Ehlrlsen
Jeff unfinished TIE. pEagstuis NJ TIE columns
,rCIc Inscribed, ia oTlCHcHt0t etptfs tilt jtuts
the dome handsome cupula, sllruountcd by
- figure on plenty bearing hcE cgrnucopltc- GtlU
utaor 2n5iems OF her character. etc.
fui! description OF this pfo-assioH5 s, itl.
lie decorations borne by j Is different diyj-
sions, was published by Francis Hapkiusou
IN the american Museum of Philadelphia,
in 1888, in Nol- 4th, page 81 to 75, TO v Aieh
tie curioas historical reader is referred, and
also to pages l42 l45 for the alleg0-y of the
"New Ref" AS this grams display. vita
all its expressive emb.ems. was in Phliaaet-
ptia. how came John MoTtou's vote in iIl6
to Ie forgotten IN the deyjsing of Federal
sv mhols. ii the statements OF the PEilaGCl-
phia Telegraph are correct The Keystone
as Federal symbol was as We. unwTouEht
/ in the quarry; else, ou that occasion it would
have been
'.Brousht forth with shouGags and praise
But I must hasten onward with th,s
sketch. for It is with historic facts that an
dealing, and not fanciful suggestions. #
was in April Of the following year. (i759)
that Washington iurueyed from Mount
. Vernon to the city OF New York 80 be iuaugu-
rated as President. Il was on this occasion
that fancy wove its fairest garlauds e. deco
rate bis pathway, aud the geniJs es America
lent its aid to devise the rncss expressive
welcomes of the different cities ne I'D pass
ed through The city Of Phi'adelplio, wei.
coined him at Gray's Bridge 5ver the SchuyI.
kill, at each end Of which, an elegstrt a,'h
composed of laurel. had Jeen 6 e~.ns+ructe5