Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1875-07-14
"HAH, COLUMBIA"

Some one has said, "Let me writ,
the songs of people, and ! care mo-
who makes their laws" and an ex
animation of the material share which
the songs of every nation have had il
moulding public opinion almost bear'
out the claim. Nations, like the fabled
swan, must sing ere they die, or pass
away unrecordod. OF the Chaldean
Babylonian, or Phenician we know
little or nothing.
"They had no poet, and they died"
Our own national airs, or "hymns,
are few. yankee Doodle" if II were
anything else than mere doggerel, is
Of foreign origin, and must, therefore,
be left out of consideration. To New
York, ever in the van in defence of our
rights as people and in all patriotic
movements, must be accorded the hon
or Of our first war song. 1t was en-
titled "The Federal Constitution, boys,
and Liberty Forever" But this song
died with the emergency which had
called it forth.
"Hail, Columbia" our first truly
national hymn, because OF character,
with the exception of the two last
verses, to serve our national necessities
for all time, was written early in the
summer of 1898 by Joseph Hoplsinson,
young lawyer Of Philadelphia.
The circumstances which called forth
this noble song were briefly these:
France, which had been our friend
and ally during our Revolutionary
struggle, had in turn undergone the
worst phases Of revolt and terrorism,
ending in the ignominious death Of
royalty and the elevation to power OF
body styled "The Directory" This
naughty body, forgetting the ties which
had bound the two nations, presumed
to insult our ENJOYS, demanding that
a large sum should be paid into the
French treasury before they would
condescend TO see them.
The face of the American nation
flushed, as it were, and the answer
came in that of Charles Pinckney, one
of our ENJOYS, "Millions for defence,
but not one cent for tribute"
1t was at this time that Gilbert Fox,
a young comedian, applied to Hopkin.
son to write some words for a popular
tune styled the Presidents March,"
and which had been composed (17S9) |
in the City of New York by German
named Fayles, on the occasion of Pres
ident Washington's first visit to a
theatre in that place.
But we will use the authors own
words in describing the birth of this
our first national "hymn." He says
in his account Of the origin of "Hail,
Columbia" written for the Wyoming
band, at Wilkesbarre, Pa, at their de-
sire:
"The theatre was then open in our
city. A young man belonging to it,
whose talent was as n singer, was
about to take his benefit. | had known
him when he was at school. On this
he called ON me on Sat
urday aiternoon-his benefit being an
nounced for the following Monday.
He said he had no boxes taken, and
his prospect was that he should suffer
a loss instead of receiving q benefit
from the performance, but that if he
could get patriotic song adapted to
the tune of the Presidents March
then the popular air. he did not
doubt of a full house that the poets OF
.he theatrical corps had been trying to
accomplish it, but were satisfied that
10 words could be composed to suit
he music of the march. told him |
would try for him. He came the next
afternoon, and the song, such as it is,
was ready for him."
The announcement of new patriot
c song filed the theatre to excess, and
he burning words seized with electric
orce the hearts and imaginations of
he audience. Again and again it was
and at last the whole audi
nee arose and joined in the chorus.
The voice Of the nation had found
'ent Crowds filled the street at
light, among them even members of
(thcn sittingin Philadelphia),
Ill singing the new patriotic song; and
oon there was not corner in the
United States in which it was not {
card. A fame which, in spite of per- ,
aps more meritorious productions, il {
as since retained, and must ever re-
ain as the first American national
ymn. L. l.. SARMIENTo.