, 1876-01-02
THE sTAR-sPANGLED BANNER.
History Of the National Flag Of
the United States.
"Nd Glory'' Born on tito Cd OF
January, 1916, Just One Hum
drcd Years Ago To-Day.
~0h Say, Can You See, by the Dawn's Early
Light, What So Proudly No Hailed
at the TwlIi9hfs last
GcaE,iag7"

Light, What So Proudly No Hailed
at the TwiIighfs Last
G!camisg7 I"
c.n. roodman tn App'cton's .,o.rno,.
1he yesr l776 not only l1etened to the Declara-
tion of Independence, announcing tho BIRTH OF
. nation, but it also witnessed tho first unfold
ing OF the flag which has become tho symbol OF
I mighty power, the Eride of many million
souls. end which will float as long as the prin-
ciples of that Declaration dwell in the heafts OF
men. But the flag came before the Declaration
There must be some sturdy fighting done before
such bold words arc epoAon, and men cannot
fight without Dag. and 80
"oLp GLog7"
Was born on the I'd OF January. l77c, just ono
hundred years ago.
Tho idea OF "union flag" Us it IVES
called, had long been familiar TO the Ameri-
eau co!nniets. The flags in use throuehout
tho Provinces before the Revolution we're chiefly
those OF England, and though there we're many
other devices, they were nearly always coupled
with some feature Of tho British colors. Tho old
English flag had been the red cross OF St. George
on a white tield, but in 1G0C King James l. COM
bincd with it the whito cross OF St Andrew on
b!ae field, because England and Scotland had
then become united in one Kingdom. In 17o7
the color of this flag was changed to crimson.
and the c.osses. which had before filed the whole
banner, were now confined TO the upper corner.
This ,sas the famous ~ meteor Tag OF England.
which took its present form in 1901, when the
CROSS OF St. Patrick was added to the other two.
he cross of St. George was the3banner which led
tie English advcnturers to their first conquest
in America, and doubtlessl5 waved over the
puritans when, on that bleak December day,
they knelt on the "stern md rock-bound coast,
at Plymouth. 1t Itrcminded them Of the old coun-
try which they still loved, and OF the many dear
ones whom they had loft behind
But the detestation OF ''Popary" Was so strong
and unconquezahle among the Puritihs that they
abhorred everything which reminded them OF it.
snd many were found who
D1sL1KED TIE CROSS II THE BANNER
because it had been given to England By rope.
This feeling gradually increased till, in 1854, AE.
Endicott tore out part OF the cross from the
Tag, then flying at Salem. This was thought
by some to mean treason.- but at tho trial it
appeared that Endcott WAS 1nored only by be-
lief that it doat10us to let the CROSS remain
Two months later the ministers OF Ipswich he.
in Boston, to see it it right to keep tho cross
iu the banner. They failed to sgree, and tho
subject was referred to the General Court
Meanwhile, the military officers ordered ali de-
signs to be lald aside. In December, 1G35, it
WIS ordered that all the colors should have tho
klrg's arms instead of the crosses, end this new
flag was raised over the fort IN Boston harbor.
Eu. this unsettled state Of affairs Ind made
much trouble in the fort. While the Colony was
without colors. the castle looked ike deserted
fortress, aud. after the new ensign was adopted.
Eaglish sailors complained that the people
we're t1aitors and rcbels-not fviug the Kings
FL Il 17-C ~,
English Government, the Co!ouists allowed
the regular standard to float over the cestle bu:
nowhere else in the province Dutch visitors to
Boston as late as 1850 noticed tina. the flags con-
tanned no CROSSES, while the rine tree was q
favori.e device. The red Cross OF St. George.
however. gradually worked Its way bacx into
favor Until, in 1707, the union flag created by
james l., in 1906, was ordered by Parliament for
general use in all the Colonies.
These hlch-handed dealings with the aa@ tell
rs low ea1ly the American Coloals.s began to
THAT srrn1- OF INDEPENDENCE
which finally made them separate nation. As
the exciting times drew near, the growing
spirit waa again manifested i'll the same way.
1he ten years preceding tie outbreak OF the
Revolution saw an abundant variety of devices
nno nlottocs on the flags, all speaking Of the
feelings which were moving tho popular heart
1'be formed bands. called Sons Of Liberty; and
liberty poles were raised throughout the Col
oaies. Many Of tho f1Rgs showed the old loya1-
ty wliie demanding the.r rights, md bore such
mottoes us To His Iost Gracious Majesty
George ILL.,, Mr.. Pitt. aud Liberty" ''George
lex and tho Llberties Of Ameica-" Othe1s:
however. were bolde., bearing only - Liberty,
or Liberty and Prosperity" or Liberty and
Cuiou" In January. ITS, the Bleda which
Tags: everywhere vague desire for liberty
nlled mems hearts, and spoke from the folds OF
their banners.
During the first months OF the var
EACH STATE lad ITS OWN flag.
The banner OF Connecticut contained the arms
of the State and the motto, in golden letters.
<nsl tronstuM susfinet-!" God, who transported
Us hither, will support us" The motto Of Massa-
chusotts was An Appeal to Heaven" HeF
Tag was white bearing the motto and green
blue with white crescent made by order OF Col.
Moult1ie. It was the heE which, three years
later called forth the hezoism Of Sergt- Jasper.
During the bombatdmentof Fort Sullivan by tho
British feet, under Sir Peter Parker, the cres-
cent tag Was shot away, and fell outside the fort.
kergt. Jasper sprang over the parapet. walked
the whole length Of tie fort in the midst OF a
terrible storm OF ehot and shell. recovered tho
it again On the tauparts. At the battle Of
Lexington the Americans probably carried no
dag aud it is doubtful ii they had any 1T Bunker
Hill. soa,e poetry of that time speaks Of the
troops carried red flag beasing tho worda
..Cone il you dare-' But the accounts Of the
battle, published at the time, do not mention
any American flag, and old pictures OF tho COIL
I.ct do not show any ..
In the fall Of 1775 Congress appointed COM
m,steo to create a navy, but nothing seems to
have been done nbouz furnishing the new-made
navy with suitable ensign. The Captains ac-
cordingly followed their own devices, sailing.
probatly, under their State flags One fayorite
device was rattlesnase lifting its head and
shaking its rnttlcs, With the motto. q Don't tread
On me- Some dass added mailed hand clnch-