The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1877-06-16
The Stars and str;nss.


dredth anniversary of the adoption Of the
stars and stripes as the emblem of the
United States of America. Throughout
the east, and especially in New York,
Boston, Washington, and other large
cities, the day was celebrated by firing Of
cannon, public meetings. and general
display of the glorious flag of the free. "
In the west, however, only here and
there notice was taken of the day. In
this city in particular, only one flag was
visible-and that was from B. D. Buford
& Co.'S extensive pillow works. Many peo-
pie, however, may be excused for not run
ming up their flag on the plea that they
didn't think anything about it.
In speaking of this day, a condensed
history OF the stars and stripes may not be
considered out of order, especially as it is
rather interesting, 1t is as follows:
The American flag originated in reso-
luton of congress, June Is, 1877, That
the flag of the thirteen United States be
thirteen stripes. alternately red and white;
that the union be thirteen stars, white in a
| blue field, representing new constelIa-
| tion." The combination is thought to
have been derived from the arms of Cen
eral Washington, which contains three
stars in the upper portion, and three bars
running across the escutcheon; it this is
not correct, the coincidence is striking.
There, were, however, several flags used
before the striped flag. Thus, in March,
ITS, "a union flag with a red field" was
hoisted at New York upon tie liberty pole,
bearing the inscription, George Rex, and
the liberties of America, and upon the
reverse, mo Popery." On the 18th of
July, l778, General Putnam raised, al
Prospect Hill, flag bearing on one side
the Massachusetts motto, "Qut traRstUts
suStinet," on the other IAN appeal Il
Heaven" In October of the same yeal
the floating batteries at Boston had flag
with the latter motto, the field white will
pine tree upon it. This was the Massa
chusetts emblem. Another flag, used dur
ing ITS in some of the colonies, had upor
it rattlesnake coiled as if about to strike
with the motto Don't tread on me-" TIL
grand union flag of thirteen stripes wa
raised on the height near Boston, Januar
regulars in Boston did not understand it
and as the kings sreech had just bee
sent to the Americans. they thought tn
new flag was token of submission. TIL
British Annual Register Of 1776 says
They burnt the kings speech. an
changed their colofs from the plain re
ground, which they had hitherto used, to
flag with thirteen stripes, as a symbol {
the number and union of the colonies.
A letter from Boston about the same tins
published in the ''PenaSylUania Gazette,
for January, 1776, says: The gran
union flag was raised on the I'd in compl
D ment to the United Colonies" The ide
e of making each stripe for state wa
f adopted from the first, and this fact got
+ far to negative the superstition that tn
private arms of General Washingto
had anything to do with the subject. Th
}, pine tree, rattlesnake, and striped FL
|, were used Unfortunately until July, Ut
when the blue union with the stars WI
added to the stripes, and the flag esta
ished by law. Formerly new stripe VI
added for each new state admitted to Il
t, union, until the flag became too larg
!, when by act of congress the stripes we
= reduced to the old thirteen; and now
star is added to the union at the introdu
ton of each new state. The standard
IS the army is fixed at six feet six inches
four feet four inches; the number
n stripes is thirteen. viz: seven red and S
!. white It will be perceived that the fla
$. is just one half longer than it is broad, al
a that its proportions are perfect VIII
} properly carried out. The first stripe
" the top is red, the next white, and so do'
p. alternately. which makes the last re
I The blue field for the stars is the wild
n, and square of the first seven stripes, V
:: four red and three white These strip
J. extend from the side of the field to t
extremity of the flag. The next stripe
white, extending the entire length of it, al
directly under the field in strong a
pleasing relief, then follow the remaini
Sc stripes alternately. The number Of st;
es on the fed is now thirty eight.
at Whatever tends to keep the blood pr
~ surely tends to prolong life. DR.. Blu