Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1877-06-14
THE FLAG.

THE AMERICAN FLAG.
AL over the country to-day our ma
tional DAG is floating in the brsszs. II
is the Centennial anniversary Of the
adoption Of eolsrs. Just one hun
dred years ago to-day. while brave men
we're fighting in the isld to establish
our liberties. the Continental Congress
adopted a. the national emblem the Gag
~hich now represents Republicanism In
America to the world. At that time il
vss q weak and feeble community which
hoisisd the stars and stripes. They
we're poor and needy. and fighting
against tremendous odds. But they
raised the Dag with enthusiastic huzzas.
and marched under Its waving folds to
. glorious victory. To-day that star
spanslsd banner hoats in triumph over
forty millions Of frssmsn. Its stars
have been increased from thirteen to
thirty-sight. and II has become the en-
blem Of = nation which fears NO country
In the world. Wherever q human soul
IL found painting for the blessings Of
freedom that dag is respected. Kings
and princes DO IL honor. and to the poor
man Il Is the symbol Of salvation.
On this Centennial Of the adoption Of
the nations Gag. it is interesting to re-
view its history. The first action taken
was BY the Continental Congress on the
iith Of June. 1877. when the following
resolution was adopted
"R.so,rsd. That the flag Of the thir-
teen United States be thirteen stripes.
alternate red and white /; that the union
b thirteen stars. white. in 4 blue field.
representing n new constellation"
The rest OF the story is told in NO
Donald's Manual a. follows
This continued to DO tho national DAG.
the thirteen stripes and the thirteen stars
representing the thirteen States. until two
"new States" were admitted into the
Union I: Vermont on the eth OF March. 1871.
and kentucky on tho LIST Of June. l792.
when Congress passed an act. January Is.
1874. making sn alteration In the dag Of
the United States. which provided :" that
from and after the first day OF May. Ammo
Domini one thousand seven hundred and
n~inety-nys. the fiAg Of the United States
bs nfteen stripes. alternate red and white.
That the union 10 flftsen stars. white.
In Q blue deld."
No further action seems to have been
taken respecting the Dag until tho subject
was brought ~ the notice Of the House Of
Representatives at the second session ~
the Fourteenth Congress. On the 9th %
December. 1916. by Mr. Peter wenlover.
. Representative from the State of New
York. at whose instance . committee was
appointed who made . report. which. how
ever. WAS not acted upon. aud the subject
dropped with the close of tho session.
Al the next session II WAS renewed by
the sane gentleman. who again male .
report upon the subject. In which he said (:
The committee are fully persuaded that
the form selected Tor the American nag
Vas truly smblematical Of our origin and
existence =. an independent nation ; but
thsy believe. however. that an increase In
the number Of States in the Union since
the dag was altered by Law, sufficiently In
dicstss the propriety Of such . change In
the arrangement of the fiag u shall hest
accord with the reason that led TO Its
original adoption. and sufficiently to mark
important periods Of our national history.
Referring to the alteration made In the
dag by the act of January IL, 1924, no
says: The accession % new States since
that alteration. AMI tho certain prospect
that at no distant period the number 81
States will 10 considerably multiplied.
render ID, In tho opinion Of the committee.
highly in~eIpeiicnt To Increase the number
| Of stripes, as every ilAg must. In some
measure, be limited in size. That under
| the circumstances they are led 10 believe
no alteration could DO made more EN-.
| blsmatical Of our origin and present exist
encc than to relue. the stripes TO the
| original number oi thirtcen. 10 represent
| the number then c%ontsnding for and hap.
| PLY achieving their Independence. And to
Increase the stars to the number cure
| spending ~ the number of States now In
the Union. and hereafter to aid one star
to the dag whenever . new State shall he
admitted.
The Recommendations Of this report
we're adopted by Congress and embodied
In the following act. which WAS approved
April I. 1918:
An ACT 10 s.iaSii.k tie tsq Of hs f.isd
Suites.
Ia A snaetel by the Senate and House