Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1888-07-06
The Stars and Stripes.

j. Thomas Turner, In washington star.
So much has been said and writer
concerning the origin of the Amer
lean flag, our cherished banner O
the Stars and Stripes" permit mi
to furnish the following data, which
are authentic and historically true
as to the history OF the United States
flag.
The idea of standards originated
with the Egyptians at an early age
The Crusaders added the cross t(
their banners. The union of the
three crosses of st. George, st. An
drew and st. Patrick marks, first, the
union of Scotland and England into
the kingdom of Great Britain, and
then this kingdom with Ireland.
This is termed the great union flag
of Great Britain, and was brought by
the colonists to America.
When the thirteen colonies began
to feel the iron pressure of British
tyranny and despotic rule, they placed
under their banners Il rattlesnake,
cut in thirteen pieces, represent
ing the thirteen original colonies,
with the motto, join or die" When
these colonies became more united in
their purposes of resistance to British
enslavement, they placed upon their
flag well-formed rattlesnake, in the
attitude of about to strike, with the
motto, "Don't tread OH me-"
DIR. Franklin. seeing this emblem on
one of the drums of that day, writes
as follows: "On inquiry, and from
study, l learned that the ancients con-
sidered the serpent an embelm of wis.,
dom, and, in some attitudes, of endless
duration. Also, that countries are
often represented by animals peculiar
to that country. The rattlesnake is
found nowhere but in America. Her
eye is exceedingly bright and without
eyelids-emblems of vigilance. She
never begins an attack and she never
surrenders-emblem of magnanimity
and courage. She never wounds even
her enemies, till she generously gives
them warning not to tread on her
which is emblematical of the spirit of
the people who inhabit her country.
She is apparently weak and defene-
less, but her weapons are never
theless formidable. Her poison is
the necessary means for the digestion
OF her food, but certain destruction
to her enemies, shoWlns 4Aa- mower of
American resources. Her thirteen
rattles, the only part which increases
in number, are distinct from each
other, and yet SO united that they
cannot be disconnected without break
ing them to pieces, showing the i'm
possibility of an American republic
without y union of states" How
marvelously prophetic.
"A single rattle will give no sound
alone, but the ringing of the thirteen
together is sufficient to startle the
boldest man alive. She is beautiful
in youth, which increaseth with her
age. Her tongue is forked, as the
and her abode is among
the impenetrable rocks"
The next form OF the United States
flag was the stars and stripes. Its
proportions are perfect when properly
made, the first and last stripe being
red, with alternate stripes of white.
The blue field for the stars is the
square of the width of seven stripes.
On the 14th of June, .1777, the Con-
tinental Congress resolved, "That
the flag Of the United States be thir-
teen stripes, alternate red and white,
and that the union be thirteen white
stars on blue field, representing q
new constellation" Previous to this,
however, our national banner was the
union flag, combining the crosses of
St. George and st. Andrew. The
stars and stripes were unfurled for
the first time ut the battle Of Sara
toga on the occasion of the surrender
of General Burgoyne.
The stars of the flag represent the
idea taken from the constellation
Lyra, which signifies harmony. The
blue of the field was taken from the
banner Of the Covenanters of Scot
land, likewise significant of the league
and covenant of the United Colonies
against oppression, and incidentally
involving vigilance, perseverance and
justice. The stars were disposed in a
circle, symbolizing the perpetuality oi
the Union, the circle being the sign ol
eternity. Both the thirteen stripes
and the stars showed the number ol
the United Colonies, and denoted the
subordination OF the States to, and
their dependence upon the Union, al
well as equality among themselves
The whole was u blending of the pre-
vious banners, namely. the red flag o.
the army and the white flag Of the
navy. The red color, which in the
days of Roman glory was the signal o.
defiance, denoted daring and the white
purity.
On the 18th of January, 1874, by
an act of Congress, the flag was altered
to fifteen red and white stripes ant
fifteen stars. On the 4th of April
1918, Congress again altered the flal
by returning to the thirteen origina'
stripes and fifteen stars, as the adding
Of a new stripe for each additiona
State would make the flag too un
wieldly. The new star is added to tn,
flag on the 4uh of July following thu
admission of each State into tn,
Union. l conclude with the followin,
apostrophe to the beloved old flag:
Light Of our ornament, guide of our Nation,
Pride of our children and h0n0red afar:
Let the wide beams of thy full constellation
Scatter each cloud that would darken q star