Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1888-05-03
The STARS AND STRIPES.


THE STARS AND STRIPES.
Facts Abo.t the 0rixia Of Our National
| Flag and Its Meaning.
So much has been said and written
concerning the origin Of the Ameri-
can flag. our cherished banner of the
.Stars and Stripes" permit me 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 to their
banners. The union of the three
crosses of St George. St Andrew and
St. Patrick marks. first, the union of
England and Scotland into the king
dom 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
upon their banners a rattlesnake. cut
in thirteen pieces. representing the
thirteen original colonies. with the
motto: "Join or die" When these
colonies became more united in their
purposes of resistance to British en-.
slavement. they placed upon their flag
a well-formed rattlesnake. in the atti-
tude of about to strike, with the motto:
''Don't tread on me-"
DR.. Franklin. seeing this emblem on
one of the drums of that day. writes
as follows: ''On inquiry. and from
study. learned that the ancients con-
sidered the serpent an emblem OF
wisdom. and, in some attitudes, OF
endless duration. Also. that coun.
tries are often represented by animals
peculiar to that country. The rattle
snake is found nowhere but in Amer
lea. Her eye is exceedingly bright
and without eyelids-emblem of vigil
ance. She never begins an attack,
and she never urrenders-emblem OF
magnanimity and courage She never
wounds even her enemies, till she gen.
erously gives them warning not tc
tread on her--which is mathematical
of the spirit of the people who in.
habit her country. She appears APP
parently weak and defenseless, but her
weapons are. nevertheless. formid.
able. Her poison is the necessary
means for the digestion of her food,
but certain destruction to her enemies,
showing the power of American re.
sources. Her thirteen rattles, the only
part of which increases in number,
are distinct from each other. and yet
SO united that they can not be discon-
nected without breaking them tc
pieces. showing the impossibility Of
an American republic without union
of States" How marvelously pro-
phetic.
"A single rattle will give no sound
alone, but the ringing of the thirteen
together is sufficient to star;le the bold
est man alive. She is beautiful in youth.
which increase,h with her age. Her
tongue is forked. as the lightning. and
her abode is among the impenetrablo
rocks"
The next form of the United States
flag was the stars and stripes. Its pro-
portions 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
nth of June, 1777, the Continental
Congress resolved: "That the flag OF
The United States be thirteen stripes,
alternate red and white, and that the
onion be thirteen white stars on blue
ield. representing IL new cens,ella-
:ion." Previous to this. however. our
National banner was the Union flag,
combining the crosses of st. George
md St. Andrew. The stars and stripes
we're unfnr ed for the first time ut the
battle of Saratoga on the occasion Of
che surrender OF General Burgoyne.
The stars of the flag represent the
.dea taken from the constellation Lyra,
which signifies harmony. The blue OF
The field was taken from the banner OF
The Coyenanters of Scotland, likewise
significant of the league and covenant
IF the United Colonies against OPP
preston. and incidentally involving
vigilance. perseverance and justice.
The stars were disposed in circle
symbolizing the perpetuity of the
Union. the circle being the sign OF
.ternity. Both the thirteen stripes
and the stars showed the number Of
che United Colonies. and denoted the
subordination of the States to, and
:heir dependence upon, the Union. as
well rs equality among themselves.
The whole was q blending of the
previous banners. namely. the red flag
Of the army and the white one of the
Aavy. The red color, which in the
days of Roman glory was the signal Of
-iefiance, denoted daring, and the white
purity.