The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1888-07-21
THE AMERICAN FLAG,

and not the banneret of political
party. From being originally the
symbol of q nation it has been ad.
vanced as the embodiment of the
free hope of mankind, and floats az
the vanguard of the human race
In no war has it ever known defeat
In no battle has it ever been trailed
in the dust or disgraced by the
hosts that followed it into strife
On land and sea it has Haunted
above the ancient colors of the
strongest land on earth except our
own. Men not born under it have
died under it and for it, and their
scared eyeballs were strained in
death to catch its glories, as if look
ing for the sky that arched above
their cradles, and from the stars
they have looked down upon that
which made martydom holiday
and its honor Immortal. It is this
flag that has conquested CONT
nent and pushed the frontiers of
the Republic to natural boundaries.
Once there it waves, not as threat
nor as an invitation to other ma
tons, but as evidence of the power
of free people, If any think our
coasts have no defense let proof be
tried by assault. The flag is their
defense, for behind it are the hearts
of oak that beat in the ribs of free
men who can step from the pursuits
of peace into the ranks of war ten
million strong, if need be, with
twenty million hands to fight and
twenty million unfettered feet to
make the earth tremble as they
march. They are people who have
never drawn the sword for pelf or
ambition. Ours are the only fight
ing men on earth who fight always
and only for an idea, for princi-
pie. The getting or the surrender
of territory, the victories of ambi-
ton, the wars of revenge, are for
others, not for US. We muster our
forces for liberty, the idea which
before our time got no further than
a song, and for forty centuries had
been hazy beatitude, which we
plucked from among human fam
cies and placed formost among hu-
man facts. To this liberty we gave
mankind title, and we wrote its
warranty in the Stars and Stripes.
Therefore, let none who boast the
name Of Americans harm the coun-
try by the pretense that this flag is
second in the affections of any of
the people whom it shelters.
In our civil war it was withstood
by men whose sires fought and died
for it, and when the mistaken strife
left it invincible, with it's record of
victory untarnished, it was to them
not the emblem of tyranny, bring
ing down to years of peace the
memory of oppressive conquest and
shameful subjugation. 1t was still
the flag of their fathers, and it's tri-
umph meant only that they were
to have under it a larger freedom
than before and an allegiance re-
paid by shelter that no force dare
assault, and by free institutions no
hand dare profane.
Let 40 man in the heat ce party
strife forget that this is his flag. Let
none use it as taunt nor cheaper
it. It's the ample garment of lib
erty, not the uniform of hot zeal
that mistakes party passion for
patriotism.
Those who love freedom love this
Hag. To an American gentleman
it is an object of affection and re-
spect, like his wife, and he would
no more degrade it to base use than
ne would hire her out as spectacle
Or stitch commercial advertisements
to her gown and gain income from
her use as a street sandwich.
The flag requires no lip-service.
1t has had for generations the heart
service of millions, and millions to
be will hail it as the inspiration of
lies morning and the comfort of
is evening twilight. This great flag
caves no room for other colors. If
here be those who, coming from
other lands, have brought livelier
md more enduring love for another
banner which leaves no heart-room
or our flag, let us respect their
idelity, but let them find that if
here is no room in their love for
his free flag there is no room under
t for them. 1t means our country,
'ur institutions, all that to which
We have dedicated our possessions
IN this continent. Our political
parties differ in their views of pol
cy, but the flag is for them all, and
hey are all for it. He who pre-
ends otherwise is not over-wise.
The Greeks refused to believe
hat there could be such crime as
for their faith in nature
1as strong. So let US refuse to be-
leve when men say that Americans
|ifter in generation for the flag