Daily independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 188?-1915, 1889-12-31
STARS AND srRIpEs.


interfere with tho symmetry Of the nag,
eaYs the New York Mail and Express.
HAd tho original intention Of Congress
(of adding star and stripe for every
new State) been carried out, our nag
would now be . curious combination.
Whom the colonists first came to
America they brought the flag of Great
Britain. This was formed of . union
OF three crosses of st. George, st. An
drew and st. Patrick, and marked tho
union Of England, Scotland and Ire
land. .s.. 49,
When the colonies began to rebel
against the pressure Of British laws
they constructed . plain nag without
the bars or crosses and placed upon It Q
rattlesnake cut into thirteen pieces,
representing the thirteen colonies, with
tho motto in large capitals: "Unite or
Die" But after the thirteen colonies
became moro united and determined to
resist British tyranny, they placed .
well-tormed rattlesnake on the flag,
with the new motto: Don't tread on
me-" Benjamin Franklin, ON being
asked the meaning Of that emblem,
wrote ss follows: ION inquiry and
from study I learned that the ancients
considered the serpent an emblem OF
wisdom, and, In some attitudes, Of end
less 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 - emblem of vigilance. She
never begins an attack, and she
never surrenders - emblem Of mag
~ an1
wounds even her enemies till she gem
erously gives them warning not to tread
on her-which Is emblematical Of the
spirit of the people who inhabit her
country. She appears apparently weak
and defenseless, but her weapons are
nevertheless formidable. Her poison is
tho necessary means for the digestion
of her food, but certain destruction to
her enemies-showing the power Of
American resources. Her thirteen
rattles, the only part which increases in
number, are distinct from each other,
and yet SO united that they can not be
disconnected without breaking them to
pieces, showing the impossibility of an
american republic without union Of
States. A single rattle will give no
sound alone, but the ringing Of the thir-
teen together is sufficient to startle the
boldest man alive. She Is beautiful in
youth, which :ncreaseth with her age.
Her tongue - forked as the lightning,
and her abode Is among the impenetrable
rocks"
| The next form OF the United States
flag was the stars and stripes. The 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
tho width OF seven stripes. On June IA,
1777, the Continental Congress- resolved
! shat the flag OF the United States be
thirteen stripes, alternate red and white,
and that the union be thirteen white
stars on blue field, representing a new
constellation" The stars of the flag
represent the idea taken from the con.
steliation Lyra, which signifies har,
z. mony. The blue Of the field was taken
from the banner Of the Covenanters OF
Scotland, likewise significant Of the
league and covenant of the united
colonies against oppression and inoi-
dentally involving vigilance, perseyer.
ance ard Justice. The stars were dis
posed in g circle, symbolizsng the per-
/; petuity of the Union, the circle being
the sign of eternity. Both the thirteen
stripes and the stars showed the number
of tho united colonies, and denoted the
subordination of the States to, and their
dependence upon, the Union as we'll AZ
| equally among themselves. The whole
was q blending Of the previous banners
namely, the red color, which in the days
y of Roman glory was the signal of def
snce, denoting daring, and the white
purity.
Now new star IL added TO the Gag OF
the Fourth OF July following the admis
sion Of . new State into the Union. tn,
perfect flag, with It's thirteen stripes o
white and red, snd its blue field, witt
Its fifteen white stars, was unfurled TO
the frat time at the battle Of Sarat0ga
October 2, 1777, by Benedict Arnold, WIN
bore the flag during that important On
gagement. After his desertion Of Ia
American army no carried his uniforn
and the same flag TO England, whore h
. died in poverty and distress in the yea