The Portland daily press., 1889-12-31

"The Norwegian banners fl0ut the sky and
| fan our people cold" The sacred oriflame
suggests the civilzing influences for which
| the world is indebted to the genius Of Char
lemagne. What gigantic and long continued
struggles for supremacy, involving the fate
| of all the world, are symbolized by the cross
and the crescent. The eagles OF Napoleon
soar through the smoke OF hundred battle
the successes of Cesar, his prototype, whose
Standard he adopted.
The 14th OF June, 1777, was the birthday
| Of the flag of the United States of America.
On that day the Continental Congress re-
| solved That the flag OF the thirteen United
States be thirteen stripes, alternate red and
white; that the union be thirteen stars,
white, In a blue field, representing a new
constellation" On that day there famed In
the forehead Of the morning sky Of liberty
the emblem OF new nation; a thing Of
beauty and of perfect gracefulness, the
Flower fag," as the orientals styled 1t when
first displayed in their seas, and yet denot-
ing little but the firm determination OF a
people who had shed their blnod in earnest
Of 1t, but destined to career OF power, glo-
ry and benefcence such as could not have
entered into the widest dreams of its au-
thors The admission of the States of Ken
lucky and Vermont caused the addition OF
two stars and two stripes to the flag Ia 1875,
so that from that date TO 1918 the flag was
composed Of fifteen stripes and as many
stars.
This was no substantial change because
the general effect OF the flag remained. In
1918 the 13 stripes were restored, and 1t was
provided that for each new State star
should be added to the constellation on the
4th of July succeeding its admission TO the
Union. So star after star has added its
blazon to the thick studded blue, that OF our
own State, the twenty third to rise among
the cleaning sisterhOod, and when on the
coming anniversary OF independence, the
breeZes of either ocean and the broad inter-
space display the banner beloved and hon
ored by 60.000,0O0 of people, and respected
the wide world over, AZ stars will shine to-
gether in the equal field.
Each star in its illustrious armament bears
glowing witness of the civic gl0ries Of the
flag. Every one Is eloquent with Its own
story of heroic strife with savage nature and
oftimes with savage men; of rude cabins 10
the lone wilderness, humble abodes, vet
shelterng kingly race, strong, self-rellant
men and sweet women, ,toiling with patience,
courage and fortitude to tame the wilderness
and the prairie, and bringing up their child
ren in he love Of country and the exercise
of all manly virtues; a story of w0ndrous de-
velopments from small Deginnings-of rising
towns and magic ctles-all preparing the
way, under the fostering protection OF the
flag. for the State erected to law and liberty.
Their united beams combine In the splendor
of the banner which represents the many
made one. The banner stands for a nation
which has OversDread a region once regard
ed by men not yet old, as wild aud remote as
Central Africa, to the farthest verge OF the
continent,
Where the haunted waves of Asia die
On the strand OF the worldwide sea-"
Keeping equal steps with amaterial growth
and prosperity which are the marvel of the
age, churches, schools and colleges have
multiplied, charitable and humane institu-
tions have been provided. and the tendency
everywhere Is toward the highest civilization
land the widest possible diffusion OF intel
ligence and happiness. The nation whose
life and strength proceed from faith in the
| people, Is peacefully cOnquering the world
| by the might Of it's great example. Within a
| few days, the last relic Of sovereign mon
archy has disappeared from the western
| world. In the old world the Republican
| form of government has powerful represen-
| tatives 10 France and Switzerland. In many
| other countries the powers OF the throne
l have been 50 circuulseri0ed and mOdlncd as
| TO leave IL but name ana the shadow OF its
| former grandeur, and the accepted indica-
| tlons are that the forces are at work which
| will cause that outgrown institution, soon
| or late, to give place to governments "of
| the people, by the people and for the peo-
| pie"
The flag, though born and nurtured amid
| the terrors OF battle, Is not menace OF war.
| 1t is the flag OF peace and goodwill. Still
| the stern necessity which has been forced
| fence, has made it war worn veteran and
encircled it with the brightest halo of militia
| ry glory. What awe and reverence attach to
| its folds when we think 1t Is the flag that
| flew over Stark and his men at Bennington (;
| at Saratoga where Burgoyne surrendered his
| proud host to the despised provinclals; at
| Monmouth and Stony Point; at Camden and
Eutaw, and many another gallant field be-
| sides, down to that great day at Yorktown
that marked the final victory. Of the patriot
/ Hoxu nd n ia hv 10 thOuOht
that the eyes of Washington have rested up
| on it with pride and affection as the symbol
| of the union was the prime object Of his so-
| licitude
! and Lundy's lane and New Orleans, and the
| cherished memories Of Winfield Scott and
| Andrew jackson who bore it to victory. In
| the only aggressive war to which It has led
| her s0ns-a war concerning the justice OF
| which there was a divided sentiment-the
| flag acquired new lustre through the valor
| OF her followers.
The high-sounding names of the victories
| of the Mexican war-M0nterey, Palo Alto,
| Buena Vista, MOlino del Rey, Resaca de la
Palma, Chapultepec, Cerro Gordo-names
which in their resonance seem to hint OF the
rattle Of musketry and the clash of sabres,
| recall the distant fields on which the Stars
| and Stripes were upheld in honor and ad-
vanced by persistent val0r until they floated
| In triumph over the Halls of the Monte
Il
| annals Of the flag befell in the years which
are now historic to the greater number Of
| the living, and, to those who have lived
| through them, years OF an incommunlcable
| grandeur and tenderness OF memory. Words
lack living force and intensity to describe
the great wave of indignation and patriotic
| ard0r that rolled over the land when the flag
was insulted at Sumter. Grief, rage and a
| sense of humiliation fused the North into
one brotherhood, fergetful Of all petty diff
1 In tha hur fno dacfra nd dofar
| minacion to avenge the insult to the flag and
vindicate its rights and majesty. 1t seems
/ as If the peo pie had Just awakened TO a con-
sciousness Of the depth and warmth Of the
| loyal, loving sentiment within their hearts
for the symbol of their nationality. Their
| devotion sought every form OF expression.
| As If to console 1t by an exuberance OF honor
| for the slight and wounds that had been In
| flicted upon 1t, the flag was thrown out from
| spire and staff and h0usetop, borne by child.
| rem in professions. hailed with shouts and
tears at public assemblages, worn as an or
nameDt, and stamped In all the styles that
/ patriotic ingenuity could devise on the
| paper and envelopes that bore messages
| from friend to friend enkindllng and con-
| firming patriotic fires and resolves. When
| on the 14th of July, 1865, Gen. Anderson
hoisted over the tattlements OF Sumter, with
/ all ceremony and sOlemnity, the Self-same
flag which four years before had there en-
| countered the first outbreak OF rebel hate,
/ LHb dcb WAS SlBuluCdut VI ttic SOulplOto WIZ
dication of the national ensign accomplished
by contest 50 terrible as TO startle the
| world. Sacred aud precious forever more
should that symbol be held to whose cause
three hundred thousand lives have been
freely given.
1t would be disrogarding trophies among
the proudest and most soul stirring that en-
rich our ensign to overlook its achievements
on the ocean. The history OF our navy Is Sc
replete with incidents OF dashing and reck,
less courage, adventurous undertakings, and
victories over great odds as to make it OF
thrilling and romantic interest. How II
| quickens the blood to read of the exploits OF
John Paul Jones, who was the first to carry
the national cOlOrs at the masthead Of an
American ship of war of Bainbridge. Preble,
Hall, Stuart and Decatur. I'VE have met
the enemy and they are ours" was the
message that Perry sent from Lake Erie.
Don't give up the ship" cried Lawrence as
he was borne away to die. In what wealth
of glory streamed the battered ensign" Of
"0ld Ironsides," "rhe Eagle Of the Sea !;
our own shores have reverberated the roar OF
| gallant aud blOudy engagement, ana AT me
/ ciOSp of which Lup stars AMI Stripes tleW over