Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-10-24

AMERICAN FLAG.

field Times the editor, John P.
Hume, one of the many worthy
young men connected with the
Wisconsin press, expresses the
opinion that to display the Ameri-
can flag in our public schools is
detrimental rather than beneficial.
He argues that the frequent
appearance of the stars and stripes
may operate to create indifference
and contempt" for the Nations
beautiful emblem, and speaks of
the law which provides for display
ing the flag in our public schools
as "sickly, sentimental Legislation"
and that the bill passed because
members of the legislature feared
to vote against it. The man who
sees too much of the American
flag to please his taste lacks some
thing essential to make frSt-class
American citizen. This is broad
and comprehensive, yet investigate
and see if it is not based on a
foundation labeled truth. Has
anyone heard, or will anyone ever
hear, that the erection of the
Washington monument brings
into contempt the name of Wash
ington among any class of worthy
American citizens? Will the
erection of a Grant monument,
monument to Sheridan, Meade,
Thomas or any Of the great war
heroes, bring their memory into
contempt because the people are
given an opportunity to witness
such monuments? Is the Lords
Prayer brought into contempt
because it is in the mouths of
untold millions, daily? AS we'll
might our young friend say that
this great American Republic is
brought into contempt because the
people who reside here are afford
ed an opportunity every day of
their lives, to see more or less of
the Republic, more or less of its
institutions, and a greater or less
of its people. Does anyone ever
weary Of seeing a procession in
which the American flag is
prominently displayed? Would
not almost any procession that
might appear be criticised if it did
not carry the American flag?
Who will not criticise and severe
ly denounce professions for bear
ing in their ranks the flag of
anarchy Or the socialists colors?
What true American ever saw the
stars and stripes without a feeling
of pride in his country and love
for that flag? One of the best
pieces of legislation enacted by
the law makers during the past
ten years was that which provided
for displaying before the eyes of
the rising generation of our state
the flag of their country-some-
thing that is always beautiful to
look upon and something that no
one, who has a spark of love for
his country, will ever cease to
regard as the most beautiful of
emblems of the most successful
Republic the world has seen.
Our friend Hume certainly makes
mistake when he speaks
contemptuously of the law which
provides for doing that which
cannot possibly result otherwise
than in making better citizens of
the boys and girls who attend our
public schools. We believe it
would do no harm to display on
every pulpit, noe only in Wiscon-
sin, but in every state and territory
in the Union, the stars and stripes;
further, that it would do no harm
for the men who occupy those
pulpits to frequently refer to that
flag and the country of which it
is the emblem. Further, we
believe that in every American
home the stars aud the stripes
should not only be displayed, but
talked about. What has made
our Republic SO strong, SO power
full and kept from the minds of
nearly all Of its people any
thought in opposition to our form
of government, but the constant
endeavors OF the best men and