The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1889-03-17
THE STARS AND STRIPES.
Changes that Have Been Made In Our Ma
tional Flag-What It Signifies.
New York Mail and Express

Changes that Have Been Made In Our Ma
tional Flag-What 1t Signifies.
New York Mail and Express
1t is thirteen years since there have been
any alterations in the United States flag:
The admission of Colorado in 1876 increased
the number of stars to thirty EIGHT. The
addition OF four stars for the new states
will not interfere with the symmetry of the
flag. Had the original intention of Con-
gress (of adding star and stripe for every
new State) been carried out. our flag would
now be a curious combination.
When the cOlOnists first came to America
they brought the flag of Great Britain.
This was formed of a union of the three
Patrick. and marked the union of England,
Scotland and Ireland.
When the colonies began to rebel against
the pressure of British laws, they con-
structed plain flag without bars OF crosses
and placed upon it rattlesnake cut into
thirteen pieces, representing the thirteen
colonies. with the motto in large capitals,
Unite or Die" But after the thirteen col
onies became more united and determined
to resist British tyranny. they placed a
well-fOrmed rattlesnake on the flag, with
the new motto, Don't tread on me-" Ben
jamin Franklin. on being asked the mean
ing of that emblem, wrote as follows:
In inquiry and from study. / learned
that the ancients considered the serpent an
emblem of wisdom, and, in some attitudes,
of endless duration. Also that countries
are often represented by animals peculiar
to that country. The rattlesnake is found
ceedingly bright and without eyelids-
emblem of vigilance. She never begins
an attack and she never surrenders-
emblem of magnanimity and courage: She
never wounds even her enemies till she
generously 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 fOrmida-
BILE. Her poison is the necessary means for
the digestion of her food, but certain de-
struction to her enemies - showing the
power of American resources. Her thirteen
rattles. the only part which increases in
number, and yet SO united that they cam
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 thirteen to-
gether is sufficient to startle the boldest
man alive. She is beautiful in youth which
lncreaseth with her age. Her tongue Is
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 proportions
were perfect when properly made, the first
stripes of white. The blue field for the
stars is the square of the width of seven
stripes. On June IA, 1777. the Continental
Congress resolved that the flag of the
United States be thirteen stripes, alternate
red and white, and that the Union be thir-
teen white stars on a blue field, represent
ing a new constellation" The stars of the
flag represent the idea taken from the con-
stellation Lyra. which signifies harmony.
banner of the Covenanters of Scotland,
likewise significant of the league and cove
nant of the united colonies against oppres-
sion. and incidentally involving vigilance,
perseverance and justice. The stars were
disposed in circle, symbolizing the perpe-
tuity of the Union, the circle being the
sign of eternity. Both the thirteen stripes
and the stars showed the number of the
united colonies, and denoted the subordi-
uation of the States to, and their depend
ence upon, the Union, as we'll as equality
among themselves. The whole was blend
ing of the previous banners, namely. the
red color, which in the days of Roman
glory was the signal of defiance, denoting
daring, and the white purity.
On Jan. Is, 1874. by an act of Congress,
the flag was altered to fifteen red and white
stripes and fifteen stars, there having been
two new States added to the Union, and the
flag thus altered and enlarged was the one
which was borne through all the contests
gress again changed the flag, by returning
to the original thirteen stripes, as adding a
new stripe for each additional State would
soon make the flag too unwieldy.
Now q new star is added to the flag on the
4th of July following the admission of a
new State into the Union. The perfect flag.
with its thirteen stripes of white and red,
and its blue field with its fifteen white
stars, was unfurled for the first time at the
battle of Saratoga, Oct. Z, 1777 by Benedict
Arnold. who bore the flag during that i'm
portant engagement. After his desertion
of the American army he carried his uni
form and the same flag to England. where
he died in poverty and distress in the year
1901.