The Press., 1891-05-14
Flag Day.

We are assembled here to-day for an object most commendable and praise worthy, and withal patriotic; an object that should meet every where with the most earnest approval; an object that touches the heart of every lover of this republic. To-day we unfurl from this building o,fr nations banner, that grand old flag, the red, white and blue! We spread to the breeze the glorious stars and stripea that they may occupy in our vision the place of honor, love and respect The flag of our sanionl What fitting or nament to any publieshaiilaing The sym bol of freedom, whIsA as fioated over this great republic Ao ohe hundred and fifteen years aeating trfunn nphantly through all the dangers that threatened it during the nations change from thirteen states to forty four, from mere handful of peo- pie to sixty-three millions. :.a...s>s r, E
 The most pleasant sight in our broad land to-day is our dear old flag. From the roughened waves of the Atlantic to the broad and placid Pacific, from the Canadian line to where the beautiful Gulf reflects the midday sun, from Allegheny's s crested mounts to the gray summits of the Rockies, everywhere floats the starry flag of the free. .- Let us give here short history of the American flag: Washington took con- mand of the army in July, 1775, at Cam bridge. There he unfurled 8 new flag, bearing thirteen stripes, alternately red and white, bearing also in blue union at the top the red and white crosses of the English ensign. Other flags were used in 1775 and '76, but it was not until 1777 that our present flag vas adopted. In that year congress passed the resolution "That the flag of the United States be thirteen stripes, alternately red and white that the union be thirteen stars in 8 blue field to represent 8 new constellation. ' The stars were arranged in 8 circle, sym bolizing the perpetuity of the union, the stripes showing the number of states, their arrangement denoting the depend ence of the states on the union and their equality with each other. In 1794 con- gress voted that the flag should be made of fifteen stripes and that the union con- tain fifteen stars. This flag was carried through the war of 1872. In 1918 con- gress voted return to the original thir- teen stripes, and that the union should display twenty stars. It was also voted that there should be added new star for every new state. Thus we have ever before us the original as well as the pres ent number of states, while the flag records in the briefest manner possible the his- tory of our nations growth.
 During these many years the American flag, beautiful in color and designs, sig. nificant in it's emblems and sublime in the principles it represents, has been the in. spiration of the noblest heroism and sac. rifice that man has ever made for the good of his fellow men. When our flag was first unrolled it was the symbol of those truths and purposes that brought together the colonial American congress. It re- mains the symbol of those truths and purposes. It means what our fathers meant in the Revolutionary war it means what the declaration of independence meant it means what the constitution oi our people meant when they organized fol liberty, justice and happiness. Begin. hing with the colonies and coming dowr to our time it has always carried this SUI. preme idea-right of liberty in man. Ev. l cry color, every thread means liberty every star, every stripe means liberty Not lawlessness, not license, but organ. ized institutional liberty-lberty through law, and laws for liberty.
 May our flag be always what it is-an object of our deepest love and honor. And why? It is the flag that floats over the republic for which the immortal Wash ington fought and. struggled for seven long and bitter years 1t Is the flag that flew proudly from the mast of the Ches- apeake in that memorable battle, when Lawrence, it's noble commander, dying, but thinking not of himself, uttered the famous words, Don't give up the ship;" it is the flag for which Warren yielded up his life; it is the flag that hoated over the boys in blue in the civil war, ever in- citing to deeds of bravery and yalor, ever cheering them in their darkest hours.
 What was it that made our noble sol diers prefer starvation and death, in rebel prison pens, to the enjoyment of life and freedom at the price of taking arms under rebel leaders? Nothing but love for their country and their flag. It is the flag that speaks to us of Bunker Hill and of York town, of Antietam and Gettysburg, the flag for which men went from home and loved ones to die on the field of battle surrounded by the horrors and cruelties of war. When we think of all these things is it any wonder that we love our old flag Every man whose heart beats to the feel ings of patriotism and liberty is stirred to enthusiasm at the sight of our beautiful stars and stripes.
 One hundred and fifteen eventful years have passed since that band of patriots assembled in independence hall and fear lessly issued the immortal declaration which made us one among the powers of the earth. The flag thrown to the breeze in 1777 has withstood the battle and the storm, and now it waves triumphantly over great nation. Based upon free in stitutions, free thought and free speech, as long as they are preserved, our union stands upon an imperishable rock founda- tion that only hardens with the test of years.
 Along the stripes of our flag we can trace the triumphant march of over con- tury, and from its stars we see the light of liberty still shining upon a great peo- pie.
 Then wave on thou peerless, matchless banner Wave OCT the cottage and the palace, over the army and the navy, over the land and sea, over the living and the dead! Wave evermore!
 a
 REPORTS from Glastonbury, East Ber- lin and West Hartford all agree that the prospects of peach crop in Connecticut