The weekly Thibodaux sentinel and journal of the 8th Senatorial District. [volume] (Thibodaux, Lna. [i.e. La.]) 1875-1898, 1891-07-11

81 az III i've minutes the bill wa:
signed, and he held in his hand tho
precious pen which had just written
approved: Benz. Harrison'-the per
gong as such pen do, to the historical
society of the newborn state.
The admission of Idaho changed the
nag a little more quickly than it was
ever changed before. The flag pre-
scrlbed in February only from july
to Aug: II, when it was superseded by
The "ldaho flag" as Dubois called it.
the presidents announcement to the
army and navy being as follows
The field or union of the national
flag Id use in the army and navy will.
on and after July 4, 1890, consist of
forty-three stars in six rows, the up
per row to have eight stars and the
lower five rows of seven stars each, in
a blue field.
THE WYOMING STAR.
Wyoming has had to wait nearly a
year for the recognition, having failed
to get in until after the Fourth of July,
but her turn has come at last, and on
Saturday, July 4, 1891, the flags of the
army and navy and those on the capi-
tol, the white house and the depart
ments, at least, will all contain Wyo-
mlng's star. Here are the terms of the
presidents latest order, as announced
to the army: The field or union of the
national flag in use in the army will,
Oh and after July 4, 1891, consist of
forty-four stars. in six rows, the apper
and lower rows to have eight stars and
tie second, third, fourth, and fifth
rows seven stars each. in blue field
1t will be observed that nothing is
said in any of these orders about the
stripes, their number being fixed at
thirteen by the law of 1918. with the
provlso that the top stripe and the
bottom stripes shall be red. | have
searched in vain through the mass of
matter about the American flag in the
libraries and archives of the war de-
partment and the pavy department
for any authoritative and authentic ac-
count of law, and why our flags is
made up Of the stars and the stripes.
The first legislation in congress in
in June, 1777, appears without ex-
planation. There should be national
flag of thirteen white stars in IL blue
field, and thirteen stripes, red and
white, alternately-and that is all
The debate, if any, cannot be found,
nor Is there any report or memoran-
DUN giving any reason for tie action
SO badly set forth.
We are not even able to say What
member proposed or what committee
recommended it. Rear Admiral Pre-
bic, i'll his interesting work on the flag.
with pardonable prejudice suggests
that tae design was prepared by the
marine committee. But he offers no
proof Of it-indeed, there is none to
De had.
The account which Mr.. Drake gives
Us. beginning. "When Freedom from
her mountain height unfulIed her
standard to the air." is just as good as
Admiral Pieb.e's. The suggestion of
stars for our flag was first made ap-
by another poet in the Mas
sachusetts Spy in 1774, while the first
Ise OF the stripes. seems to have been
n the flag presented to the City Troop
N 1775 by Captain Abraham Markoe,
when he was compelled, being Dan
sh subject, to withdraw from the COM
nand nnder the proclamation of Den
mark forbidding Danes to fight Great
Britain THIS flag was carried in pro-
'esslons until 1880, and after rnard ex-
libited at the Troops anniversary
timers. and is now carefully framed
It the Troops headquarters.
A III sorts af HAIRS yrara oarriaI hx- flo
1ontinentals-state flags, company
Tags, the rattlesnake ('Don't tread on
ne,' and even ''Unite OF die" in some |
nstances), the pine tree flag being us
ct by the naval commanders But the |
equation flag, SO far as there was
me, seems to have been one of rcd
md white stripes. with Il cross or two
# red and white in the "union.' Fin
lily the idea OF combining the stars
nd stripes was evolved but not before
many other designs had been suggested.
'"ne of them We're fantastical, en-
'odying combinations of thirteen-for
Xample. thirteen lions, or elephants,
T a chain ofthirteen links with II hand
olding each link. The rattlesnake
nd the pine tree We're pressed, but
Nth less encouragement than might
ave heon expected after the service
hey had rendered.
All sorts OF arrangements in stars
'ere proposed, the most picturesque
eing the poetical disposition of tlir-
zen stars in the order and relation OF
ae thirteen stars of the constellation
yra, signifying harmony. We may
ever know how congress came to take
le action which at last determined
lat our tiag shOuld be. 1t WAS not