The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1893-06-07
OLD GLORY.

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80
OLD GLORY.
The 18th Inst, the 118th Anniversary |
of the Adoption OF the National Flag |
The Meaning of the Stars and stripes
The Event VIII be Celebrated In
Several States.
It is fact that Ia forgotten by many
that the 14th IL tho 10th anniversary
OF the adoption Of the stars and stripes
as the National emblem. On June Ia.
l1777, the Congress- OF the thirteen
original States, sitting In old indie
pendence Hall. Philadelphia, adopted
the first American ensign. which with
In slight change In the arrangement OF
the stars ID identical with our present
National banner. Previous to this
each State had Its own flag. and the
for all. This was hastened by the fact
that early In June. TIT. rumors were
circulated OF an Invasion from Canada
10y an immense army under Burgoyne
and OF q movement by Lord Howe
hgainst Philadelphia. At this time a
com mittee was appointed to consider
the subject, OF which that stern old
patriot, John Adams, was the master
ispirit A number OF sessions were
held, during which the flags Of the
different States were carefully scruti.
nized. and on June IA a report was
made. which recommended
That the flag Of the thirteen United
States be thirteen stripes, alte,n ITO
red and white; that the union be tnir-
teen stars, white, in blue field, repre-
eanfiuD n nav pnnNtpltatiOnV
This report was accepted unRni-
lmously and without discussion. A
sample flag was made at once OF silk
and was displayed In Congress-. The
blue union was made square, reaching
Ito the eighth stripe. Its thirteen stars
Iwere arranged Us the circumference OF
q circle. Records OF the session OF the
Flag Committee are wanting, and con-
lsequently some points about the de-
tails OF cur national ensign are mat
tiers open to question, though most
were explained by subsequent state
lments. 1t is interesting to study the
liiag in detail and to learn the known
Ior the urmised reasons for each de-
tail.
Why the stripes were chosen as the
; main symbols Of the new flag is a
problem for which nuIhber of solu-
tions have been offered. One explana-
iItion is the fact that stripes (and stars
also) are prominent features OF the
-coat-of-arms OF the Washington
aIfamily. but those who understand the
flspirlt of rs believe that family coat
Itof-arms had little influence with stern
old John Adams and the Continental
a Congress.
1t is more probable that stripes
were selected as dual compliment to
New York and the Dutch Republic.
I THE New York soldiers in the CONT
elnental Army were fighting under an
ensign consisting oil three broad hor-
lizontal stripes, similar In position,
|slze, and color to the stripes OF the
>. lflag OF the most heroic and conspicu-
y Gus republic OF modern times prior
Ito 1865, or the United Provinces Of the
elNetherlands, ordinarily known n the
gl'Dutch Republic" Most OF the early
e lsettlers OF New York were Dutch,
, hence the copying of the Dutch flag.
The choice OF stripes was acompli-
a ment to republican principles and a
graceful tribute to the large New
York force IN the army, contingent
8 then discouraged by the long occupa-
u ton of New York city by Lord Howe
Gland by the coming Invasion Of Gener-
r jail Burgoyne.
, Iof the thirteen original states and the
: 'lcoptrast OF colors white with either
:, blue or red. were necessary for the
colors OF the stripes. and red was pre-.
's,,ferred TO blue as 1t was more distinct
q lat distance, Fer this reason red was
chosen as the color OF the top stripe
land consequently the lowest.
al Seven lines are red and six are white
y THE first and thirteenth stripes, boti
10 red, represent New Hampshire ant
r Georgia. Georgia's stripe, however, II
longer than New Hamp
ID shite's, as 1t runs tho full length o
The flag, while New Hampshlre's Begin
a. lat tho outer border OF the union.
10 ltls said that when blue was assigned
!. los the color Of the union. and 1t wal
II Required TO have thirteen symbolic
y fignres in the blue. stars were selectet
d as the most appropriate to appear in !
II blue field. The blue was allegoricaii.
a said to represent the night OF aiiiictiol
d then shrouding the nation. relieved b,
40 thirteen stars OF hopo. In the frs
4, flag the stars we're arranged as the cir
~ oumference OF circle. to typify tn
y endless duration of the new nation
'p The union was made square AM
ii was brought down TO the eight
is stripe that its blue might sho,
against the contrasting white OF tina
~ stripe.
i Though the national flag was ADOPT
i, led In June, formal announcement an
= Illying Of 1t was postponed until Ser
a. TENDER 8. The first public use wa
Ia made by bold Paul Jones. who ran
~ 10 to the masthead Of his staunc
ID brig, the Ranger, at Portsmouth, an
ID put to sea at once to prove himself
~ terror to English merchant shipping.
NJ AS said before, from the commenc
ment OF the conflict OF freedom agains
~ monarchy, the patriots had Tough
" under multiplicity of llegs. Nearl
st. every colony had from one to fou
or five sets of symbolisms. Som
Virginia regiments carried ilags Wit
Ind ian characters, The palmetto az
mn peared on the Carolina banner. fe,
ne bodies OF Southern troops carried
~ blue field with white crescent
zee with or without a beaver. flew aboy
ne New Workers.. The Connecticut me
lined up under the folds OF an ensig
nd showing three grape vines and til
he colonys motto "Qui transtnlit su,
10 tinct."
~ For time some Massaehuseti
~, forces displayed white flag narke
no with green pine tree and the il
al ecription: AN Appeal to Heaven
're Commodore Esek Hopkins, putting
ng sea carly In February, 17T6. with IL
ar first Revolutionary fleet. threw out
en-. tine winds of the mid-Atiantic ilarin
yellow banner marked with a cole
rattiesnake. Later he used one
alternate red and white strip,
with the red and white crosses OF 5
George and st. Andrew charged on
blue Canton or square In the uppl
and inner corner. =z==zzz=
IL seems singular that tile first tin
the flag was iioated on land. after /
adoption on June Ia. 1t met with d
feat, and there were many who pr
lnounced 1t an Ill omen. The occasio
AZ was when Lord Howe marched 9
a Philadelphia and captured that cit
ii lit, however, remained the recognize
a ensign OF the Republic, until May
III llT95, when the number of stars an
THAT OF stripes were each increased O
that date to fifteen. Senator Bradle.
Z 1of tho new State of Vermont, hayin
brought about this change. The tw
additional stripes were emblematic