The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1894-11-08
THE RELIEF CORPS.
Gleanings from National Headquar-
terS---Notes from Departments.
THE FLAG SALUTE.

A Broadly American Movement to Teach
Patriotism and Unite Sections, Natiouali-
ties and Religions.
PORTRAIT OF COL. BALCH-THE FLAG CRU
SADIE
From many sources come inquiries as TO the
intent of the flag salute, and the movement
to teach patriotism in the public schools.
woman who is a Quaker writes that she favors
the movement provided, it is not of a military
character.
Another member of the National W. c. T. o.,
favors the movement, provided it does not en-
brace military drill. Still another inquiries
if it is a movement to exclude foreign children
from the public schools, and If 1t would stir Up
rel gious antagonisms.
1t is proper to say that none of the many
inqurers have been readers of The NATIONAL
TRIBUNE, though all, save one, are members OF
the Woman's Relief Corps.
Fist then, the flag salute, as advocated by
the GA and W.R.C, is not military salute,
as this great movement proclaims peace not
war; it would assmilate our foreign popula-
ton, not fight it. 1t is no new sentimental
fad, that means nothing but show. 1t is the
elevation of the flag emblem of free self
government 1t has been practically tested for
seven or eight years in the free kindergartens
of New York City, where its success III making
natonalties assem- bed in those schools has led
to its adoption elsewhere.
Second the movement is broadly American;
1t would unite, not drive asunder, the several
sections nationalities, and religions of our
great common country. As Col. Balch. the
originator. who died last May with the harness
on, expressed it:
"a citizen, therefore, may be of any color,
may be born in any country, may be a Chris
tian, Hebrew, a Mahometan, Confuciaii, an
In ideI; SO long AS he obeys the laws, no matter
what his color, his nationality or his religion,
he is entitled to all the rights that citizenship
coufers. Every tie boy or girl, born
in this country. or if born in any other country,
whose parents arc naturaized. is a little Amer-
can cikizen who is learning every day how to.
be "A big citizen. There are more than II GOO. 600
OF such little citizens between the ages of three
and II IN the United States"
Third. with the flag salute n code of rules is
given, to be punctua at school, to come with
clean faces. hands and clothes; to be orderly
and keen everything in its place; to be atten-
tive, gOod-tempered cheerful. courageous; to
tell the truth. They are taught their duties
10 suserlors, To be proud oil their homes, their
schools. their country. They are taught what
this country does for them and what they must
do in return and that love to country is only
next to love to God.
And once a year the ballot-box is placed in
the school and the children vote whether they
will continue the flag salute. A system of cleo
tion returns, complete. tells the story OF the
childreu's love for the Gag. The great reward
the children have in nind is that each hopes
that some time he or she mark of good
behapor, may hold the flag, while the children
salute.
The flag salute wherever inaugurated has
been the means of great good in school govern
Gent. lt meets want in the school routine
aud children who salute the flag every morning
awake for all day.
The words of the salute are:
We give our heads and orr hearts to God and
our country! One country! One language!
One fagl
Fourth the flag sante and com pilation OF
the patriotic primer was not accidental. or the
ontgrowth OF theory, mere sentiment The
late Col. George 7. Balch, Auditor of the
Schools Of New York City, while on tour of
inspection among the schools, become
vi-ced OF the necessity of amaigamatiDg the
hordes OF young foreigners growing up without
any knowledge OF the laws by which we are
governed. Through his influence a flag was
placed in every free kindergarten, and when
the ftg is ssluted every morning the children
are taught that it is the symbol Of the Nation;
that IL stands ior home. and school, ard country.
In the patriotic primer they tanghc that
the United States is democracy; that the peo-
pie govern: that before the law all arc equal.
4 chart of the Declaration of Independence is
placed in every schooi-TOom aud fully explained
TO the children.
The elements of constitutional government
are Taught, with brief history OF the Com
stitution. of the Revolutionary war; TO found
Union, and Of the civil war TO preserve it. They
define citizenship the natural zation of foreign
ers. the use of the ballot; they are taught that
seii-gGveTnment and that obedience to aui hor-
ity iu children leads to good and useful citizen
ship; that they must respect the rights aud
opinions Of Others, no matter what their color,
rae. religion. or earthquakes that they all are
part OF the great American Republic, which
stands for the qaai rights of all before the law.
col. GEORGE r. BALcH.
Just before his Sudden death last Spring Col.
George +. Baich promised his photograph TO
illustrate an article he was preparing for THE
NATIONAL TRIBUNE, taken for this purpose