Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1894-06-14
REVIVING PATR RIOTISM.
Two Organizations Have Or
namented Clubhouses.
HONOR OF OLD aLoRY's ADOPTION


Impor tant Annlvsrsary of the Adoption
BY Congress OF tho Stars and Stripes
TO BE Generally Observed This Even
ine-Brownaon Library and Bayard
Legion ciubhouses Covered with Flags
Fireworks Tonight.
Two patriotic organizations to day are
the Bayard Legion Democratic Club and
the Brownson Library Association. which
are celebrating. with elaborate ceremony,
flag day" In various parts of the city.
also, "Old Glory" floats from houSetops
or across the streets indicating the
patriotism of those resident.
At the Bayard Legion the exterior and
interior OF the new clubhouse are be-
decked IN profuslon with big flags, little
hags, old flags and new fags-b but all Of
them American flags At Woodward's
Hotel adjoining, is unfurled the big
forty-fcur star flag, the FIRST Of this
modern design 70 be hoated In Delaware
Tonight w. y Woodward. proprietor
OF the hotel. and a committee of the
Bayard Legion will superintend pyro-
teehnic display beginning at s 3O There
will be Roman candles rockets, flower
pots and red fire touched of. !"
Brownson Iabrary's Celebration.
The Brownson Library Association will
celebrate the event Tonight by a grand
Illumination OF its hall and the grounds
surrounding at Fourth and Jackson
streets. Patriotic selections will be
rendered by band and orchestra.
The associations headquarters we're
elaborately and tastefully decorated
with hags and bunting this morning in
preparation for to nights denomination.
The stars and stripes Adopted.
The need Of a continental hag was
| first reeognized when Washington as
sumed command OF the army under the
commission OF the Congress, aud il was
Congressional committee that agreed
with him upon the grand union" stand
n, fret raised at Cambridge Ia January.
/ l7l6 which very fitly typihed the
attitude OF the colonies st that time.
10 retained the Xmas colors, the Union
Jack, for the nolonists we're then claim
ing their rights as EngliRhmen, but the
| field was Of thirteen stripes, to symbol
ize the thirteen united colonies.
This simple and obvious device OF this
thirteen stripes seems to have been very
rapidly accepted. The Union Jack was
soon dropped. but there was a succession
OF various striped standards, red and
white blue and white or red and blue.
and bearing various devices, sometimes
lupon the field and sometime
In the union II was out Of
these individual experiments that
was gradually developed the flag
finally adopted by Congress, on June IA.
l11I7 Ia which the thirteen stripes AL.
ternate red and white. were retained as
the field, and the new constellation" OF
thirteen stars was substituted on the
blue union for the red and white crosses
OF st. George and st. Andrew The
sovereignty had been transferred from
the King OF England and Scotland TO
the union of thirteen free states.
At this Baysrd Legion this afternoon
one OF the clubmen said 1.-THE hag
which is only an outward symbol, is
valuable In proportion to the value Of
the thing sYmbollzed, and the devotion
with which IL is maintained
n In the old days, when the flags use on
land was for the most part confued TO
the buildings and grounds belonging to
the government Of the United States. it
represented distinctly the national SOW
oreignty. Il flew at the masthead of
the ships, which sailed the high seas
under it's protection, and In time of
political excitement it was spread from
the top Of the ''liberty pole" as an
embodiment OF the spirit Of freedom and
independence.
THE flag represents primarily the two
essential principles Of constitutional
liberty and national Independence II
is sacred symbol, that stands for in
tegrity of our historic institutions, and
those only who know its history and
appreciate its meaning can accord to it
the reverence that is It's due.