The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-08-09
"0LD GLORY'sD DIGNITY.

1ue movement 50 vigorously puSneu Dy
the Society of Colonial Wars in Illinois
against the use of the National flag for adj
vertising purposes is inspired by a wise
philosophy and is receiving the cordial
support OF the regular army and the Ma
tional Guard throughout the country.
The fight is led by Captain Philip Reade of
the United States army, Charles Kingsbury
Miller, chairman of the press committee of
the Illinois Society Sons of the American
Revolution, 544 North State street, Chi
cago, and Colonel Henry L. Turner of the
Illinois National Guard, so Dearborn street,
Chicago.
The investigations by these gentlemen
have disclosed the fact that the American
flag is being put to all sorts of absurd adj
vertising uses. some of which are directly
opposed to proper conception of patriot.
ism. They are extending their energies to
cover the whole country and are DESTROYS
of receiving information. Any readers of
THE CALL who have observed instances of
this misuse OF the flag might perform a
useful service by communicating with
these gentlemen.
The philosophy behind the movement
has a twofold aspect. One is the senti.
mental, the other the practical. The sem
timental aspect is simply the sublimated
form of the practical. For that matter no
sentiment is wholesome which lacks a
practical, which means to say useful,
foundation. We may, therefore, attack
the subject more directly by considering it
in an aspect unplumed and wingless. This
is simple enough.
Tlo4 90 81 dc g., Il ,ol, =,
intimately associated with all that lies be-
hind American independence and nation
atty. 1t means not only the birth of the
idea in this country that men are able to
govern themselves and that human beings
need not be born subjects or servitors, but
it is the pledge and symbol of individual
manhood, self-restraint, intelligence and
love of freedom. 1t is protest against
kings and against the confession of indi-
vidual weakness which the recognition of a
necessity for kings or other masters con-
yeys. These are eminently practical con-
siderations, for in them is involved the
whole question of individual response
bility.
The flag, therefore, should be used for
the idea which it represents. Those who
regard its employment otherwise will call
such use dissertation; those governed
by the basic conception will term tia "deg-
radiation" Both words have been used
lately with considerable warmth, and it is
well to understand that the difference be-
tween them is merely one of degree.
Clearly the flag was never intended for adj
vertising purposes. Its use in that way is
Enthusiastically perversion, and the per-
version of any idea which represents a
thing vital to the welfare. pride and happi-
ness of a people is unwise. 1t would be
just as wise for adherents of any religious
belief to advertise their business with the
EN- blems and symbols of their religion.
We are constrained to believe that gen.
orally the improper uses to which the flag
has been put Indicate inadvertence and
heedlessness, rather than any intention to
misuse or degrade Old Glory. It is hand
some flag, and however it is portrayed it
makes a beautiful picture. Any artist will
admit that. 1t has just such primitive
and snowy beauty as would naturally
attract those whose lack OF culture pre-
cludes their devising preutier thing. 1t
is conceivable, further, that some adver-
tisers, in employing it, may be moved by
purely patriotic sentiment, believing that
a flag which means so much cannot be
degraded by an individual, but only by
some great National shame, and that a
good deed is done by keeping it as much
as possible before the public eye. That
these are suffering under misconception
does not reduce their claims upon an in
telligent generosity.
But it is best in all ways that the flag
should not be permitted to stand for any
thing but the idea which it represents.
The only other concrete expressions of this
idea are history and the conduct of our
people. When the latter of these fails in
its exercise there will be time enough to
make mean show of the flag.