The Irish standard., 1896-06-13

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breeze, and other states have been
formed. and the starry crown has had
many jewel added, until now forty-ti five
stars shine in that field of blue, and the
ties that bound the colonies with the
stripes Of red and white, yet bind all in
one, the many in one"
F The enthusiasm for the flag really dates
to that day In 1914 when. from. an. En-
glish warship, Francis Barton key
watched In the cleaning to see IF the
|Es.ssttars and ssttpes# still foated from Fort
|sMcIdenfy, which British cannon were
sHombarding Then came the strains Of
his patriotic love, and The Star Span
gled Banner" touched a pathetac. chord
in every American heart. ~. - 3. - =
What is our duty to the flag? We hear
much about it today, and it would seem
that one class of men and women had
received a special mission to defend It.,
to parade it and to preach it. in fact, to
wrap themselves up in 1t and allow no
one within its folds but those who ho.d
certificates from them. 1t may be we'll
for us to be on our guard against those
who bow. too lowly." 1t is not those who
talk flag who always are ready to defend
the flag whose defense means blood and
death.
We used again to be reminded of Sam
uel Adams Americanism, ''Man can be
trusted with his own" James Bryce
never said truer things than when he
said that ''the foundation of the repub-
lie was in confidence in the multitude, in
it's honesty and good sense, in the certain
ty of it's arriving at right conclusions"
This was only another way Of expressing
what IA braham Lincoln put so tersely:
'You can't fool all the people all the
time"
We are composite of all nations, and
as our states preserve their identity and
independence in state matters, and. yet
in national matters unite In one couhtrt =
so while our citizenship makes us all
one people, yet our religious beliefs stand
independent Of political control. No re-
ligion is tolerated here. ALI are here by
right Of the constitution, one as we'll as
the other, and all equally protected. The
flag floats over us all alike, and while as
Americans we differ In religious beliefs,
we should agree to disagree in friendl1-
ness and charity. The flag which stands
for individual liberty should never be
made cloak for religious hates.
There is too much to be done In this
great country to allow us to light again
the ur0S vi ISllSlOuS duu IdCC POI oSSu-
ton. Our nationalities have all proved
their loyalty to the flag. When men were
wanted to save the Union flag, 1t found
defenders in the Emrnets of old, who, in
other days of prescription, could not hope
for a charter such as the Emmets of to-
day possess. In their ranks were found
men Of the old Jackson Guards; who had
their charter taken from them by a Mas
sachusetts governor, because a race war
had been stirred by prototypes Of the
bigots of our own day. Be proud Of your
citizenship and our flag! Believe in.
the success Of the country! Trust, in-GoN
and in your fellowman. Be loya1Eto your
best instincts. loyal to your conscience,
loyal to the flag. Guard we'll the sacred
trust which contains your citizenship.
Be Americans, but Americans who be-:
lieve in giving to others what you de-
mand yourself. Remember that as the,
Roman was proud to be called. a Roman
citizen, you have greater reason to be-
proud of your American citizenship. The
Emmets were true to the flag; they were
loyal sons of the republic. Their names
are cherished household words. May
there always be Emmets ready to imi-
tate the brave deeds of their fathers and
make America live on, her starry banner
waving over united people.