The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1896-06-11

ut the time said: "Ou the highest pinnacle
of the frozen summit of Orizaba waves the
Star-Spangled Banner! So you may tell Mr..
Polk and his Cabinet, and all Congress as
sembled, that they may pass what laws they
please, make treaties and the Mexic1ns issue
pronuneiamentoeS, but still will the AMeri-
can fias wave over their country; for who
will go up to pull it down."
A touching incident concerning the flag is
related by the Italians. In May, 1s49, when
the italian tri-colored banner
Red for the patriots blood
Green for the martyrs crown.
White for the dew aud the serrie.
When the morning Of God comes down."
in that city, the American Consul was the
only foreign diplomat invited to be present.
In the course of the ceremonies the COM
mander Of the troop called:
Attention! Honor to the flag of the
United Statesof Americal" The multitude
shouted long and loud: Long live our sis
ter Republiei" Then the people Of all
classes, soldiers and civilians, who could get
to him, embraced the Consul and kissed the
American fag. pressing it to their hearts,
while many with moistened eyes reached
their hands through the crowd merely to
touch it, exclaiming: "Viva il Console
Viva gil Site Unite! Viva Ia gran Repub-
lieaIn
The American flag, though il floated above
japanese waters as early as 1899 was not
welcomed to Japan until in 1858 when
Commodore M. G.. Perry landed at Uraga,
on the Bay of Jeddo. In March of 1854 was
celebrated the treaty OF Yokohama, which
opened Japan to the world after closed bar
bors for nearly 200 years. The flag then
unfurled held 81 stars, aud is stored in the
Naval Academy in Annapolis.
In 1854 DIR. Kane planted the flag on the
land nearest to the North Pole then diseoy-
cred, the first flag that ever waved over
that solitude" This flag was the one that
was planted in the Antarctic region first, and
later had circumnavigated the globe On the
Columbia. In 1861 DIR. Hayes, of the Arc
tic expedition of 1860, which sailed from
Boston, planted the American flag yet fur
ther north than ever before. This flag, too,
has history. On the 4th of March, 1861,
DR.. Hayes, then in the hitherto unexplOred
regions of the north, hosted this flag in
honor OF the Inauguration of President Lin
coin, although no news had reached them of
Lincoln's election, and they did not know it
surely until Aug. Ia of 1861, when they
were returning. Dr. Hayes simply had
faith that Lincoln would be elected. The
flag was made for the purpose, and had only
1s stars, because there was not enough ma
terial to make more When they learned
five months later that Lincoln had been
elected and inaugurated they learned also
that their flag had anticipated history lit
tie and that only 15 States were at that time
left in the Union.
The Associated Press gave the following
narrative of the raising of the American
flag over her new possessions. The formal
transfer and delivery of Russian America to
the United States Government took place
on the 5th of November, 1867, Capt. Festro-
hof acting on behalf of the Russian Govern
ment and Mal.-Gen. Rousseau acting on be-
half of the United States. At 3 o'clock
p. IN. q battalion of United States troops,
under command of Maj. Charles o. Wood,
of the 9th inf, was drawn up in line in
front of the Governors residence, where tue
transfer took place. By $3.50 large con-
course of people had assembled, comprising
Americans, Russians of all classes, Creoles,
and Indians, all eager to witness the cere-
monies