The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-04-13
A NATIONAL HYMN.
II Is Not shing 10 he Made to Order
or by Rule.

To the Editor Of the Indianapolis Journal:
In some OF the press dispatches concerning
the doings OF the recent meet Of the Daugh-
tiers OF the American Revolution 1t was said
this august body had under consideration
the petitioning OF Congress to make the
siar-spangled Banner our national hymn
This contemplated action seemed most sur
prising on the part Of an organization sup
posedly the very flower OF our American
feminine life. For various reasons OF q
historic, philisophic and sentimental char
acter' national hymns are not made by
the enactments OF official bodies. and GER
tainly the daughter who originated this
novel proposition. had looked neither very
deeply into recent interesting events Of our
national history. into the general subject OF
national hymns nor indeed into the origin
OF the "Sar-spangled Banner" ITSELF The
latter is an old French song long known
IN England as "Anacreon in Heaven" and
in America as Adam and Liberty" 1t is
also entirely unsuitable for a truly national
hymn. the words being almost entirely de-
scriptive. the rhyme involved and the air
out or the range of the ordinary voice as II is
an octave and a half, and edicts OF Congress
go for nothing in matters of this kind. One
OF the most interesting episodes In our his
tory was the endeavor on the part OF certain
upon the outbreak or the civil war. to have
a national hymn served ND 10 order. The
following call and conditions which were
published. may be of interest:
In obedience to the request OF many
citizens. who have observed the tendency
which stirs the heart Of the Nation. the
gentlemen whose names are undersigned
have consented to act as committee TO
award prize OF 500 for a national hymn.
set TO music (either original or selected).
upon the following conditions:
First-The hymn is 10 be purely patriotic.
adapted to the whole country-not war
song, or only appropriate TO the present
moment
''Second-It must consist of not less than
sixteen lines, and is not to exceed forty ex-
elusive of a chorus or burden, which Is
essential.
"Third-It should be Of the simplest form
to be retained by the popular memory, and
the melody and harmony such as may be
readily sung by ordinary voices.
to the awarding Of the prize, the form OF
the manuscript, ETC., and the final or
eleventh. condition stated. "the committee
Will return no manuscripts"
The result exceeded their widest imagin-
ings. Twelve hundred manuscripts were
sent In and five times was the contents OF
But none OF these, although of various de-
grees OF suitability and excellence, allied the
BILL. and the 500 was returned TO the
not only having no national music. but no
national hymn. England. to be sure, has
no national music, at least ~ a distinctive
character. but. her national hymn Is one OF
the two great ones OF the world. Some
persons have affected to find the American
rational melcdies-the folk-songs-in those OF
the negro. but, said one distinguished au-
thority, as well designate the war whoop OF
the Indian as such. Absurd as II may be
considered by certain self-styled critics.
The Arkansas Traveller Is the nearest an
proach to a folk-song we have.
OF popular and patriotic airs we have q
number-"Hail Columbia" for instance
which can never be q favorite national
song, the words and the music being pre-
tentious and commonplace. The air to
which II was written was a march COM
posed by q German bandmaster on the oc-
casion OF President Washington's visit TO q
New York theater. Yankee Doodle" Is an
old English air and essentially comic; The
Battle Hmyn OF the Republic is grand and
inspiring, but has never been adopted as a
national hymn by the great mass OF the
people; America" to the air OF ''God Save
the Queen" Is more universally used and
regarded as q national hymn than any OF
our patriotic songs. Mr.. George William
Curtis said: ANY true patriotic national
hymn fits every emotion OF the national
heart. 1t Is the national heartbeat set to
music" And the "Star-spangled Banner
Is not the national heartbeat. The great
American national hymn. like the great
American novel. Is still to be evolved. Tha
source from which 1t comes must be im-
bued with this great saying. The POPULAR
taste is sympathetic, not artistic z.
Richmond. Ind. ADril IL