The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1897-06-10
A HATIoHHL CELEBRATION.
Schools a Factor in It's Observance-Flf
Dissertation Condemned.

Schools Factor in It's Flag
Dissertation Condemned.
Memorial Day is sacred and beautiful be-
canse it is of the dead heroes that we
think and honor with our flowers and tears
Flag Day belongs TO the living, and is OF
the living. 1t should he festive occa-
sion. The schools should all observe it.
Each child should be given flag and sent to
school, wearing red, white. and blue ribbons.
There should BIO exercises, with recitatiohs.
songs, and talk by some ex.soldier on the
history Of the flag and what it means. There
should be the flag salute, aud the singing OF
Tho Star-Spanglod Banner" The morning
session of the school should be devoted to flag
exercises, aud in the afternoon the children
should be dismissed and allowed to take part
in public demonstrations.
! would favor vast picnic, with every per-
son wearing the National colors. An orator
should deliver an address, aud large chorus
sing patriotic songs. would not object to any
games or sports, provided everyone kept in
mind the intent of the day. Athletic contests
might be held and flags awarded to the victors.
Anything that would create and interest and
make people patriotic would be good thing
for Flag Day.-Thomss Matson.
The Connecticut Society Of the Sons Of the
Revolution have issued report bearing upon
legislation in respect to tho desecration of the
National 1ag in fuYtherance OF which bills
have been pending in the United States Con-
gress at different times for the last II years.
Two bills are now before Congress bearing upon
the subject. a.
The chief objection urged to legislation to
prevent the flag from being nsed in any way
except as a National emblem, is that the Patent
Office has. up to the present time granted %
L. 81.
au essential feature. Since July, 1896. there
have been fled in the same office six designs,
in which the flag is part.
Another objection is, that the great political
parties of the couiltr @0Hld insist upon using
the flag fer campaign purposes with the names
of candidates attached
In 1895 the Califdrhfa Legislature passed a
bill providing that no flag or Insignia except
National or State flags, should Ire carried by
any associations or paradss Of military ch8rac-
ter while they Were ,dniling or bearing arms
This was to preysntsthe nse of foreign flags
by foreign nati0nnlitjss carrying their own
banners in their ppBcesSions.
One OF the bills intsa3uced in Congress pro-
yiies that it shall ibsuniawful for any person
to display or have an1 his possession any flag Of
the United States. drosDy representation of it,
upon which are airy woeds. figures, or designs !;
except that the NaCinsai or State regiments
put their names and Numbers upon the flag.
This bill also provides against the use OF the
flag for nd yertising rgrposes. and directs that
AL nsing ihe flag ASH trademark should dis.
continue its use. .fysgs Pt''
The conclusion reached by the Connecticut
Sons of tho Reve]u ton is in accord with other
societies which hayeaaken action.
Among other things they weuld wish measures
instituted to secure the display Of flags in the
Southern States that is now very generally seen
in tho North. This is with the hope that with
the fall and free flying Of the flag everywhere
there may disappear every vestige of sectional
feeling. and that we may have one country. one
people, one nationality under one fag.-L. A..
Turner.
Here is an incident that may be of interest.
WAS walking home from Memorial Day ex-
ercises when saw gronp of boys surrounding
another. They seemed mad and excited. l
stopped and aaksd the tr0nble. A bright boy
Of ii stepped forward and told me in frank,
manly way.
1t seems that the boys had besn playing in
the street, trying to shoot English sparrows
With sling. In front of . house, suspended
between two trees was a large. handsome flag.
One Of the boys had, with his sling, tried to
shoot holes in the stars OH the flag. In a mo-
ment all the boys had gone after him. One
had taken away his sling, and four or five had
tried to knock him down, and only stopped be-
cause the boy pleaded that he did not mean
any harm.
After ] had heard tho story I told than
about tho dag, AID what criminal thing it
Was to try to destroy it. think so i'm.
pressed the boy that he will never forget the
lesson. The boy in disgrace did not go to
school. and had never learned to love and Aoher
the flag. The other boys went to the public
schools. and had learned what tue flag aud
patriotism meant-Eben Morlaud.
The idea of Flag Dag Is to teach people to re-
spect and love the flag. Every house should
be decorated. There should be II big process
sion in which all the eric and military socie-
ties clubs, and school children should march,
each person carrying flag. and the bands
playing patriotic airs. In grove there should
be addresses, songs, and flag waving.-Mary
Scott.
Why should not Flag Day he revival Of pat
rioiism coupled wi tn csire to extend ts bless
inys to every nation struggling for freedom
Hsw mary of you able bodied young men. when
you read Of how Lafayette sympathized with
the UniIed States in the Revolution, will not
say TINT re. ia turn. shonld extend cur help 10
suffering Cuba? You all know how our fore.
fathers welcomed the brave Lafayette. You
all arree II Was his duty 10 do what he did. is
it not yenr duty to do, whst You can for the
poor Cubans? How gladly would l do some
thing but am only q boy OF 10 years. Harry
Green, Bemus Mich.
have long regarded the flag - representa-.
tive of all we are and a1a We hope to be as a
| ,copie. l have taken pride ia placing = The
Banner OF Beauty and Giory" over the y. NJ.
| G. A. Building Of my adopted town, Llama. o..
and have no oec7tsionyto regret having plnced
| 10 in several DISTRICT schools. where it had
| hitherto been unseen aud nnmepiioned. Nor
do 1 regret having made a special and coptin-
uots effort tn develop n proper appreciation
and respect for the Gag Of The free hearts
hope and home"
When the rexl significance OF sur National
colors shall have hecoae better understood, ahe
National emblem, WINCH represents lhe great.
est and grandcst Nation in the world, will be
used to advance no private business OF partisan
ideas, bnt 10 draw the people AS sas asder its
shining folds in the spirit OF sweet charity aud
! wide nationality.
would urge the, Loyal Home Workers ia
use their best efforts TO preserve the dignity Oi
! the National dag. 1t is q sacred duty we owe
to onr heroes, living and dead. whose vaiol
gave life and fame to this Repnbiic.--J. Z
| Carney.
The attention Of our renders is calieA to tn,
advertisement Ut J. II. Day a. Co, CiDeinnati