The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1897-06-19
col. WOODMAN'S ADDRESS.
Delivered at the Wilmington High SchotI
on Flag Dey.

One OF the most pleasing features of tho
Ting Day observance at the Wilmington
hlgh School was the address delivered by
Coi. A. j. Woodnan, He said:
A lew years ago there was q grand re.
geha near London, Eng. 1t was honored
Oy the presence of Her Majesty. the Queen.
and her royal suite, soon one yacht came
sai,ing by like a bird upon the wing. {"
What yacht Is that. my Lord?" asked
AmeriGa'" rs that the firsts" "lt is,
Your Majesty" What yacht is secondP1
your Majesty, there Is no second,
America has distanced the entire feet"
tradition often tells us that "once upon
a tihe the trees Of the forest assembled
themselves together to choose o king.
IheFe was ono tree whose roots were firm
" imDedded In the soil oD mason and
DIXon's llne.' Its branches DER spread
our lana, from the rock bound coast of
the Atlantic TO the gentle slopes OF the
Pacific, from the gulf to far beyond the
lakes '-o
;, thousands of the down trodden of
Europe seek and obtain the shelter its
iuxrlant foliage affords, and partake of
lGS goluon fruit of peace and plently,"
lhat tree was selected as the ruler. What
Tree was that? 1t was the tree of ''Liberl
ty,n, and there is no second.
Inc llags OF all nations were waving In
ohe gentle breeze Among the thousands
gazing on the beautiful sight was an old
man, dressed In Continental blue and
Dun. BY his side stood youth. HGrand-
sire. said he, what beautiful flag is that
rest?" '-o
THAT, my child is the Star Spangled
banner. What do its stars and stripes
signify Its stripes, in part rcd signify
u !he blood of past conflicts in part white,
the nrm assurance Of present peace; its
stars, a galaxy of two score and four, of
equal magnitude, sCintillating with equal
lustre on Its azure field, fit symbol OF
future hope. May the old fug ever float
DER tho United States and remoin until
Iilne Is no more. Epluribus unum.n
NY young friends, you well know that
Ior seven long years our revolutionary
3lres followed that flag through sunshine
ma storm, victory and defeat with rev.
5renCa akin TO that of the children of
israel, who followed tho pillar of cloud
oy, day and the pillar Of fire by night"
Many nero fell, much precious blood
vas spilled upon the altar of freedom, un.
IL IL atlast tho voice of mercy succeeded to
ne clarion of battle and called the two
Countries from enmity to love-" and the
'ld nag waved in triumph over the "land
u tho free and the home of the bravo"
oung gentlemen, soon you will be the
ust odians OF our free institutions, soon
ne dear old flag will be placed in your
'ahds for safe keeping. Shield it from all
arm, protect it with your life blood IL
Never allow one "strpe to be obliter.
ted nor one star erased" For the star
pahgleu banner is the pride of every
lmerican heart, and it is honored and re.
pected all over tho civilized world There
no second. The trembling yet patri.
tic, Cubans are looking with longing
'os TO II to shield and protect them from
lrther Spanish cruelties. God grant that
ley may not look in vGln.
Flag of our free, united land
Float on, float on DER sea and strand
we greet thee seen away from home
n foreign lands when we roam.
with pride and satisfaction pure
a shield safeguard, strong, sure;
tiOat on, tloat on, no longer fear.
All hearts are with you far and near: .
hiont on, float on, from shore to shore,
Float mn 'nLI n EIDr,r F,,,.,...,