The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-02-14
A National Flower.
Phlladelnhia Iedrer.


A group OF enthusiastic admirers OF the
trailing srbutus. or m2ynower. met IN
this state & few years ago and resolved
that II should bs the national flower. and
sent notices of their action all over the
country. That did not make the trailing
arbutus the national flower. OF course
and that Il is not so considered IS known
BY the fact that there IS in this Office now
\ letter from member OF the C0lumhine
Association. OF Boston. making q plea
IN behalf Of the adoption Of the acQuiiegia
IL by chance this association should sue
coed IN having congress recognize fits
flower. or secure n majority OF the popu-
lar vote. & is not r. be supposed the sup
porters OF the trailing arbutus would dis
card their choice and welcome instead
with open arms a plant the name OF
which and the associations % which are
distinctly European and mixed with
neurological lore. Notwithstanding there
are a few species indigenous 70 this coun-
try.
\ few weeks ago q convention was held
80 Asaevile. ~. c. composed % dele
gates chosen by the governors % the dir
ferent States. 70 consider the question OF
a national flower, snd after 4 session az
three DAYS 10 properly came TO the de-
cision that IL was 'unwTse At this time
70 recommend any particular flower"
The convention however. Designated the
q
national flower:
That the plant should BE native "a and
grow wid over ths greater part % the
country: that Il should be easy % cult
walton in any garden; that Il should not
- a weed or In any way offensive or
harmful - the health: that Il should
bear what ia the popular sense may
Be called flower. and not BE merely
foliage plant Or ono chiefly valued for
=
national holidays. and should lend itself
well 20 coral decorations by variety az
co3oT ana dfstfoo tivsness OF form: that
the features characteristics o. Is form
should combine such simplicity and essn-
iteness tat when used couventionaily in
decorative design. the flower nav be
rsco Eutzed independently % its oolor: that
Y should - 81 1swer which has never
been used ~ any foreign people "a their
coral emh'eu. Snd l. should not Tsssrn-
be such a aower "a general form. ard
finally that II should = possible, possess
PATRIOTS associations plainly connecting
r. With the best fer which eur country
stands among tie nations o. the world. !"
That this Is rigid test FOR flower 20
pass through 81 must ADMIT. ana Il Is
pre.tv certain that II every Gre a. the
sr=@-iacation- Is 20 - adheret -, Il viii
- Impossible ever % sasure a national
garsi enle' -u1 Tais woul9 he unfortunate
for soval enhis.n which would D.. heart
Nv accepted nv ar the people ot TIA
country 80 ready % ~ desired As a
matter e. fact. tha cnly hcps % estah-
NshlaE such - enh's en- rests n = hraa 2
cred Spirits - The last clause C the quail
f0shons Etvea- W6~n q towsr Is found
whica can arouse Widespread ara genuine
patriotic tHlstasr1. o. haE bssso-ue asss-
ctase3 closely VITA soH1s great ard urf-
vc~sa,tv beloved man or woman = VII
become ths raticnal snS'*rl without ths
necessity - legislative action. exa&pt as
formal ratt6cafton % universal sertf-
usrt Unter sFch circumstances only
wa3 people re,@wats tsei~ personal s0ral
tsFogttes to seca.d p.A1& Il XII rot
matter. wh@a t1ss eValt harpaas whether
g II a plant uset3 te man or = waea. Il
VII become the natio~kl aswsr fezt tha
S&sTae. Il wss thss sentiment whleh made
fha tAist.s tha u4fieusl aows- - s~a4-
land ard IRE cornGoweF ths national
sower - tae 8sruaaa eupg-v. ara I,
must - g similar cAaja - circumstances
watch gives Is = naliona3 fever.