The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-09-11
DEVELOPMENT OFF OUR FLAG.

DEVELOPMENT OF OUR FLAG.
It's Many Changes from the Time of Colonial
Days to the Present.
- When the children Of Israel were divided
into sections for theirlonG journey into Canaan.
Moses ordered that every man Of the chill
dren OF Israel shall pitch by his own stand
ard and with the ensign OF their fathers
house." which emphasizes the fact that all
tribes and nations have been compelled to
adopt some symbol by which they may be
known. The flag of every nation represents q
growth In the life Of that nation. The de-
velopment Of the Stars and Stripes stands as
the maturity Of certain new ideas and firm
principles which were deeply rooted in the
brave hearts Of the early inhabitants OF this
country.
In 1920 the Mayfower sailed with the red
cross of st. George floating.from her masts.
but even then some OF the most sturdy Of the
Puritans objected to this use of the cross. and
it was the subject Of numerous debates in the
colony. religion and politics getting into quite
q contention over the matter. 1t was finally
| settled by a compromise, however, and agreed
that the kings colors' might float over the
fort In Boston harbor, but nowhere else.
This continued to be the practice until 1907.
when what was termed the union flag OF
James I. was designated by Parliament as the
flag to be used throughout the British pos
sessions. Although the American colonists
adopted this union flag. representing the
united crosses OF st. George and st. Andrew.
| to show the union OF England and Scotland.
there was at the same time a spirit Of indie
pendence manifested in using the flag. Free
quent additions would be made to it. rs some
times a tree. usually a pine tree. again other
devices. A green tree was used as early as
L 1870 In Maaunnhtuntta 90 nm aYnI1at, nj chat
colony.
In the early records of the island OF Manhat-
tan we find mention Of u flag from Holland
being used In 1850. but the sturdy Dutchmen
did not take kindly to it. and it was only for a
few years that the flag Of their native country
or their own colonial device foated over
their forts and dwellings. for in 1864 the red
cross Of the dragon knight claimed English
supremacy in this stronghold of the New
When the colonies OF Plymouth and Connec-
United Colonies. q New England. the King
the Kings Standard This league led the
way for a stronger combination, of forces and
e The ts@ cioss nag of s Eas de so9H nfG ID osS c sSPslsti a1d Of 4
New World: This league had a Ions. career,
was the origin OF the, famous Sons Of Lib
erty," whose flag trees and poles. with their
s@Ptee' as 81 "L LiiP6sr1tH; and snot Union." ' YlSa apf tn
Heaven" and the now famous rattlesnake
1ers, of the spirit Of resistance which finally
Developed In the struggle for independence
In 1875 the, Council of Massachusetts
adopted regulations for its merchant marine
and designated their flag as a white ground
ing the motto Appeal to Heaven p but the
%faY3rl'e flag in those days of unrest was one
tleSnake stretched diagonally across it bear
Ing, the words Don't tread on ne." This is
at T~rent9nand again at Princeton; but it's an
unsettled point under what colors the men at
p B9aSff tthfl The st9ndaEFd Of e New f EmE { fought
When the Continental Army was organized
IN nis Ja was So dina3' d tns union 1Ss IN fla nag Is Of e. the sr GGio-
their independence. the nag Of the mother
crosses of England and Scotland had a place in
The upper left hand corner. while the field con
doubt whether these, stripes were alternately
red and white or red white and blue. The
called, the Grand Union Flags as it repre-
sented the united, colonies; it Is also known as
the the C { 6ttT ePtalni flag. Not until nearly 4yz 3 y en5
Congress place the stars in the corner in place
OF the crosses. The resolution concerning this
"tResolred. That the flag of the thirteen
United States be thirteen stripes, alternate red
and white; that the union be thirteen stars in
q blue field. representing u new constellation"
Many theories are advanced as to why the
come from the naval flag Of the Dutch Repub.
lie, for there had always been a strong bond OF
sympathy between the seven PROVINCES OF
Of the stars is thought TO have been suggested
by Washington's coat OF arms, which was of
two horizontal stripes over which were three
stars. and on the top an eagle In eyplana-
lion OF the tiye-pointed star being used on the
flag and a six-pointed one being on our coin,
1t is said that the makers. of the early coins
used the English custom II heraldryt while
the designers OF our flag followed the shape OF
the European star.
When the new States came into the Union
the question arose as. to how they should be
represented on the national flag they were too
on the nag, and hence, after much debate in
both houses. In 1894 two more stripes and two
more stars were added for Vermont and Ken
and fifteen stars. which continued TO be- the
emhssm, OF the United States until 1918, or for
many laVrels on land and sea for the new re-
Tnblic. u was this ensign, that amazed the
people, of Europe by its boldness In attacking
mastheads Of our merchant marine and navy
1t won, new glories on sea and lake in famous
naval battles. as well as at New Orleans and
But as the new States came. to be admitted
1t was not possible or advisable that q new
stripe, and star should be added for each, yet
all felt their right TO representation on the
c9untry,s nag, and after many, weary months
q DEB debate teo II Congress- G esS;r on AZ April 4, 1919, il MAS
teen, original stripes. one for each Of the
original States, and as each new state, joined
constellation, Thus. after, many years. much
debate in Congress. and through several
changes. the nag OF the United states Of Amer
red and white horizontal stripes. with q blue
field In the upper left,hand corner. containing
In one Of his speeohes Charles Sumner said
as he stood pointing to an American flag:
There e q piece q bunting lifted Into the