The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-06-14
No. ! Madison Avenue.

New York CiIy. y. v. June 4. 1898
To the Editor: | have been instructed
| by the American Flag Association 10 ask
you 10 insert IN your valued periodical the
communication which | now make.
June IA has come 10 be largely cons.d-
cred by the patriotic citizens of this coun-
try as Flag day" because on that day
In lit, congress enacted: THAT the flag
OF the thirteen United States be thirteen
stripes. alternate red and white; that the
Union be thirteen stars, white in a blue
field. representing new constellation"
On April 4. 1878. il was enacted: THAT
from and after the 4th day of July next.
the flag of the United States De thirteen
horizontal stripes, alternate red and
white: that the tnion be twenty stars,
white in blue field. and that on tbs I'd
mission Of a new state into the Union,
one star be added to the Union OF the
flag; and that such addition take effect
on the 4th day OF July next succeeding
such admission" Since 1918 twenty-five
stars OF sovereign states have been added
TO the Union. Although on June Il. 1888.
because of the patriotism evinced by the
effort OF the United States government 10
suppress cruelty on the island Of Cuba
and extend liberty to its oppressed ,nhabl-
tan.s, more American flags VIII be float
Ing throughout the country than en- any
previous day in cur history. the number
ought 10 be largely added TO. because the
n the midst of the most expensive and Of
the most unseltsh struggle for otnels not
oi its race in which any nation ever en-
gagged. The flag now has A new and ex-
panded meaning. The Spanish-Ameriean
contest Of civilizations has brought the
new patriotism 20 the front. Before the
war for The preservation of The Union,
patriotism was based upon historic revo-
lutIonary memories and upon state pride.
Since the war patriotism based upon ma
tionai!iy has been slowly developing.
Already the existing crisis in the rela Ion
Of the republic 10 Spain has forced TO frui-
ton results of our civil war. SectiOnaiLSn is
ug plotted out, and the repre- semtatives
and citizens OF forty-fve severe GA st1tes
are contending with each other in their
eagerness TO plant the ensign of the re-
publtc where its ample folds shall protect
"a people struggling for liberty against the
iron heel OF an oppressor skilled In his
work as the result of three hundred and
Atty years Of practice. With William Nc
kinley In Washington aud Fitzhugh Lee
In Havana; with the commissioning n the
volunteer army by the president. ana sen
ate OF TIVE ma tor generals who fought
N our civ.l war on the union side, and
two who fought on the Confederate side:
with the command Of Commodore Dewey
from the decks az the Olympia . open
with al guns responded TO by the Boston
and the Baltimore. the Concord and the
Raleigh We have served notice upon the
family % nations thar, LOOK ng this way.
they must face an undivided nation, and
not confederation of states.
The renaissance OF self-rsspect is as
serging Itself and tire people are ventur-
ing 10 look up 90 God in co3ndent suppl.
cation FOR the blessing tina, he always he
slows upon the hearts and lives OF men
who dare to defend the oppressed, though
= may require the punishment Of the
oppressoT.
In an emergency never p-o2aes!ed cg
dreamed, a free peoples war for humanity
and the rights Of man. caused cn May l.
ls9S the starry ensign Of the republic with
al II means 10 float over fertile Islands on
the utter eide a. the go,e inhabited by
eight miii!aHn % oppressed. p.undcFca and
mis-l;}ed peorle Thus s+Idde3v the stars
and STRIPES took or ncw beauty for friend
y eyes ana nrw terror for the foes OF b5-
eviy
Tire S1n # heaven nov greets tan stars
81 tope in 3heFlys banner DURING every
boar CT every revolution az the round
earth. 4 blev from she strong right band
~ th'a nation &ssGeued 20 freak tat gr8s1
of cFlei 0prrese or n an izsaua last ~
car coast has frst oaraiyzee rae ra.ue or-
prs-SsT's hand. deer. vsa her ~ her rich
est colony ana liberated millions Of her
victims an the other side OF tae world KIN
ship in suffering ana In hope makes al. the
race ne.sn2ors.
We earnestly ex10Y, Our cltlzens "a see 10
IL tast ne starr ana Stripes with al they
mean s3al 1r June - tssN greet the rising
and sa!uie the settling N1n. from every
church ea5ACe. school and puh'fe building
ard from every private dwelling ha2-
ever hunals thrcaE aout the entire jan3
IN many - the pu3iic aad private arhaoIs
exercises wlN 10 conducted 81 eeiS5raft0t7
of rag dag. Ae solicit she extension 80
this waaieserTsa practice. and expree7 cir
gratitude 4. tae Ao9ef5t o-asn fcT zee "a
ture of gag American institutions ,has me
generation = F3ufn fasf wf3 .eas sha col
urnrs across the i3-a snie. ta@ a4w~g~r ef
ths twentieth century. wi- IL a genera
t5e2 Fc1oo'e Ell - patriotism - .asE-atiars
- .esTEioE &c aH grades
JAMES ~ KING
Pr Aw@rsea~ Tia~ A. -~lstiru
Tfe ets.eesz ~ gse 4 sserseBn gag ! s-e-
c.attar. are President Cel Datta r.
Prime. viee r.cx.3cEss. Gfa O. q FIog-
ard Gar Frederick u. Grant. ssnretar,