The times., 1898-09-18
THE STARS AND STRIPES
How Our National Standard
Has Developed.
THE COLONIAL GOLORS
First Additions Made to the Britfsh
Flag fn the American Colonies
The Manhattan STANDARDIZED Rat
tlexnake Design - f.The Grand
Union Fiago-And I'm 1777 the STAR
SpangIed Banner.

The history OF our flag has been told in
many ways, but some years ago the facts
we're all established. There have been
hags always. A writer in the New York
Sun says:
when the children Of Israa were divid-
cd into sections for their journey into
OF the children OF Israel shall pitch by
his own standard and with the ensign Of
his 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 a growth in the Hfe OF
that nation The development or 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 1870 the Mayfower sailed with tho
red cross of st. George floating from their
masts. but even then some of the most
sturdy OF the Puritans objected TO this
use OF the cross, and 1t was the subject
of numerous debates In the colony, reIlg-
ion and politics getting into quite a con-
tention over the matter. IL was finally
settled by compromise. however. and
agreed that the kings coiors.' might fiOas
over the fort in Boston harbor, but no.
where else. This continued to be the
practice until 1707, when what was termed
the union flag Of James I was designated
by Parliament as the flag to be used
throughout the British possessions. AL
though the American cobonists 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 spirit OF in
dependence manifested In using the flag.
Frequent additions would be made TO 1t.
as sometimes a tree usually a pine tree.
again other devices. A green tree was
used as early as 1852 In Massachusetts a5
an emblem OF that colony.
In the early records of the island OF
Manhattan we find mention Of a flag from
Holland being used in 1650. but the sturdy
Dutchmen did not take kindly to 1t, and
it was only for few years that the flag
of their native country or their own colo
nial device floated over their forts and
dwellings, for In 1864 the red cross OF the
dragon knight claimed English suprema-
cy in this stronghold Of the New World
when the colonies of Plymouth and
Connecticut united IN defense against the
French, Dutch and Swedes under the
name of the United Colonies Of New Eng
land, the king was so pleased that he
gave them a flag called "the kings stand
diQ n1S tcdSnC leu l4lc way LCE =
stronger combination Of forces and a
league flag was soon adopted consisting
OF the cross OF St. George IN one corner
and sphere in one of the others. signify
ing the New World This league had a
long career, changing its name and flag
many times II was the origin OF the IA
nous Sons of Liberty whose flag trees
and poles, with their emoiems Of liberty
emblazoned with such notices as TIber-
~ nd Tr{a IN nd
the now famous rattIesnake with Don't
Tread on Me- were the forerunners OF the
spirit of resistance which finally devel-
oped IN the struggle for independence and
liberty.
'In 1T7s the Council OF Massachusetts,
adopted regulations for fits merchant ma
rine and designated their flag as a white
ground with green pine tree In the CEN
ter and bearing the motto Appeal to
Heaven but the favorite flag In those
days of unrest was one with seven red
and six white bars, with a rattlesnake
stretched diagonally across Ii bearing the
words Don't Tread on Me- This is said
to have been the banner OF the soldiers
at Trenton and again at Princeton; but
1t is an unsettled point under what colors
the men at Bunker Hill, Lexington and
Concord fought, probably the standard
of New England.
when the continental army was organ
lied in January, 17I5s the union flag OF
the Colonies was hoisted over the camp
at Cambridge, and as the colonies had
not as yet declared their independence,
the flag of the mother country was not
entirely discarded. The crosses OF Eng
land and Scotland had a place in the
upper left hand corner, while the field
consisted OF thirteen stripes, but there
is some doubt whether these stripes were
alternately red and white or red, white
and blue. The flag was made by order
of Congress and was called the Grand
Union Flag" as 1t represented the united
colonies; II is also known as the conti-
! mental flag. Not until nearly a year and
half afterward, or on June H. III. did
Congress place the stars In the corner
In place of the crosses. The resolution
| concerning this read;
- Resolved, That the flag of the thirteen
United States be thirteen stripes alter
nate red and white; that the nation be
thirteen stars in a blue field, representing
a new constellation
Many theories are advanced as to why
the thirteen stripes were chosen. They
may have come from the naval flag OF
| the Dutch Republic. for there had always
| been strong bond of sympathy between
/ the seven provinces OF Holland and the
| American colonies. The idea OF the stars
/ is thought to have been suggested by
! WaShingtonS coat Of arms, which was OF
| two horizontal stripes over which were
/ three stars, and on the top an eagle In
| explanation of the five-pointed star being
| used on the flag and a six-pointed one
/ being on our coin, II is said the makers
| of the early coins used the English Gus
| tom in heraldry, while the designers OF
| our flag followed the shape of the Euro
| pean 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 important an acqui-
sition not to be recognized on the flag
-and hence. after much debate In both
| houses. in 1874 two more stripes and two
more stars were added for Vermont and
! Kentucky. This formed the flag of If
teen stripes and fifteen stars, which con-
tinued to be the emblem Of the United
States until 1913. or for twenty-four years,
during which time it won many laureiS
on our land and sea for the new republic.
| 1t was this ensign that amazed the people
of Europe by its boldness in attacking the
Algerian pirates. and floating from the
mastheads of our merchant marine and
navy it won new glories on sea and lake
! in famous naval battles, as well as at
| New Orleans and Fort McHenry.
But as the new States came to be ad-
mitted it was not possible or advisable
| that a new stripe and star should be add
| ed for EACH yet all felt their right to rep
resentation on the countrys flag. and
| after many weary months of debate in
Congress- on April 4, 1878, IL was finally
| decided to reduce the flag to the thirteen
| original States and as each new State
joined the Union another star should be