The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-05-12
Arms Of the United states.

The following will at this particular
time interest many of the Standards
readers.
From Niles Acts of the Revolution"
As the eagle with extended wings.
grasping the arms of war and the olive
OF peace is constantly presented to our
eyes In some way or other. 1t may not
be uninteresting to give a history and
an explanation OF the arms Of our coun-
try. In June. 1882. when congress was
about to form IN armorial device for a
seal for the union. Charles Thompson,
the patriotic Irishman who first read
the declaration OF independence to the
people. and the secretary of the first
congress. with the Hon. DIR. Arthur Lee
and 4. Boudinot. members OF congress,
called on Mr.. VIM. Barton and consult
ed him on the occasion. The great
seal for which Mr.. Barton furnished
there with devices was adopted by ON
gress on the 2sth of June, 1882. The
device Is as follows.
Arms-Pale ways of 10 pieces. gules.
a chief azure lin heraldry argent sig
nifies white gules. red and azure blue;
the chief on our arms on the horizontal
lines In the upper quarter of the es-
~cutcheon, or eagles breast). the es-
cutcheon on the breast of the Ameri-
lean eagle displayed, proper. holding in
his dexter talon an olive branch, n
in his sinister a bunch of IL arrows.
all proper, and in his beak a scroll with
the motto, "E pluribus unum."
The Crest-Over the head of the eagle
which appears above the e~scutcheon.
a glory, or breaking through a cloud
proper. and surrounding stars. forming
a constellation argent on an azure field.
Reversal pyramid unfinished. In
the zenith. an eye in a triangle sur
rounded with a glory. over that eye
these words, "Annui Caeptis."
Remarks and pxplap afiOnS-Thp pg-
cutcheon Is composed OF the chief and
pale, the two most honorable ordinar-
les. The IL pieces pale represent the
several states of the union. all Joined in
one compact entire. supporting a chief,
which unites the whole and represents
congress. The motto represents con-
gress.
The pale in the arms are kept close
ly united by the chief. and the chief
depends on that union, and the strength
resulting from II. for it's support. to
denote the co~nfederacy Of the states
and the preservation of the union
through congress. The colors of the
pale are those used in the flag of the
United States OF America. White sig
nifies purity INT innocence; red. hardi-
ness and valor. and blue, the color Of
the chief, signifies vigilance, persever-
ance and justice. The olive branch
and arrows denote the power of peace
and war. which is exclusively vested in
congress. The crest or constellation
denotes a new state taking its place
and rank among other foreign powers.
The e~scutcheon borne on the breast
of an American eagle. without any 9TH
err supporters, denotes that the United
States ought to rely on their virtue.
The pyramid, on the reverse. signifies
strength and devotion. it's unfinished
state refers to the infancy Of the Amer
lean government. The eye over IL and
the motto "Annuit Caeptis." II sanc-
tions our en~deavors." allude to the
many and signal interpretations of Prov
idence I'm favor Of the American cause.
JOHN mcguire.