The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-06-14
EIng Day.

This is Flag Day. anu tHeie wiz W f
propriate exercises in honor OF the nag, In
the schools and elsewhere. Every citizen
of Washington who has a. flag Should un-
furl it, and as there is goooiy amount
of bunting in the city. the display OF the
colors should be impressive and beautiful
There is no lack Of reverence ior ihe
stars and Stripes among the American
people. but 1t is not always as mach III
evidence as it ought to be- Many man
who would eheerfully die in battle 10 save
the flag from disgrace will not nft us
hat In the street when it goes by. THIS Is
not as it should be. That sign OF respect
and patriotism is small one, ana eos's
little trouble and it adds something. as
outward signs always do. to the real ieei-
ing which prompts the act. In our hes'-
,ation to show our feelings We, as peo-
ple sometimes go to the other extreme
and appesr not to have any feelings at all.
Let children be taught to reverence the
flag, not as fetch, but as a symbol Oh
all that is great and glorious in TINS coun-
try. Let them be trained to salute the
colors wherever seen, and taught TO feel
that the Stars and Stripes must never
shield anything unworthy Of the traditions
and ideals of great Republic. 1t is not
necessary to make a great ado about the
superiority of this country over any other,
or to uphold every action OF this Gov
eminent. right or wrong, in order to ap-
pear patriotic The true patriot loves his
country not only for what 1t is, but for
what It will be, and strives to secure IN
all its institutions conformity with those
national ideals which have thus far help
ed to shape the life Of the people. A
heterogeneous population such as ours
with less than two hundred years OF any
thing like national tradition, made up o.
millions Of people from every countr!
under heaven, with ideas, characters, ant
inheritance as different as the five zone
of climate, needs all the unifying inhu
ences that can possibly be brought to bea
upon 1t, and symbolism has so deep hoi
on the human imagination that the flag !
the most powerful object lessons in ma
tioual unity. The thirteen stripes, re
mtnding the nation forever Of the tin
nucleus out Of which SO great a peopi
has arisen, and the varying number
stars. increasing with every addition
the e,sterhood of States. convey mean
ing SO simple yet SO potent. that no chill
can fail to be impressed by 1t. 1t Is tn
union of stability and progress. OF the oil
and the new, Of tradition and the stead
onward march OF civilization. bringin
order out of chaos. government. out OF an
archy. new States out Of the wilderness.
The more familiar the American peopl
become with this symbol Of their nationf
life the stronger will be the spirit OF pa
triotism; but the familiarity must be q
the right kind. II it becomes customar
to salute the rag as it passes In process
sion. perhaps restaurant keepers will hest
. tate about putting it in the corners OF pa
Der napkins, and manufacturers Will ceas
to weave 1t into door-mats. Every citize
= Of the country should have flag. and dis
play it from his window or Flagstaff a
occasion may demand, but the vicious tast
which uses that emblem OF patriotism a
an advertisement Of ham. or stove polisi
or cigars. ought TO be reformed by Law
Until an act Of Congress is passed. foI
bidding such improper use of the color
natrio,ic citizens will boycott the MANI
facturers and thus show their sense
what is fit and suitable.