Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1900-11-03
PINK CARNATION.
Romance Of the Republican Campaign
Flower.
A Pretty Story Entwined With ihe Presidents
Lie.


cal life flower is figure in a ma
,ional campaign.
The pink carnation has been made
the emblem of the Republican party
in this presidential election.
The reception to Roosevelt in New
York city last week was characterized
by the use Of thousands Of carnation
blossoms. the order for which was
placed some weeks ago.
England has had her primrose and
her roses, and other countries have
made some flower historic in party
struggles. and now at the close of the
century this touch of senti-
ment is introduced into an American
campaign
And ii is all because of the love of
one man for a pink carnation, and the
love Of a party.
The pink carnation is President Nc
kinley's favorite flower. and has been
from the beginning of his public life:
so the choice is an outgrowth. an evo-
luton. the direct symbol of one man.
The nearest that the United States
ever came to making flower symbolic
Of a political party was during the two
lSTIHS III WHICH WITS AeNeAdCu WAS
mistress of the White House. Her love
for chrysanthemums gave the flower
fashion throughout the nation.
1t is strange that none of the cava-
liers introduced flower as an emblem
of party in the early days of our coun-
try. for they were saturated with the
history of it. Flowers had played
great parts in wars and campaigns Of
Great Britain as far back as legends
run.
First is the War of Roses. the origin
OF which was given by Shakespeare in
Henry VI. Act H.. the year 1919
Plant
Let him that is true born gentleman.
If he supposes that have pleaded truth
From of this briar pluck / white rose
with me.
Somerset
Let him that is no coward. nor no fa,-
terer.
But dare maintain the party of the truth.
Pluck a red rose from off this thorn with
me-.
Whereupon, Warwick plucked q
white rose and joined the Yorkists
while Suffolk plucked a red .one and
Joined the Lancastrans
The most famous flower connected
With party spirit is the primrose Of
England. The Primrose League is the
greatest tory party in England, and
the women who take part in it. and
who are among the most brilliant and
beautiful and forceful OF the aristoc-
raey. are called the Primrose Danes.
The most accepted story of the origin
Of this primrose with the league is that
Queen Victoria sent great shield of
the flowers to put on Lord Beacons-
fields grave the day of his death, and
on this shield were the words: His
flowers" There was only one his to
Queen Victoria and that was the
Prince Consort.
But the public did not read the
phrase in that light and accepted il as
a statement that the primroses were
the favorite flower Of Dsraeli. The
league was founded on that evidence.
The white rose of the Stuart pre-
tenders played a great part in Great
BTtain's history: the legend of this is
that a certain white rose bush in
royal garden always doomed for the
first time on the anniversary of the
day that Charles the First was behead-
cd.
Prince Charlie was called the
White Rose of Arno."
The fieur de lis. pet flower OF Henry
Of Navarro. played a great role in
France during the Bourbon struggle
and against the Duke of Guise. The
flower is blush. small and sweet. Il
was used by Napoleon as the imperial
symbol but its origin as campaign
flower was with the daring Protestant
The white carnation played its part
in history through Gen. Boulanger; he
had loved;he flower from boyhood and
wore one every day in his uniform
when not in battle. The flower vas
taken up as an emblem of his party.
and though it was as much as life wa
worth for some men to wear il openly,
yet it was worn. even it secret by LII his
followers. and known throughout that
great political struggle as the emblem
Of the Boulangcr campaign.
Napoleon's flower was the violet:
Gladstone's the rose. because he was
great expert and enthusiast in their
culture; and William Of Germany has
chosen the corniower. and therefore
made it a part of German literature
and prowess: but these flowers have
1OTHleu SeUtiiiitIisdi anu NOT d war
like part in the lives OF the worlds
rulers.
The story of why President McKin-
ley chose the carnation as his flower
and why the party chose it as an en-
blem is full Of sentiment.
a quarter of century ago a mem
Der from the West walked into the
halls Of Congress at Washington.
Two things were at once spoken of
him: he looked like Napoleon and he
wore A pink carnation in his button
hole.
Two weeks ago a man stood in the
gardens Of the White House in Wash
ington in the glow Of brilliant Sep
TENDER afternoon The head gardener
approached him. and with head IN
covered handed him a perfect carna-
ton. the first of the season.
The man in both cases was William
Mckinley.
Behind both days was story of love
and power and character and senti-
ment.
The gardener had really handed to
the first carnation OF the season from
the conservatory Of the White House
felt the deep significance Of the act:
the man who received il knew what il
oil and in biS mind fhara ,,,,,ct