Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-02-24


the throng of strangers who came to
Wheeling to see the naval hero. Mat
tiers have assumed their normal con-
dition. The big stand at the public
building, which cost a pretty penny
and could not be used, is being RACED.
The street arches were dark last night.
Decorations are being removed.
The celebration was not the success
expected. Disappointment were
numerous. The weather did much to
upset well laid plans. In contract
with the miserable conditions on Dew
ey Day, yesterday was bright and
warm.
The Register this morning publishes
the full text of Gen. Caldwell's reply,
in accepting the flags presented to the
Sons of the Revolution by Hon. G. w.
Brockunier at the Mcclure banquet. 1t
follows:
These flags appeal to us and each teaches
US lesson. One is standard of the pres
ent. the other is hallowed in the past. : lis
one is a reminder of the purposes of this
society to ~perpetuate the memory of our
revolutionary heroes, while the other by
its history and associations tells the story
ance, splendid feats of arms and glorious
victory. This is the banner of the living
present, telling us our duty to the memo
rtes of the fathers of the republic for the
blessed inheritance We enjoy, won by their
valor. That is the sacred flag of our coun-
try.
Born in time of conflict for the rights of
man and dedicated to liberty almost at the
birth of the nation, it is an epitome of our
early history Each stripe tells of a colony
struggling for freedom Each star is a
sovereign state of an indestructible union.
1t is an epic poem. heroic in every line.
Authorized by a resolution of the Continent
tai Congress on June ID, 1777, nearly a year
after the immortal declaration of our inde-
pendence, under the direction of Washing
ton and George Ross, a sgner of the dec
laration, it was first produced by the labors
of Betty Ross, at whose patriotic sugges-
ton the six pointed star of British fashion
was discarded and the five pointed one of
the French substituted. The stars in a cir
Gle in the azure field denoted the union of
the original States.
Many have been the theories advanced
concerning the original flags design, the
combination of the stripes of red and white
with the stars in the field of blue. What
suggested the design is of little importance
to US. AS Americans and descendants of
revolutionary sires, we say with the poet:
RED. White and Blue wave on,
Never may sire or son
Thy glory mar;
Sacred to liberty,
Honored on land and sea,
Unsofled forever be
Each stripe and star"
We know it was flung to the air on Fort
Schuyler in August, 1777, made from home
ly stuff, the commanders cloak furnishing
the blue while the garments of the ladies
of the garrison gave the red and the SOL
diers' clothes the white. Rude in material
it waved in triumph over the fort when
the siege was raised by the British and
their Indian allies. 1t was at Brandywtne.
1t was borne by our grandfathers at Ger
mantown. 1t fluttered in the breeze. in all
its beauty, at the surrender of Burgoyne.
1t cheered the freezing, starving patriots
during the dark days of that awful winter
at Valley Forge, and 1t was carried by our
fathers, triumphant and glorious. on that
great day at Yorktown when Lord Corn
wallis surrendered and the long struggle
was practically over.
IAN old flag is an honor 10 its captain"
says the proverb. The prototype OF this
flag was an honor 10 our S1reS. In h0nor-
ing this representative we honor them.
Let our colors and the representative Of
r-e early days of our country mingle their
folds in harmonious beauty. each Impress
ing it's appropriate lesson. ard recalling
to a proper degree our ilial love and graf
itude toward those immortals from whom
we sprung
In conclusion, IT Is my pleasing duty to
express to the generous. patriotic and cul-
tured gentleman, who so nobly maintains
the reputation and traditions Of his noted
race the heartfelt thanks OF the West Viz
ginia Society of the Sons of the Revolu-
ton, for his voluntary and splendid gift
of these standards. That a permanent
record may be made, move that the
thanks OF this society be and il Is hereby
rendered to the Hon Charles W. Brocku-
nier for his munifcent and most acceptable
gift to 1t OF these beautiful flags. one the
colors OF the society, and the other the
flag OF the revolution
The Weather.