Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1902-07-17
The lows Flag Law.
BYE. D. HApLrY OF Drs:morsrs,

which is the visible representation OIL
symbol of that national sovereignty
which is derived from the collective will
Of all and every citizen and to which
the allegiance Of every citizen is due il
closely akin to reverence for the re-
public itself. The kinship is so close
, that irreverance toward the flag an
nounces in unmistakable terms lack OF
solicitude and love for the republic, the
country itself. Since patriotism is love
of country and Jealous devotion to her
interests, love and reverence for the
flag should be cultivated for their 10
evitable tendency to increase the love
of the country Of which the flag is q
symbol, thereby increasing the patriot
ism of the people.
We would not have the citizen bend
the knee to Gessler's hat upon the pole,
nor would we have the citizen humble
himself unduly before the flag, however
grandly it floats out upon the breeze in
heavens sunlight, but if he stands rev.
erently uncovered before the starry
symbol or its representative treated
with disrespect or put to ignoble uses,
the flush upon his cheek, the gesture of
anger, the word Of rebuke, the effort
with the strong arm to purge the flag
of the dishonor and restore il to its po-
sition Of due honor and reverence, all
these do him honor and are credit to
his citizenship.
The world hears so much of the mer-
its ofsmaterial success, success lin ones
ambitions, success in law, success in
medicine, success in the pulpit, uuc-
cess in oratory success in athletics, sue
cess in politics, and above all success in
money making, that such tangible sue
cesses are in effect held up as prizes to
be striyen'for by young and old and the
higher things of principle, charity, the
golden rule, good deeds, religion,
spiritual welfare and the uplifting Of
the people in their moral, social, civic
relations in their thoughts and senti-
mehts, are lost sight of. The senti-
mental is dwarfed and smothered until
men feel ashamed of being called SEN
timental, although the sentimental is
the better part of mans life.
SO We fear that love of the flag, Of
our country and patriotism itself, are
Stunned as subjects for personal pri-
vate conversation as shamefully senti-
mental, but are relocated to the ros-
trum and postprandial speeches.
Or shall We say like the love of man
or woman, his love of his country
and his country's flag is thing so sac
red that he shrinks from its mention
to his nearest friend as if it were q
weakness?
Legislators, while they pass laws for
the material welfare of the people with
alaerity, are reluctant in many states
to go on record as favoring legislation
for the honoring Of the flag, and to pre-
vent its being put to base uses, lest
they be thought sentimental.
The American Flag Association, how
ever, composed of the committees from
various patriotic societies, notably the
Loyal Legion, Grand Army of the Re-
public, Sons of the American Revolu-
ton, having for their object the secur-
ing of Legislation to prevent the desc
Grafton Of the flag of our country, re-
port progress to such a degree that
through their efforts legislation has
been secured within the last few years
in the direction indicated in nineteen
states, towit: Maine, New Hampshire,
Vermont, Massachusetts,, Connecticut,
New York, Pennsylvania, Illinois,
Indiana, Michigan, Wisconsin, Mime
sofa, North Dakota, Colorado, Oregon,
Washington, California, Arizona and
Iowa.
As Iowa people, it is important that
we review the passage Of the Iowa flag
law, and examine it as it now stands,
and ascertain il she is in the van Of
progress in this rs in other things.
On the first day Of February, 1900,
Senator W. B. Perrin introduced in
the senate bill known as senate file
No. l59, entitled"A bill for an act to
prevent and punish the dissertation Of
the flag of the United States"
This bill bore the printed memoran-
DUN, Form of Legislative act approved
by executive committee of the Ameri-
can Flag association" OF this flag as
sociation, and of the executive commit
tee, Theodore Roosevelt, now president,
Gen. Nelson A. Miles, Admiral Win
field Scott Schley, Gen. o. o. Howard
and Gen. Fred d. Grant were members,
representing constituency OF many
thousands, and this bill had been care
fully prepared by experts, was approved
by the brightest minds in the country,
and proposed legislation such as had
been advocated by Presidents Lincoln,
Grant, Cleveland, Harrison and Mo.
Kinley.
The bill came from no obscure
source, and il is probable that the legi-
stature Of Iowa contained no member
who might not safely submit to the
judgment of the distinguished authors