New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-04-15
1T WON'T WORK.

The announcement that committee OF gen
tlemen whose hearts beat warmly for their
native land is earnestly engaged In the task of
procuring new tune for the immortal words,
MY country, it's Of thee" will be received
with emotion by all patriots doubtless includ-
ing the young fellow Of excellent pith'-young
again. having crossed the Great Divide and
been REORGANIZATION Fate tried in vain to
conceal. This interesting piece of intelligence
is communicated to the world by Colonel Asa
Bird Gardiner. q member of the committee,
which assures its authenticity. Colonel Gardi-
ner might not have been readily pardoned for
breaking a mertorious silence with less inn
portant utterance, but under the circumstances
he will be rather praised than blamed. 1t ap-
pears that the search after an acceptable sub
stitute for the ancient melody Is proceeding
under the auspices OF the Rhode Island branch
of the Society of the Cincinnati, and that the
committee at its next meeting will have the
pleasure of reporting progress. Its efforts have
already led TO the production of several new
tunes, and it is understood to be hot on the
trail OF others. When the musical talent of the
country has had fair chance to enlist In the
undertaking the competition will be closed. and
Colonel Gardiner and his colleagues will pick
the winner. The next step will be to publish
the score and scatter II profuseiy over the
United States particular being taken TO
furnish every little red schoolhouse with an
abundant supply. 1t is confidently hoped that
almost Immediately thereafter the land will
burst into tumultuous song, and be forever
emancipated, so far as the national anthem is
concerned from humiliating subservience to the
effete dynasties of Great Britain and Germany.
God Save the King and Hell dir i'm Sieger
kranz" may continue 10 wake the echoes on the
other side Of the Atlantic but Americans will
no longer be subjected TO the base necessity of
joining In the refrain.
1t will be universally admitted that this is
captivating programme, and the only trouble is
that there is not the remotest possibility OF its
ever being carried out We have doubt that
the committee is entirely competent to discharge
its functions, but that is trivial consideration.
How VIII II prevail on the people to discharge
theirsf An astlte commentator, on ascertain
ing that the revised version Of the Bible had
fixed the price of two sparrows at a denarius
instead of farthing. remarked that IL the
public could not get sparrows at the old rate 1t
would not take them at all. and he was right.
That experience is suggestive. though the two
cases are widely dissimar In most respects. II
the people are instructed TO sing "My country.
it's OF thee 10 new tune they Will not re-
main mute. but lift up the old tune with In
creased fervor. When words and music have
once been welded hard and fast no tribunal on
earth has power 10 divorce them. We do not
hesitate to predict that If Colonel Gardiner him
self should devote the rest OF his life TO the
purpose. travelling about the country at his
own expense and singing like the Bird he is in
every hamlet even that continuous and disinter-
ested performance would be a dead failure.
What the committee needs 20 do is to change
the nature and enlarge the scope Of the enter
prise on which IL has embarked. It's only chance
OF imperishable renown lies in evoking from
nothingness not merely a new tune. but new
words to suit II must employ the services OF