The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-09-27
LONG MAY IT WAVE
Merits of 'The Star-SpangIed Ban
nero as N National Air.

ner" as National Air.
Hartford Courant.
Under an order just issued by the Navy
Department THE Star-spangled Banner"
Is made the American national anthem for
all the uses of the navy. The order does
not run to the army, and of course not to
the public. At the same time it is a big
start for THE Star-spangIed Banner to
obtain an official footing in one branch of
the united service, and it is very likely
TO secure official recognition from the other
branch in due time; and when this is done
the public will have no choice except to
follow OH.
Tt is altogether better that the United
States should have a duly-established
official national anthem than that band
masters should go on exercising thier own
judgment in the matter, as has been the
situation here throughout our national his
tory. 1t is even better that not the best
piece of music should be selected for this
purpose than that no selection at all should
be made The substantial struggle for
recognition has been among Yankee Doc
de THE Star-spangled Banner and
America" Without wishing to be disre-
spectful TO Yankee Doodle which has
stirred the souls of so many gallant and
patriotic Americans we must say that ii
is a very thin and silly bit of melody. 1t
uneducated form. The taste OF the Ameri-
can people substantially rejected Yankee
Doodle long ago. The real struggle for
years has been 6 between THE staT s
spangled Banner is not much more than
a burst of narrow patriotic fervor. Musical
ly it will do. but by the narrowest sort of a
margin. Its real merit is that it glorif1es
the fag-the symbol that has encouraged
so many Americans in the day of danger,
and comforted SO many of them in the
hon of naf 90 &c rinol rrait
OF expression for all that the United States
is cannot and will not be objected to. 1t
sums us all up, both in peace and war;
and any tolerable piece of music that
directs attention to it. or recalls its float
ing beauty TO the mind, will justify itself,
both in our own feelings and in the ap
probation OF foreign peoples.
But America" still has its place as a
musical expression of the things that make
this land between the two great seas dear
spangled Banner is narrow and concen-
trated, America" is broad and recapitula-
tory. One may say that it is list of
phrases, flowing into the heart full of
memories of the plains and the hills, of the
streams and the forests, when sung under
an alien sky and flag, do make the dear
worthy to be loved. 1.-The Star-spangled
Banner lacks this general, undying APP
peal. We know 1t is objected that 'Ameri-
ca is sung in England and Germany as
the national hymns of those great nations,
and that its serious, half-solemn hymn
like melody was composed by an English
man. One might as well refuse to drink
water, because all men use IL. On the
contrary, it would be note for unity of
good will, for solidity of purposes, if these
three great kindred nations should con-
tinue to phrase their different national
hymns to the same strains of music-should
make this common appeal TO ambitious and
gallant Germans, and Englshmen, and
Americans, in some day of stress and
storm, reminding them all that whatever
unlikenesses and differences had grown up
among them, in the process of time, and at
ming they were kinsfolk and brethren, each
one to both the others. An appeal of that
sort is only heard with difficulty where
men make laws and practice politics.: but
in a strange land, when there Is danger in
the air, and there are only few to stand
together. the notes of America" float
ing forth with their soft, half-religious
melancholy from the deck OF a ship of any
one of the three sister nations or coming
making ready TO die under any one of the
three flags, would compel every man of
these three nations who heard the home
strains again to fall in and take his chances
with these brethren of his own blood. That
would be something gained-it might be
good deal gained. Common memories of
generous deeds are a very good heritage
for great nations to possess, particularly
where, as Is the case with these three
to be permanent rivals of another.
But the "Star-spangled Banner" will do.
1t is our own. at all events, and what the
music and the words lack, the marvellous
gift OF grace and beauty and glorious his
tory in the flag will make up