The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-06-21
Flau Day Explained.

In 1904 Wichita people viii be better
able to understand what flag day means
This year it was new, so new that fire.
quent Inquiries were received at the Eagle
Office as to what the day commemorated.
Captain Burgess has looked up the mat
ter and has given the following on it:
In 1776 General Washington raised the
first flag at Cambridge January ,. 1t
consisted Of thirteen stripes, alternate red
and white with blue canton emblazoned
with the cross of st. George, which was
a red cross and the cross of St An
drew on a blue field, one the emblem of
England. the other of Scotland united
kingdoms.
IN III. congress. by resolution, made
the canton to he thirteen white stars on
a blue field Those representative of the
thirteen colonies or states which com
posed the number and strength of the
nation at its recognition as an independ-
ent power or government.
IN 1913 congress resolved to add
new star on the fourth of July, succeed
ing the admission of each new state. This,
in short is the early history of the flag
now floating over Us and which is a SYM
bol of the best. the greatest and the
happiest nation on the face of the earth
The flag is an emblem of purity in its
white of power and fraternity in its red;
Of loyalty and truth in its blue. 1t speaks
a language to every American sweeter
than is expressed in poetry, song or
music 1t is of a country of justice, of
law. OF equal rights, Of personal independ-
ence. of happy homes, Of Christianity.
No flag on earth has such a history so
bespangIed with heroism. fraternity and
love When we look upon it the heart
is inspired with a thought akin TO ubiqUi-
~. Tor Ike n fash we feel love of coun-
try. patriotic sensations of indescribable
devotion Of personality. of individually,
of power OF. sacSsdness Of home and all
the attributes of manhood that our coun-
try inspires in its people. That flag has
been the inspiration on a hundred battle
fields and wherever it is seen upon the
seas. or upon land. by the greatest powers
of the earth kingdoms and despotisms,
Or when it is bourne upon our CONNER
cial ships to the far-off islands of the
mighty deep. it is honored and saluted
as the emblem of the land where all are
free where every man who lives under
its waving folds IS a king. Its influence
permeates all peoples and is revolution
izing societies and nations and awaken
ing the world to higher liberty and broad
or. sNeeter Christianity. one. only one
other symbol or emblem. has such mighty
power for eood such civilizing effect,
such outstanding influence in all the
broad world. and that is the cross OF
Christ
THE lessons it teaches are finding way
into every part Of the earth and destroy
ing superstition. ignorance and despousm.
Years aso. on the fields Of Asia, great
battles were fought 70 gain possession
OF tho tomb Of Christ. Saladin contested
with the hordes OF barbarism and thou
sands Of lives were sacrificed. Their in
suiration was superstition. vet through
this red sea OF conflict moral advance
was made in civilization and enliEhten-
raeat Today our fag inspires 70 higher
and better aims; 70 please prosperity
and good government. not alone - our
people. but TO al the peoples Of the
world. and the lesson II gives is fast
changing nations rom the desire and am
bition Of war TO the more natural and
happier conditions of peace and COM
rnerce. These national interests and ele-
ments VIII be the controlling spirits TO
soor make and unmake governments M
III all are founded after our own glori-
Gus reverence. our flag, 10 which We to-
dav ray our devotion. Teach the chill
dren at your homes firesidss 10 love l.;
teach the children in our schools 10 love
1t: teach the children in the lanes and
by,vays 70 love and reverence Il and. in
the years to come. our homes will be hap
py. our nation greater and the world
brought nearer a universal peace and
prosperity and trust in Cod