Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1903-06-09
Our Flag.

Ihere is something magical and myS-
ferrous wrapped up in the folds of a
nations flag. There is something deep
er than appears on the surface of the
subject, and we cannot understand it in
full until we can understand what is in
man, until we can understand the very
spring and fountain of his emotional
nature. And that is a subject tit for tie
angels.
What is there in few yards of bunt-
ing bearing certain devices that can sti
men as they have been stirred all down
the ages, that can make the weak strong,
the timid, brave? The different devices
on the banners of the world are but little
in themselves. "A rose with any other
name would smell as sweet" A banner
with another device would have the same
drawing aud magnetic power for peo-
pie who call it, "Our Flag"
o, there is a kinship between the
nations of the earth. There are family
characteristics, family traits, whatever
the color of the skin. God created of
one blood all nations to dwell upon the
face of the whole earth. 1t has proved
to be quarrelsome family almost from
the dawn of time, sometimes for prin-
ciple but oftener for conquest; but
whether for principle or for conquest
men have fought for the flag till death
changed the program, rang down the
curtain and shifted the scene to the
second act in the grand drama beyond
the misty veil where never is heard the
rattle of muSketry, bursting of bombs
nor rebel yell, and where the device on
the banner is-Peace.
1t is not to be expected that other
nations would look upon that flag of ours
with the same Partially, with the same
pride and complacency with which we
regard it. We have sometimes fancied
that they regard it with feelings of
jealousy, and yet with respect and with
a wholesome fear, knowing full well
that the owners of it have the happy
faculty of defending it considerable
kind of sharp. What mighty host has
been revealed in the annals of time
whose individual members have said by
their acts if not in such words as Whit
tier put into the mouth of Barbara F.
"Shoot, If you must. this old gray head.
But spare your country's flag, she said"
The character of people fixes the
value of its flag. When nation is on
the decline, more and more its flag
gathers stains, and at the last it becomes
thing of contempt. Our flag stands
for the best things in all the world, the
only principles that can make a nation
great. 1t stands for unity, the union of
hearts, the union of hands, the union of
states, for liberty and the pursuit of
happiness. Have all these things come
down to us unimpaired as heirs of a
noble ancestry?
There are those who claim that we
have departed from the old paths that
were trodden with answering feet by
the fathers and founders of the Republic.
If that be so, shall we find the new
paths are easier, shorter and a surer
way to glad and glorious destiny?
Opinions differ, but no man knows. Do
the people rule, or are they ruled? And
if ruled and managed by bosses, is it a
better and more desirable state of affairs
than to be ruled by one who wears
crown? 1t is claimed that the Morgans
and others of kindred interests make
the governmental moves on the political
chessboard, so that really our political
freedom is only myth.
Most certainly we have our liberty, for
we are out of jail-bless the Lord and
we can vote or stay at home or go a
fishing in open time, but when we vote
and our man gets there he is ours no
longer. At least it isn't safe to bet on
him. When the political experts whis-
per in his ear, all there is of him is theirs,
hat and brains, boots and breeches.
1t is claimed that few coal barons
and few other sorts of barons practical
ly own the country. They seem to be
meeting with difficulties in delivering the
goods. "Man's inhumanity TO man
makes countless thousands mourn" is
just as true to-day as it ever was, and it
was always true as Holy Writ.
The dark places of the earth are full
of cruelty, and so are some ports that
have every reason to be full of light.
The dear old flag stands for nothing of
that kind anywhere, and never will, else
the God of our fathers will write upon
our banner: weighed in the balance
and found wanting" Please God that
device shall never appear on the face of
our flag ominous as the handwriting on
the wall. JOHN.