The Rich Hill tribune. (Rich Hill, Mo.) 1903-1911, 1905-06-29


During ten years preceding the Rev
dictionary War the c~olonists had
many different designs OF nags. These
early hags were emblematic OF the
feeling OF an ill-treated people. whose
rights had been trodden on. whose Pc
titions for justice had been ignored.
They were the handwriting on the
wall" which foretold the coming strug.
gle.
What could better tell the attitude
OF. an indignant people than the rat.
uesnake flag with its defiant motto.
Don't Tread on Me" II was Eng.
lands custom TO release shiploads OF
criminals IN American shores. There
fore Il was suggested in the Philadel.
phia Gazette that the ~colonIsts In re-
turn for this kindness send the mother
country a cargo OF rattlesnakes. A
writer OF the times said: 'The rattle
snake well represented the Americana,
inasmuch as Il is found only In AmeFi.
ca; never begins an attack, nor. when
once engaged. ever s~urrenders; Il
" wounds until Il has given no
tiee, even TO an enemy. against further
treadins On H. From these-the flag"
Another design. the f~ayorite Of New
England and the navy. was the Pine
Tree Flag Then there were mgny
others-The Bunker HIN Flag. the
Minutemen's Flag. Paul Jones's Flag.
the South Carolina Flag. etc.
Benjamin Franklin's Flag.
Il Is 10 Benjamin Franklin. that
great man 20 whom America owes
50 much. we are indebted for our nrst
Union nag. This grand Union banner
raised az Cambridge. Mass, Jan. .
l775. had on It's red ground Is alter.
nate red and white stripes. symbolic
OF the union OF the colonies. while in
the upper corner was the we'll known
ensign OF England-the crosses OF 81
George and 81. Andrew.
However. after independence was
declared, this dag. with rs English
cross. was inappropriate and unsatls.
factory. So June 10. iT7T-over 1877
years ago-the Continental Congress
passed the resolution that the nag OF
the United States be 10 stripes. alter.
nate red and white. that the linton be
rs stara-white Ia a blue field. repre-
senting a new constellation.
The FIRST starry Banner"
This was designated to typify a new
nation-tho n shining light OF free
dom In a world OF tyranny.
Tradition has q that Gen. washing.
ton with Robert Morris and Col Roas.
took a sketch OF the design 10 a MrH
John Ross on Arch street. Philadel
phia, who had the honor OF making
our hrst banner.
X has been asked why our stars on
our hag were Ave pointed and those on
u coins. six pointed. The designers
OF our early coins followed the Eng.
llsh custom. The designers OF our
dag followed the continental.
The hrst mention OF our stars Il
found In the Massachusetts Spy OF
March 10. l77i. as follows:
"A ray OF brish. glory now beams from
afaF,
The American snsigu row sparklss a star
the sky."
When vermont and Kentucky were
admitted TO the Union the question
arose: How shall these states be
represented on our hag?" The cues
ton was answered Jan. 10. 1894. By
Congress increasing the number OF
both stars aud stripes TO Is. But
when Tennessee, Ohio. Louisiana and
Indiana followed Vermont and Ken.
lucky In the Union. the question az TO
their representation was not so easily
answered. Plain Il was that the Stars
and Stripes could not be Increased IN.
definitely. else Il would soon require
a regiment TO carry so large a nag.
Victorious In Five Wars.
Upon request OF Mr.. Peter Wind.
over. Mr. 3. @. Reid. hero OF Taylor
Roada. H~uggested a WAY ont az fha