The Jimplecute. (Jefferson, Tex.) 18??-1907, 1905-05-06
ADDRESS,,
Delivered by Col. H. WEIGH. at As.
sembly Hall April 26th, 1905.


Mr., Superintent and Trustees of
the Jefferson High School: Gen
tlemen and Fellow Citizens:
During my visit to Dallas on the
first of this month, where I went
to assist my comrades of the G, A.
R. and my brothers of the U, G.
V. in the giving of a gladstone
welcome, in common with the peo-
pie of Dallas, to the president Of
these United States upon this his
first visit as president to our be-
loved State.
The transendent beauty and
sublimity of the scenery through
which he passed from Denison to
Dallas extorted from him the
declaration "truly this liz veri.
table garden of the Lord!" On
Wednesday eve, the 9Th, I was in
vited up into a large hall in which
a large number of ladies were as
sembled, and the question was
asked me, if our Jefferson school
had a United States flag? 1 told
them that it was my purpose to
purchase one while here. The
lady presiding then asked if any
member had any motion to present
She was promptly requested by a
motion to give flag to me to pre-
sent to this school; the resolution
was voted unanimously and [ was
instructed to present it as a gift
from the Ladies Relief Corps of
Dallas, Texas.
And, in pursuance of the duty, 1
have invited the assistance of my
brothers of Dick Taylor Camp U.
G. Veterans.
The year of our Lord 1905 will
become memorable in our history
as the flag year, on account of the
authorized return of the flags that
were captured from our brothers
of this Southland, who so CALAMITY
and bravely bore them in front of
their battle lines during the days
of the COS, meath which their
brave ones fell" These returned
old flags should and will be revered
and cherished as precious souvenirs
of heroic days by their surviving
comrades But today we, the sur
vivors of both of the men who
wore the Blue and the Gray, are
here to present to you to wave in
glory above you during your school
hours as shall be directed by those
in authority over you.
The American flag is the oldest
flag in the world, and represents
everything that is American, in a
way that no other flag symbalizes
to the people the institutions of
their country.
Foreign countries, until recent
times, had no national flag. The
reigning family had its own ban.
ner of the house then on the
throne. By reason of the factional
troubles which continuously afflicted
those countries it could never be
anything more than the standard
of the one who happened to be on
the throne, or in power. Our flag
is the oldest national flag in the
world today; which began by rep
resenting all that is American. 1t
not only means our president, our
congress, the judiciary, and our
merchantmen who sail the oceans
and seas, it also means all Ameri.
can men and women, no matter in
what or where engaged, 1t means
our schools, and churches. and
colleges just as much as our army
and navy, Everything under its
shadow is apart of its wonderful
whole for which it stands. 1t is
the only flag in the world, too, for
which no apology need be made,
no defense or extenuation set up.
In all of the 1919 years of its vigor.
GUS life it has irrevocably stood for
the very best that the mind of man
can conceive 1t has stood for the
highest liberty, the most absolute
justice, the most elevated morality;
though in its 1919 years of vigorous
life it has extended its power over
a greater area of this worlds sur.
face than Rome governed in her
proudest day; but there has been
upon it no blemish of conquest,
spoilation, or oppression, 1t has
been like the glorious light of the