The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-03-23
THE STAR SPANGLED BANNER
interesting IIistOry Of Keys Much Altered
Patriotic Poem.

interesting History Of Keys Much Altered
Patriotic Poem.
NEW ORLEANS, March ~. The action OF
the Indiana House Of Representatives In
Adopting animouslysa resolution calling
for the restoration 10 the school books OF that
state OF THE Star spangled Banner as
originally written by Francis Scott Key
instead OF the poem az published In these
school books, changed and mntlated 70
suit the hins and caprices Of certain critics,
did not surprise the people OF Louisiana, who
have lready gone through similar expert
enoe, and who are perhaps responsible. In
directly, for the protest which the Indiana
House has made
The action Of the Indiana Legislature was
due 10 an investigation brought about by
letter In THE SUN Of Feb 4. In which atten-
ton was called to the fact that The Star
SpanRed Banner" was "emAsculated In re-
cent editions OF the school readers In use in
some OF the public and parochih schools OF
the city" The emasculatlon consisted
chiefly IN the elimination OF the third verse Of
the poem. In which Francis Scott Key. filled
with the patriotic enthusiasm reused by the
War OF 1912, hurled his anathema at England
and the American Tories and sympathizers
with England.
II was asserted that the change In the poem
had been made in Difference 70 English aud
probing ish senslbilities. although II was due
10 the blood is thicker than water speeches
that came into vogue soon after the outbreak
OF the Spanish American War. 1t is indeed
a bold scheme, said The SUNS respond
ent, when foreign influence dare NEEDLE
with the education OF American children.
But he was thirty years wrong In his state
ment OF the time when the emondatlon oc-
CURED and all the trouble due TO 1t came
about and the guilty person will be found
TO be that eminent poet and American citizen,
NanAal Holrnea The Grgt chang in
THE Star SpanRled Banner" was made in
1850; another followed in 1908 or 1904 which
may have given rise TO the error. For the
frst change oliver Wendell Holmes was re,
sponsible. for the second the School Board
OF Louisiana.
In the latter part Of 1905 some, old Con-
federate veterans, attending a school cele-
bration in New Orleans, were surprised to
hear their own. grandchildren, when opening
the school service With The star spanHed
with great viRor, denounce the South and
applaud tho crushing out OF slavery. The
heard, which they were certain was not what
they themselves had sung in their yOunGer
Soutber5e5 nv birtb ssSonId SSno oiaS ne
South and that man who died, as he did,
in lsi3. should be acquainted In advance
was called TO the attention Of the New Orleans
School Board, which at once pronounced |
Orleans public schools and Tor that matter
In most Of the schools Of the country-fraud-
ulent Interpretations i was some time
before the fraud was run 70 earth.
Il was then discovered that Immediately
after the civil war DR.. Holmes at the invita- |
ton Of a Boston publishing house. had written
the south was roughly handled and very |
properly denounced, IS New England hos
the people OF the late Tebelllous States than /
those OF ENGLAND, these Holmes verses were /
substituted for the second and third verses OF /
Keys poem, the latter being the one referring |
70 ENGLAND and English sympathzers. From |
New England this new version, actually |
way over the whole country,
Especially was the new version welcomed |
in the South during the early days OF recon- |
struction, where II was thought that by teach !
repudsts the actions Of their uT Parents and and
grandparents the cause Of the Union would
The United Confederate Veterans, the
Southern orKaniIation which corresponds TO
the g. a, has a eopmittee on history
books used in the Southern public schools.
poem nm and the New Orleans School Board
notih ed the American Book Company that
It's original form Il the books OF that company
were 70 be used in the public schools Of this
ton followed suit. The publishing house
excused itself declaring that it had been
d n in 59f n bs ha x1n 5ssfn 9S
The Objectionable volumes we're withdrawn
and new edition with the poe "a as Key wrote
raising the protest, but az the United Con-
oS in other southeaR States 'P TaS neRs
bic that they also would protest against the
The emasculaton OF the poem to which TEE
Sun correspondent calls attention followed
in large part from the acton taken IN Louis
fact that the second and third Verses pub
lished in many Of the readers were bogus
verse! we're By P he dfFss
third yerfe for WHICH they had been sub
stituted was not restored.
committee Of the Confederate Veterans has
done a great deal In the way Of eliminating
nos Of them hs RhGP BEEN sG9Si s4d
treated with The star Spangled Banner
TO additions and chan ses during the exciting
and bitter period OF the civil war and recon-
etruction.
Here is one Of the verses objected to By the
Board OF Education:
Whom our land Is nluinined by LIberty's smile.
, u foe from within strike a blow AZ her tiory,
INC Gag Of Der stars and the page Of her sleTY'
by the mll3Hs unclaimed who our bithrght have
We VII Eesp her bright blaIon forever unstAinsd,
Spd ~ ser spSnEsd Banner forever shan
It will be seen that the poem. instead Of
.trising at England and the New ENGLAND
people. and Il Is declared that the American
cause will he upheld by the millions un-
chained who our brthright have esined'
N other words, the enfranohised negroes |
IN oolectiRg 70 these verses the history cont
nittee Of the louisiana division OF the United |
Confederate Veterans noted:
Aside from the bad faith displayed IN In
serting these verses in Keys poem there |
vas an utter lack OF sound sense and GOOD |
Judgment in referring in the interpoiated |
verse TO the negroes as the millions unchSinSd'
who would help keep the bright blazon Of |
he Star Spangled Banner unstaned' nearly |
NY years before the Emancipation ProclG-