The Globe-republican., 1905-06-29

During ten years preceding the Rev
dictionary War the colonists had
many different designs Of flags. These
early flags 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
tlesnake flag with its defiant motto,
Don't Tread on Me-" It was Eng
lands custom to release shiploads of
criminals on American shores. There
fore 1t 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 Americans,
lnasmuch as 1t is found only in Ameri-
ca; never begins an attack, nor, when
once engaged, ever surrenders; 1t
rever wounds until 1t has given no.
ice, even to an enemy, against further
treading on it. From these-the flag"
Another design, the favorite of New
England and the navy, was the Pine
Tree Flag. Then there were many
others-The Bunker Hill Flag. the
Mlnutemen's Flag, Paul Jones's Flag,
The South Carolina Flag, etc.
Benjamin Frankln's Flag.
1t is to Benjamin Franklin, that
great man to whom America owes
so much, we are indebted for our first
Union flag. This grand Union banner,
raised at Cambridge. Mass, Jan. 2,
1875, had on its red ground 10 alter
nate red and white stripes, symbolic
of the union of the colonies, while in
the upper corner was the well known
ensign of England-the crosses of st.
George and st. Andrew.
However, after independence was
declared. this flag, with its English
cross, was inappropriate and unsatis-
factory. So June IA, 1777-over 1877
years ago-the Continental Congress
passed the resolution that the flag of
the United States be 13 stripes, alter
nate red and white, that the Union be
13 stars-white in blue field, repre-
senting a new constellation.
The First "starry Banner"
This was designated to typify new
nation-the one shining light Of free.
dom in a world Of tyranny.
Tradition has 1t that Gen. Washing.
ton with Robert Morris and Col. Ross,
took sketch of the design to Mrs.
John Ross on Arch street, Philadel-
phia, who had the honor Of making
our first banner.
1t has been asked why our stars on
our flag we're five-pointed and those on
our ceins, six-pointed. The designers
of our early coins followed the Eng.
lish custom. The designers Of our
flag followed the continental.
The first mention Of our stars is
found in the Massachusetts, Spy of
March 10, 1774, as follows:
"A ray Of bright glory now beams from
afar,
The American ensign now sparkles star,
Which shall shortly flame wide through
the sky"
When Vermont and Kentucky we're
admitted to the Union the question
arose: How shall these states be
represented on our fiag?" The ques-
ton was answered Jan. 10, 1874, by
Congress increasing the number of
both stars and stripes to Is. But
when Tennessee, Ohio, Louisiana and
Indiana followed Vermont and Ken
lucky in the Union, the question as to
their representation was not SO easily
answered. Plain It was that the Stars
aud Stripes could not be increased in
definitely, else 1t would soon require
a regiment to carry SO large a flag.
Victorious In Five Wars
Upon request Of Mr. Peter Wind
over, Mr.. 8. G. Reid, hero Of Taylor
Roads, suggested way out Of the
dIficulty as follows: That our dag