The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1905-03-16


twas here, that Betsey Ross made!the
first official flag OF the United States.
The form OF the flag was once slight
ly altered because of the adm ission
of Kentucky and Vermont into the
union, by the act OF January 18th,
1894. which provided that after May
1, 1795, the flag should consist OF tif-
teen stripes and fifteen stars, ETC.
As this form was used until lSl8,it
was the flag carried during the war
of 1919 and hence, it was the star
spangled banner" so eagerly watched
for, by the immortal Francis Scott Key
during those awful hours of the bonn
bardment of Fort McHenry, near Bal
timore, on the night of September IL,
1914. We cannot pass lere, without
giving voice to deep felt sentiment
keld in common with many others,
that words, which the inspiration of
this country's desperate peril caused
tc burst forth from that impassioned,
patriotic soul, should be, by act OF
congress made our national song. 1t
il high time the United States of
America had one distinctive national
song, and that all her people could
sing it, without lining; and, what
should it be but
lTis the star -spangled banner,
| Oh long may 1t wave
Ger the land of the free
And the home of the braye?"
An act of April 4, 1918. reestablish-
ed the thirteen stripes, and provided
for the addition of star for seyery
new state admitted. So, that grand
New Constellation" which ap-
peared in 1777, is shining today, un-
changed, save by the addition Of stars
until, its starry system now numbers
forty five, perhaps soon to be forty
, seven, for as some one has forcibly
said, cit is system not O group or
| disconnected stars. - 1t was no chance
phraseologv, but an expression full OF
meaning when those statesmen docreed
that "the union be thirteen stars re-
presenting q new constellation. "Old
Glory" is probably more familiar to
people everywhere today, than any
other flag that waves. The story is
told Of an American traveller, who,
stood looking at the shipping in one
of the worlds great ports, said to a
small boy standing by, what flag is
that with the red, white and black
stripe?" Dunno" said the boy, in
differently. whats that one with
the three stripes running up and
DOWN." Dunno "Well. what's
that one with all those red crosses?"
"Dunno. >" "Do you know what that
one is with all those red and white
Stripes, and 30 many stars?" "That ?
Why that's the stars and stripes of the
United States of America, of course,
the incest country in the world, and
its going to be my home some day
TOO, Just as soon as can make money
enough to take me there"
|
first borne into China, and the news
was spread that vessel had come,
with flag as beautiful rs a flower:
. and, we are told that the Chinese
, word for Americans Va Nelly Ken
, means "men of the flower banner. "
:, China has well chrlstened it, 1t is the
flower OF the banner family. Tht
most beautiful flag that waves. No
only Is it most beautiful in color ant
g design; it is most beautiful in itl
symbolism. First of all, 1t carries II
=, , its simple folds, and shows to all wh'
,, ;, look upon it. the very history OF ou
nation. Those thirteen stripes II
: one banner commemorate the strug
gle and victory of the original thir
. teen colonies, and proclaim them n
y longer separate colonies, but a unlte
:, nation. The blue field, with Its star
receiving new star for every adde
state, proclaims that the union wa
ment to be perpetual, and from Mai
to California, each state 10 represente
on the flag, the like Of which, can b
,a said Of no other banner in the world
N Poets and others have given U
D. many beautiful interpretations of th
d symbolism of the colols and stars
trying to give briefly, the substanc
N gathered from many Of these,
t. think we may say, that to all, til
y red, stand for the patriot life blool
" the white, for the nations honor an
the tlue, for endurance and resistanC
" and an appeal to the heaven above ~
IN while, in the starry system, one wri
OF or shows US both "ilberty and law
he as Beecher put 1t "liberty throug
70 law, and laws for liberty" I'm tru
no "Old Glory" is the message of hbe
us ty TO all the world, and Eit has go
ne with Its message to the icy nor
NJ with Kane. Peary aud Gruly, in
ed darkest Africa with Livingston al
IN Stanley, to the "isles Of the SCI
as with Dewey, and, George KenD
on tells a story which gives pathel
en evidence, that it has even penetrat
he Siberian yastness and gloom.
er, tells how some Russian polite
the prisoners in Siberia, gathered up
ss. tie scraps Of cloth, tearing up tn