The National tribune., 1906-05-31

beat, following the sun and keeping
company with the hours, circles tn
earth with one continuous and unbrokel
strain of the martial airs of England.
The Flag of the Free.
One fair day in June. 1777, the Colo
NAL Congress Resolved that the fiat
of the 13 United States be 13 stripes, al
ternate red and white: that the union
be 13 stars, white on blue field, repre-
senting a new constellation" And thu
like new star in midheaven the Flae
of the Free was was flung across th'
political armament to astonish the worlC
With its beauty and delight lovers O.
liberty with its symbolism.
So far as history records 1t, this wa.
the first legislation. the first agitation
on the subject of National emblem fol
the United States of America. 1t Is al
together probable that there were mer
in that Congress to whom ties of blood
If not birthright, had endeared any one
of a dozen flags of other Nations. The
members of that first Congress were al
men of strong will and powerful in ar
gument. The clash of opposing opin.
ions must have been something to re.
member, as each urged the merits of his
favorite flag. idealized and metamor-
phosed for the uses of a Republican
form of Government But OF this con-
troversy the records are dumb. There
was journal of Congress. but IT was
evidently too severely edited to pandeI
to the possibly profane levity of such
debate, and there were no omnipreseni
reporters there to transcribe the heated
debate while the sting still rankled
They seem to have done things differ
emily then. When legislation was need
ed 1t was effected, and the act itsel!
seemed to them to be the only thing
necessary to record. Hence Ii must ever
be matter Of regret that the origin OF
our beautiful Flag should be so sbroud-
ed in mystery.
Who selected the design will never be
known. 1t might have been an adapta-
ton from any one or half dozen other
banners. A celebrated antiquarian states
his belief-and it, Is the popular one
that Washington's family coat of arms
suggested the design. 'It is not a little
curious" the historian says. that the
poor wornout ray of feudalism. as so
many would count 1t, should have ex-
panded into the bright and ample BAN
ner that now waves from every sea-" s;
Mostly English mt First.
Women made the first Flag-women
of English ancestry-and they made 1t
of English bunting. sewed it with Eng
lish thread, designed from an English
coat of arms; furthermore, they pre-
sented it to an English-bred Scotchman,
who within week after the action of
Congress displayed the brand new ban
ner over small vessel as it lay in the
harbor at Philadelphia, where thou
sands and thousand of people came to
admire, and few to scoff at the new
fiedged dignity Of young Nation. 1t
was the Paul Jones Flag, and Sarah and
Mary Austin, of Philadelphia. made It.
Nearly century and quarter old. its
colors are nearly as bright to-day as
they were on that long-ago June day.
That Paul Jones Flag made a big
patch in history. Flung to the breeze
above the Ranger in September of 177T,
Of which Paul Jones was commander,
the Flag was carried into French wa
ters, and was recognized in the COM
pletest and fullest manner, being the
first recognition by a foreign power of
the United States of America" How
ioyfully the news was greeted at home
hat American independence" had been
abroad! Paul Jones's
on the high seas under
hat Flag will scarcely bear a search
light, but when the Bon Homme Rich
ard episode came about all else that
he dashing commander. had done or
eft undone was forgotten. Not many
who look at the old Flag now remark
l3 ordered by Congress.
With the average woman's disregard
Of red tape, IL stars displaced the 13
stars ordered by Congress. probably be-
cause 1t was easier to arrange IL than
l3-or. horrible suspicion, the women
who were sewing on it may have been
about the number 1S!
That Paul Jones Flag was not the
official Flag, anyhow. Congress did not
ft. Init
md 1t appointed a committee to arrange
or the manufacture of the National
emblem. Washington, who had pret-
" taste for f1nery, suggested that his
Betsey Ross. of Arch street,
was a dainty seamstress,
10 to her they went, and she made the
irst official Flag. She made the Flags
while she lived, and her descendants
ollowed in her footsteps for at least
wo generations.
The first appearance of the Flag in a
British port carried dismay and con-
ternation. 1t happened on Feb. 8, 1888,
md is chronicled in the Political Maya
Inc of London of that date. which said:
She wears the rebel colors. and belongs
o the Island of Nantucket in Massa-
husetts. This is the first vessel which
las displayed the 13 rebelliOus stripes
II America in any British port"
The English knew what the Flag
ooked like. though. for Copley. the
'ainter, had immortalized it on canvas, |
n portrait of Elkanah Watson. of
made abroad in 1852.
Watson. who was sturdy patriot. had
he picture all finished up but the back
that being reserved by COpley
o represent a ship bearing to Amer
"a the intelligence of the acknowledge
nent of Independence rising sun
Hiding the Stars and Stripes streaming
rom her gaff II dined with the ar,
iSt." says Watson, ION the glorious 5th
f December. 1882. after listening with
i'm to the speech of the King. formally
eceiving and recognizing the United
tates of America as one of the Nations
f the earth. He invited us to his stu
10. and then and there. with bold
nd master touch. attached to the ship
he Stars and Stripes. Thus while the
lords of acknowledgment were still
arm from the Kings lips. the late reb-
!. but henceforth free, colors were dis
layed in his own Kingdom within
ew rods of his own door,
The Flag Abroad.
The Flag went first into Chinese wa
,rs I'm 1884, and the Orientals called
le starry emblem "the Flower Flag"
ecauSe 1t seemed to them so beautiful
he Flag was carried to Japan in 1899.
he first appearance in Spanish port
as on July 4. at Callao. 1892. The first
and of American colors presented to
foreign Nation were carried by Mr..
Lonroe. in 1894, when he went as Min
ter to France. and at the request of
lie French Republic.
In 1875 the Flag was changed by I
ongress TO Is stripes and stars to ac-
Vermont and Kentucky,
ley having just come into the Union.
he Constitution, "Old Ironsides,"