The National tribune., 1906-08-16
S:nr-SpanEled Hammer.

band was playing the National Anthem,
in a certain city which l will not name.
not a single one of the several hundred
men and boys who were standing about
uncovered their heads.
Comrades, watch the Regular Army
officer at such a time. You will see
him rise to his feet If seated, or IL
standing in the open air he will raise
his hat II Is not a meaningless cere-
mony, but is evidence of love and re-
spect for the country to which he has
devoted his life.
During the Spanish War all men un-
covered their heads when the Star
Spangled Banner" was played. Shall
we. comrades of the Grand Army, do
less, when we are trying to teach the
young by act and deed the meaning of
Loyalty? 1 think not. The men and
boys who stood around with their hats
on in the city referred to, 1 trust, were
not Grand Army comrades or sons of
veterans.
1 copy the following from the Even
ing Star of Washington: The war
was over in Virginia a good many years
ago, and the Virginia folks are as pa
triotic as the people of any State in the
Union," said a gentleman the other
day. Continuing he said: The younger
generation of Virginia people. for ex-
ample, all get to their feet when they
hear a band or orchestra strike up
The Star-Spangled Banner, and that's
something that is by no means uniyer-
sal in the United States. A few people
in an audience will occasionally stand
up in a New York theater. when the
National air is being given in a medley
of National airs. but they are actually
Uttered at by the vast majority, who
keep their seats.
II happened to be present at Vir-
ginia seaside resort the other day, when
two bands were grinding out a measley
composition at all hours called That
Grand Old Rag the rag referred to
being, as it is probably needless to re-
mind anybody who has heard the words
of the ditty, the Flag of the United
States. There were 80 and odd lady
school teachers there from the interior
of Virginia. They all stopped at the big
hotel. and while they were eating their
first dinner at the hotel a huge phono-
graph ground out the words and music
of the grand old rag song. 1t was the
first time they had heard il, and when
they made out the words they swooped
upon the hotel manager in a body. and
requested-demanded for that matter
that that particular phonograph record
should not be poked into the talking
machine again while they remained at
that the words of the song and even
the title thereof were shockingly dis
respectful to the National emblem, and
the hotel proprietor promptly complied
with their wishes. That evening, while
strolling around, they heard the hurdy-
gurdies and the bands blaring it out.
They went to a policeman, and request
ed az American women, teachers of a
portion Of the growing youth of the
-, e. = -
the outrageous piece any more. The
policeman did nothing. Later in the
evening a number of them got up and
earnestly protested against the playing
of the piece by one of the pavilion or
chestras. The next day they gathered
a large crowd of convention folks and
appealed to the Mayor. He sent for a
copy of the song, agreed with the dele
CATION that the song was sure enough
back handed swipe 1T the old Flag. and
he sent the quiet tip up and down the
line that II would please him If that
stuff were to be Cancelled all around.
1t was cut out. and the Virginia school
teachers went about In state of de-
corous triumph during the remainder
of their stay by the sea-
Another incident: Down in Eustis,
Fla, they have a squad of II Grand
Army comrades. the only Post in Lake
County. In the same County there is a
Camp of 279 members. The
relations between the two organizations
have always been of the most friendly
character. The Post celebrated. McKin-
ley's birthday, with the Confederates as
their guests. On the occasion of the
purchase of a Flag for the Presbyterian
College by Eustis Post the Confederate
Camp not only subscribed literally to
purchase ''Old Glory" but made the
Post Commander an honorary member
of the Camp. To reciprocate, when the
occurred on Washington's
the Commander of the Con-
Camp was requested by the
Post Commander to make the address
of presentation, and Comrade James,
the Post Commander, says: "I only wish
that every man, woman and child in
the United States could have heard
Capt. Duncan's loyal tribute to the Flag
and his heart-reaching words to the
young men and women of the college,"
The Incidents mentioned in this re-
port prove, if proof be needed. that the |
spirit of Fraternity. Charity and Loyal
ty permeates the hearts of the people |
Of the land.
In IndInna's Capital.
In closing this subject wish to dwell |
,or moment on a scene in Indiana'S |
Capital on the morning of May Is, 1902. |
On that morning there passed out of
he southern portals of the State House
spectacle such as the world had never
;een. 1t cannot better be described than
n the glowing words of z. A. Smith in
he Indianapolis Journal: Thirty
seven years ago regiments of men by
he score returned to Indiana. in the
glory of early manhood and in the
proud assurance of victory, bringing |
,ack to the immortal Morton the stand
lrds 'tattered and torn with which he
lad sent them forth to do. and if need
,e, to die for a Nations life. Thou
ands brought the flags back; this
morning small bands of old men will
akS these old flags forth for the last
ime through the streets to the Soldiers
nd Sailors Monument. If the genera
ion of to-day that will see the old men
nd their flags could have seen them
vhen they filled Pennsylvania Ave-, in
he Nations Capital. that May day of
S65. in the Grand Review. and beheld
he long. confident stride and the
ythmic swaying of bayonets right and
eft, they would have seen the finest /
the world ever saw. To-day
hese men cannot march, but God pity
he soulleSS observer who can look up ,
n the old men and their flags and not !
'e touched with the memories theyI I
hould summon
I'm the mart money is said to talk ,
ut in the presence of the remnant of !
he manhood which kept us a Nation, {
ementing in blood a great Union, mere
'ealth and its representations sink into
and valOr is the DricpleSS