The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1906-05-31

yet under that flag they had fought
| in their infancy for their very existence
against more than one determined foe
Under 1t they had repealed and driven
back the relentless savage ana carried
1t farther and farther into the de-
creasing wilderness as the standard OF
civilization and religion. Under II
youthful Washington won his spurs
In the memorable and unfortunate ex-
petition Of Braddock, and Americans
helped to plant 1t on the Plains OF
Abraham when the Immortal Wolfe
OF victory. But our forefathers, when
| they separated themselves from Great
Britain, separation not on account
of their hatred Of the English Consti-
tuition, or of English institutions, but
| In consequence of the tyrannical and
unconstitutional rule of Lord North's
administration. and because their
destiny beckoned them on to indepen-
dent expansion and achievement, cast
no lingering, regretful looks behind.
Proud Of Heritage.
in the glories and genius and language
of old England; but they were in
fiuenced by the sp:rl~ of the north, OF
the great Hampdcn, 'Vestigia nulla
retrorsum.' They were determined to
build up new power among the Ma
tons OF the world. They therefore did
not attempt to keep the old flags. We
think 1t good to initiate them in this
comparatively little matter as we'll as
emulate them in greater and more i'm
portant ones.
The committee on examining the
representations of the flags of all
countries found that Liberia and the
Sandwich Islands had flags so similar
to that of the United States that 1t
seemed to them an additional. if not a
conclusive. reason why we should not
keep, copy or initiate 1t. They feel no
inclination to borrow at second hand
what has been pilfered and appropriate
ed by a free negro community and
a race OF savages. 1t must be admitted.
however. that something was conceded
by the committee TO what seemed so
strong and earnest desire to retain
at least a suggestion OF the old Stars
and Stripes. So much for the mass OF
models or designs more or less copied
from, or assimilated to. the United
States Flag.
THE committee humbly think that
the flag which they submit combines
these requisites. 1t is very easy 20
make. IT is entirely different from any
National flag. The three colors of which
1t Is composed, red. white and blue. are
the true Republican cOlOrs. In her.
aldry they are emblematic of the three
great virtues of valOr. purity and truth.
Naval men assure US that 1t can be
recognized at a great distance. The
colors contrast admirably and are last
ing. In effect and appearance 1t must
speak for itself.
Your committee therefore recon-
mend that the flag of the Confederate
States Of America shall consist of a
red field. with a white space extend
ing horizontally through the center.
and equal in width to one-third the
width OF the flag. The red spaces above
and below to be of the same width as
the white: the union. blue. extending
down through the white space. and
stopping at the lower red space; in the
center of the union a circle Of white
stars corresponding in number with the
States Of the Confederacy.
IF adopted, long may 1T wave over
brave, a free, and q virtuous people.
May the career of the Confederacy,
whose duty it will then be to- support
and defend 1t, be such as to endear It
to our children's children as the flag
Of a loved, because just and benign,
Government. and the cherished symbol
of it's valor, purity and truth"
The report was adopted and on mo-
ton of Mr.. Withers. Of South Carolina.
the whole report was entered upon the
journal Of the day previous; thus maxi
ing the birth of the Stars and Bars. as
the flag soon came to be called, SYM
boil Of the new empire, simultaneous
with the Inauguration OF Abraham Lin
coin as President OF the United States
at Washington.
Soon after the adoption of the Stars
and Bars, the burial OF the Stars and
Stripes was publicly celebrated at
Memphis, Tenn. A pit was dug by the
side Of the statue of Gen. Jackson in
the public square OF that city. Then n
procession Of some 500 citizens, es-
corting eight men carrying coffin in
which was an American Flag, slowly
approached the spot headed by a band
Of music playing the Dead March. The
coffin was placed in the grave, the
words ashes to ashes, dust to dust. !"
were sacrilegiously pronounced, and the
grave filed up.
The same month. on the arrival Of
A. H. Stephens at Savannah, Ca, he
was escorted by a large procession
through tire city which carried a
painted representation OF the Ameri-
can Flag. torn, and suspended from a
broken staff. Underneath was a grave
with the words Receive Me-"
No other flag than this was used by
the Confederates in the field after 1T
was adopted and furnished to the
troops in Virginia, October, 1851.
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