Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-04-14
NATIONAL HYMNS.
Song to Catch the National Favor Not
Made to Order

From the New York Sun.
Secretary Bonaparte did we'll not to com
NIT himself to the project of Offering
prize for a new national air to be selected
by council of musicians from all parts of
the country"
He was wise to withhold even his indorse-
ment of the project of advertising for
rational air, and perhaps of Offering SOU
venirs as an inducement to competitors.
THE Star Spangled Banner" which it is
proposed to supersede, was composed by
native of Secretary Bonapartes home state,
Maryland. Very recently in the Albany
legislature a measure was seriously dis
cussed making 1t mandatory Upon school
authorities In New York to- insist that all
the words of THE Star Spangled Banner
GALL the verses without curtailmenD should
be sung by the school children with whom
THE Star Spangled Banner is favorite,
made familiar by frequent repetition.
National hymns, however, are not made
popular by legislation and songs responsive
to the aspirations of a people are not to be
secured by advertisement. A government
proposes; the people adopt reject
song or anthem and make 1t a national
air" Under despotic governments only, II
ever, are such official selections accepted.
God Protect the Gar is the national
Russian, or rather the Russian government,
hymn; Haydn's Hymn to the Kaiser has
similar but no greater, vogue In Austria.
'Das Deutsche Vaterland'' is officially the
recognized German air; Die Wacht am
Rhein' Is the popular one For many years
in France "Partant Pour Ia Syrie" was the
national air. La Marseillaise" has been
the peoples favorite since 1t was first sung
over a century ago. at the beginning OF
the French revolution. In Italy Garibaldfs
hymn Is the popular. but not the OFFICIAL
national air. In American crowds or Amer
lean audiences the stately music of Hall
Columbia" never causes the moving feet or
the singing accompaniment of Dixie"
Popular preference determines, formal
legislation can prescribe, the acceptance
popular OF any song or anthem. Even in
England, where the conventions of army
and Official life are tenaciously observed,
rule Britannia the music OF which was
composed by Arne. has been generally re-
placed by God Save the King" compo-
sftlon of disputed authorship. The Wear
ing of the Green" in Ireland owed Its pop
ularity to no official recognition; indeed for
considerable period 1t was legally inter-
dicted in some Irish counties as an appeal
to revolt and I'm Indictment to disorder. A
wiser and more tolerant View of its effective
appeal to Irish emotions has been adopted
since the BoeT war.
THE Star Spangled Banner is probably
more serious assault upon Its popularity
can be devised or suggested than an adver-
tisement by the government authorities for
a substitute, the selection OF which could
be determined upon by council Of mu-
sicians from all parts OF the country" Ma
tional airs are not sung by the people OF a
country because congress, a parliament
or national assembly SO ordains or req
ommends. Musical councils cannot regulate
public taste or preference In such matter,
and Secretary Bonaparte was discreet In re-
fnsing to commit himself to- the further
ance Of any plan to do away with The Star
Spnngled Banner" as the recognized ma
tional air for most Americans.