The National tribune., 1907-06-13

<|.u SlIiptu It's pure teleStidl Willie
With streakings of the morning
I light"
1t is not difficult for one who loves
tie broad stripes and bright Stars" Of
the flag to believe that it really came
to, us as a heaven-born Inspiration. A
w3mSn'S deft fingers made the first
fig, and all the flags of the country
for nearly sixty years. Betsey Ross of
Philadelphia, who made the ruffied
shirts that Washington wore, was Sc
lested by the committee to work out
the design of the flag as prescribed by
Congress. George Washington. Robert
Morris and a Col. Ross We're appointed
a committee to have this flag made.
A mythical story is told about the
refusal of Mrs. Ross to cut the six
painted star suggested by Washington,
it, being, she is reputed to have said,
''she English star and the remnant of
hhraldry." The five-pointed star which
sac did cut is the regulation star of all
feraldry. 1t can be cut with one snip
81 the scissors. So can the four, six
ahd eight-pointed stars.
u The Specfni Flags.
How many of you know that the
President of the United States has a
tsag2
I What is the revenue pennant like?
Can YOU describe the flag of the Sec
yetary of the Navy, or that of the Sec
uetary of the Treasury?
z What does the flag look like that
MieS at the main when Dewey sets sail :?
4 Would you know any of these flags
ff YOU were to meet them in the street?
is it very patriotic in this day, when
our boys and brothers, our sons and
their sires are at sea, not to know the
flag under which they sail. perhaps to
the unknown shores whose horizon
reaches to eternity Why not make
an exhaustive study of the American
nag? It will prove to be fascinating
and inspiring as we'll Flags are not
SO many yards of bunting or silk; they
stand for principles. They represent
! to their countrymen all that is honor
able and enduring, all that is noble
i and elevating, in the country's >insti-
buttons and her history.
/ Indifference tt the flag that protects
/ the home is akin to contempt for the
/ institutions that have fostered that
/ home. Contempt for national institu-
lions breeds treason and anarchy. and
anarchy threatens ruin of republican
( forms of government. For this reason,
If for no other. love and reverence for
the flag should be taught the little
children of the land from the moment
they are old enough to be attracted by
fits bright hues.
The rust red and yellow flag of
Spain. the banner of Ferdinand and
Isabella. carried by Columbus. was the
first flag that fioated or the winds of
the new west world. From that day
till Old Glory was born sixty-four flags
OF varying designs had claimed the al
Iegsance of the people in the new col
onies
Despite these ancient banners. the
American flag is the Oldest national
flag in the world. 1t is older by twen-
ty,four years than the flag of England.
he 40,
France. Austria, Russia, Sweden. Nor
way, China, Japan. Holland and Ger
many. The flags of these countries
can scarcely be termed national" as
they usually change with the dynasty
Entered the Family OF Nations.
On the 4th day of July, 1875. the
United States entered the family of
nations. At that time there were about
700 independent governments in Eu-,
rope alone. The United States has out
lived the majority of these.
On the 4th of July. 1777, when the
flower flag of the free" fioated for the
first time above the new Nation, a scant
100000 people occupied a narrow
strip of country along the Atlantic sea-
board. from Portland. Me-, to Sayan-
nah, Ga, engaged in a doubtful strug-
gle for life, liberty and the pursuit of
happiness" A star for each State and
d
growing Union was symbolized in the
constellation of thirteen on the blue
field.
July Fourth, 1888, the young flag
proudly Haunted its bright colors above
a Nation which had carved its indie
pendence out of the strongest of the
old world powers. and which had ex-
tended its domain as far west as the
Mississippi River and as far south as
the French possessions in Louisiana
and the Spanish Floridas.
July 4th, 1871. saw two stars added
to the constellation by the admission
of Vermont and Kentucky
July 4th, 1903. saw the whole of the
vast territory of Louisiana under the
flag which had advanced its dominion
to the south as far as the Gulf of Mex
leo and TO the line of Spanish possess
sions on the west.
July 4th, 1922, saw the Floridas I'M
der the flag and our boundaries round
ed out to the seas on the southeast.
July 4th, 1S45, saw Texas under the
nag.
July 4th, 1s4s. saw our boundaries
rounded out to the Pacific on the west.
July 4th, 1865, saw the States in re-
bellion back in the Union, the Govern
ment serene on its sure foundation and
thirty-eight bright stars in the unsul-
lied union of the flag.
July 4th, 1867. saw the immense do
main of Alaska-as large as France,
Germany and Austro-Hungary put to-
gether-added to our territory. To-
day, the 125th anniversary of the birth
Of the flag, and the 126th year of our
independence, sees the American flag
representing world power. On that
flag are forty-five stars, and nearly
80,000,000 of people dwell under its
folds in peace and happiness. Its be-
inefficient liber.y-inspiring colors billow
nboye thousands of the islands of the
sea; over Porto Rico. with 5000 square
miles of territory and 100000 people:
over Hawaii. with 6.74O square miles of
territory and 10000 people; over the
Philippines. with 1885 square miles
md 100000 people.