The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1908-06-07

flag: the stars in chief. moreover. have
the parallel popularity Of being five
pointed"
Banner BurgOyne Bowed To.
Our flag. as first unfcrled at the sur
render OF Burgoyne. has been alluded to
In the following terms; The stars OF
the new flag represent constellation OF
States rising in the West. The idea was
taken from the constellation Lyra, which
in the hands Of Orpheus slgniied har-
mony. The blue OF the field was taken
from the edges Of the Covenanters' banner
in Scotland, significant also Of the league
and covenant OF the united colonies
against oppression, and involving the vir-
tues OF vigilance. perseverance. and jus
tice. The stars were disposed in a circle,
Symbolizing the perpetuity OF the Union.
the ring. like the clrcling serpent OF the
Egyptians, signifying eternity. The thir-
teen stripes showed. with the stars. the
number OF the united colonies, and de-
noted the subOrdination OF the States 10
the Union. as well as equality among
themselves. The whole was a blending
Of to various flags previous 70 the Union
fiag-the red flag OF the army and the
white one Of the floating batteries The
red color. which in Roman days was the
signal Of defiance. denotes daring. and
the white purity"
IL is said that John Adams proposed
Lyra as the emblem OF the Union; and
when John Quincy Adams was Secretary
OF State, in 1870. he strengthened this
general belief by removing the United
States arms from the United States pass
ports and substituting in place Of them a
circle Of thirteen stars surrounding an
eagle. holding in his beak the constella-
ton Lyra and the motto, "Nunc sidera
DUCT"
At the Battle of Trenton.
The portrait Of Washington at the bat
tie OF Trenton. December 26 and q. 1776.
painted by Charles Wilson Peale In 1873.
represents the Union Jack. with the thir-
teen stars arranged in a circle Mr.
Peale's son. Titan r. Peale. writing 10 a
| friend in 1870. says: Whether the Union
! Jack was my fathers design, original or
not, I cannot say. but I suppose it was.
because he has somewhat marred the ar
tistic effect by showing the stars and
/ fiattening the field 10 show their arrange
ment"
On January :, 1894 a resolution was in
troduced in Congress 10 add two stripes
and two stars. because Vermont and
! Kentucky had come into the Union. Mr.
Goodhue, according to the Congressional
| Journal. thought ii a "trifing business.
which ought not TO engross the attention
! Of the House"
! At the suggestion OF Mr.. Boudlnot. OF
/ New Jersey, who thought Vermont and
Kentucky ought 10 be kept in good hu-
NOR. the bill was passed. On January
/ Is, 1884 IL was ordered that from and
after May l. 1895 the flag should have
4 fifteen stripes and fifteen stars Twenty
three years later, in December, 1877. Mr..
/ Wendover of New York. had the follow
/ ing resolution offered, which passed Con-
! gress April 4. 1878:
! BE II enacted. That from and after
/ the 4th Of July next the flag OF the
| United States shall be thirteen horizontal
stripes. alternate red and white. and that
the union be twenty stars, white in a
/ blue field, and that on the admission OF
n new State into the Union, one star be
added 20 the union OF the flag. and that
such addition shall take effect on the 18th
day OF July next succeeding such admis-
/ sion"