Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-09-12
What the Ejau Stands For,

at SdCO the OtneT evening dt the re
publican rally where Mr. Fernald was
the chief speaker. AS far as the article
itself shows, the only "desecration"
was the raising amid the cheers of
1000 people an American flag bearing
the names of Taft and Sherman. The
| Record makes it plain that according
| to its ideas there would have been no
"desecration" had the flag borne the
| names of Bryan and Kern. While
| are not of particular Importance, the
| incident offers a text for a few reflec-
| lions as to what the American flag
| really stands for. Now, the Journal
| recognizes, of course, that the Ameri-
| can flag belongs to all the American
| people, and that the glory and story
of its past ana the promise of it's flu
| ture are the common possession of all
| who dwell beneath its folds. But let
| us consider a few things.
When the people of our country look
! al the flag what are the things we
| think Of? What does it stand for to
us? What are the memories with
which it floods the mind and stirs the
soul? Do we think of Betsey Ross
who made the first American flag?
| Seldom indeed. DO we think of
Washington, by whose family coat OF
arms in England it's design was sug-
gested: Probably not. DO We think
Of Lexington and Bunker Hill and the
Declaration of Independence? Hard
y, for the flag was not then made and
America had not demonstrated its
right to have Il flag of its own. Do we
think of jackson at New Orleans or
Scott at ChapultcpCc? Probably not,
for the sight of the flag seldom takes
our thoughts back to those earlier
years of the country's life.
No, when we see the flag we think Of
Sumptcr and Gettysburg, Lookout
Mountain and AppomatoX and of that
stupendous struggle which saved the
Union and struck the shackles from
| 100000 slaves. We think of the
work of reuniting the Sundered and
bleeding Union. We think OF the
progress of our country during the
past generation, such progress as no
countries under the sun ever made in
an equal period. We think of the
greatness of our country, its I'M
precedented prosperity at home and
its unchallonged prestige beyond the
seas. And when we see the Tag and
think of these things we are dwelling
upon what the Republican party has
accomplished There have been some
mighty chapters of American history
written in the past half hundred years,
and in the writing of those chapters
Republican leaders and Republican
policies have been the most important
factors The old issues which brought
the Republican party into being have
long since been settled and settled
right but this by no means indicates
that the work Of the Republican party
were freed and the Union was saved,
the ork % the Republican party was
but begun What the party has ac-
ccmpliShcd is a part of American his
tory. Aye. it constitutes American
history for the past generation, and it
is the best assurance that the Amerl-
can people will keep this party in
power during the coming years.
For on the other side what is there?
The Democratic party, too. has rec
ord, and with that record must the
comparison be made. The Republican
party is proud Of its record. 1t points
to the history of its past as its great
est glory and as the guarantee of its
future. but the Democratic party IS
ashamed of its past-unless it goes
back to the days of jefferson and
Jackson. men who must turn in their
graves when they are referred to as
democrats by the Democrats of today.
The Democracy tries to shun its past
and it feels inSultcd if we refer to 1t
1t seeks only to be judged by the un-
discovered future. The Republican
party. the party which saved the dag
and which has kept it unsullied at
hcmc and honorcd abroad, says, Read
our record, judge us by our past and
our present and from these learn what
VIC are, what we have been, and what
we mean to be"
lust consider the cries which have
sounded from tho lips Of these tW"
PARTIES during the past half century.
on the one side. Slavery, secession,
repudiation of the public dept, fiat
money, free trade. free silver, the
overthrow of the courts, government
ownership and Bryansm." on the
Eenublican side, Free soil, free men,
the Union, the flag, the payment of
the public debt, honest money, protcc-
ton to American industry and An"ri-