The National tribune., 1908-06-18

country. but for the purpose Of making
money out of their productions, They
decline to enter into a losing venture,
like any other business house.
To write and publish patriotic song
is but the smallest beginning in the
work of Matchmaking the song The
rest of the way is a kind of Pilgrims
Progress journey. Many patriotic songs
have been written during the past
25 years. with all the qualities of the
grand old songs, but their ashes lie
about the altar of patriotism.
Why did they not become National
songs? Because there was not enough
money. enough organized effort, and
enough backing by some first-class mu-
sic publisher to make the songs known
| in every town and city from the At
| lantic to the Pacific. If the songs OF
| our country are to be perpetuated 1t
| must be done thru the public schools.
| and if a new patriotic song ever be-
comes a National song it must be ac-
complished thru the public schools. 1t
must have the earnest cooperation of
| all directors of music and all music
| teachers in all schools thru the land;
| it must be rendered b. church choirs,
by choruses on various patriotic occa-
sions. and played by bands until the
words and the music are as familiar as
| America" New songs of patriotism
will not sing themselves into National
favor without organized effort, a lib
eral expenditure of money, and with
out any hopes of financial return.
OF the five old songs, The Star
Spangled Banner and America are the
two great leaders most generally rem
dered. Within few years the U. S.
Navy has adopted 1.-The Star Spangled
Banner as the selection to be sung
upon raising the flag. and in this re-
spect it Supplants America" This
action by the Navy is an excellent an
swer to the criticism of the New York
Sun that there is much public senti-
ment arrayed against THE Star Span
sled Banner" because its author. Fran
| els Scott Key, was 2 Southerner.
| From time to time professional
critics of music who have been unable
to assist or advise in the creation of a
| new song. have decried and ridieuled
the old songs. In 1901 Gen. Horatio
| King. of Brooklyn. composer of con-
siderable note and a gentleman of wide
| influence, argued for new National
hymn. He said, "The old songs which
have been looked upon as National
hymns had never reached that eleva-
ton and even some of them had out
| lived their usefulness"
Critics complain because the music
| of America" is that of the British Ma
tional hymn. God Save the King"
L In 1902, The Society OF the Cincin-
hate of the State of Rhode Island I'M
dertook to remake America" by Offer
| ing a gold medal for an original tune
adaptable to the words. Anew tune
was found and the New America" was
published, but everybody still sings the
dear old America"
The critics have attempted to i'm
prove 1.-THE Star Spangied Banner" but
have met with a tempest of opposi-
| ton.
The Indiana Legislature enacted a
| law providing that the improved YER
sion of The Star Spangled Banner
shall not be used in public school text
books in that State. and that school
books containing it shall not be pur-
chased, or put in the hands of school
children" a,,,,at.ct,
Last Winter a bill was introduced in
the New York Legislature to prevent
| juggling with the patriotic and immor-
tai lines of THE Star Spangled Ban
| ner''~ ''t" %
Love for the old songs and love for
| Old Glory are almost synonymous. Let
the old songs stand in all their historic
glory, until some philanthropist like
Carnegie with his golden wand shall
pave the way for composers and pub
fishers to the hearts of the people. and
Hay upon our country's altar a new Ma
| tional song.-Walter Allen Rice, 644
| Ellicott Square, Buffalo, n. Y.