The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1908-07-04

H
The colonies, of course,
lived under the British flag. In 1880
the flag of New England was white,
charged with st. Georges cross in red
surmounted with the crown. In the
center was inscribed Jacobus Rex.
While Manhattan was in possession of
the Dutch the ships waved flag on
which was beaver, the then insignia
of the New Netherlands. 1907 the
colonies adopted the Union Jack Of
Great Britain This was formed by a
combination of st. Andrews and st.
Georges crosses, and of course was
typical OF the fact that the two coun-
tries had become one when Queen
Elizabeth died and the Scottish king
succeeded to the English throne.
At the time of our revolt from Brit.
ish authority the Union Jack was in
general use. usually bearing some
patriotic motto OF which Liberty and
Union" was the favorite. Directly aft.
er the battle of Lexington a new flag
was improvsed with the motto OF the
state Of Connecticut. viz, "Qui trans
tult sustinet." This soon gave way
to regimental colors, each being DIS.
tinctive in shade. At Bunker Hill a
blue flag was chosen to designate Now
England troops-the first sign we see
of union in the colonial army THIS
flag had st. Georges cross in one
corner. II was growing beautifully
less within our limits and soon after.
wards disappeared when Gen, Put
nam displayed a red banner on Pros
pect hill with the motto "An Appeal
TO Heaven" The colony of Massa-
chusetts sent out cruisers in the
spring, supplying each with a white
flag on which was painted green
pine tree. When armed vessels were
commissioned in Washington they
were furnished with flags OF similar
| kind.
To Col. William Moultrie of South
Carolina is due the honor of raising
the first republican flag. 1t had
white crescent on blue ground. This
was unfurled on the east bastion of
| the fortress in Charleston harbor. June
2S, 1875, while on the opposite side
waved the flag called the Great
Union" which had first been raised by
Washington at Cambridge.
June H. 1777, the Continental con.
gress. realizing the inappropriatenes
of longer using British colors, resolved
| that the flag of the 13 United States
| be 13 stripes, alternate red and white;
blue field, representing new con-
| stellation."
The first national flag after this pat
| tern was made by Mrs. Ross, a lady
| Of Philadelphia. She had some dis
| tinguished men to assist her, among
| whom were Benjamin Franklin and
! Gen. Joseph Reed We are not In.
| formed whether these men, appointed
| by congress for the purpose, used the
| thimble, needle and thread that the
| lady herself employed. From her gen.
| eral character 1t is probable that Mrs
Ross declined to let them boss the
job" and proceeded in her own way.
| The 13 stars of the flag Of 1777
were arranged in circle, although
| there was no officially prescribed
form. In 1874, after the admission
/ VI NNlho anu tNVhtu'hy ihIO tHo
| union. 1t was resolved by congress
that from and after May 1. 1895, "the
| flag of the United States be Is stripes
| alternate red and white, that the union
be l5 stars, white. in blue field"
No provision was made by this act
for future alterations, nor were any
| changes made till 1918, although a
! number Of new states were admitted
| meanwhile into the union. On April
| of that year bill embodying the
| suggestions of Capt. Samuel G. Reid,
] who recommended the reduction of
| the stripes to the original 13 and the
adoption of stars equal to the number
| of the states, formed into one large
| star, and new star TO be added on
| the Fourth of July next succeeding the
| admission OF each new state, was ap-
| proved by President Monroe, and the
4 Nac rats estab, ighpl WAS afterwar ri