The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1910-06-23

Exalted Ruler and Brother Eiks
You invite me to pronounce a eulog,
upon the Stars and Stripes. 1t Ger
tainly is the most beautiful flag 0
all the flags OF all nations in tn
worlds geography.
What a wondrous flag it is-wha'
q 'diyining rod OF bravery. 1t is tne
bugle call of daybreak, the purple
forecast of the morning, the angel OF
peace following the long chaotic night
of fear and bondage, the incarnation
OF the dreams and songs, the poems
and prophecies of all the ages pas;
and is an inspiration without com
parison among the nations OF the
earth.
1t is the banner OF both @the calm
and the storm" and for the down
trodden and oppressed. All the world
,hails it as a friend for it is the rain,
bow of peace, the olive branch to
humanity. the symbol of human pro
,Eress, declaring that all men are born
free and equal before the law and
have a right to life. liberty and the
pursuit of happiness.
1 To look upon this beautiful flag;
this trade mark" of power, suggests
chivalrous love of country and all that
liz good and great and grand OF human
Thought.
How glorious is its history!
Above it, Washington rode, before
lie, CORVALLIS surrendered and under
ltt, Bourgoyne laid down his arms.
Other days may tower in history
like golden shields rejecting the un.
sheathed swords of conquering knights
1.-THE splendor OF courts, the conquest
of kings and the march of mon
larchs, but this day rises on the pedes
tai OF the centuries--for 1t is the
birthday of our immaculate ensign, Old
Glory. the Stars and Stripes.
On June IA, 1777, just one hundred
and thirty-three years ago tonight
the Union Jack, that had been unit
then, retained in some form on the
various flags of the colonists, was dis
placed by thirteen five pointed stars
on a blue background with thirteen
stripes OF alternating red and white
To the American colonists this EN-
Eblem Immediately became badge O.
bravery, banner of beauty, a pledge
of patriotism, and on September It'll
of that year, was used in field service
for the first time and carried thu
Colonial troops to triumphant victor.
in that historic Battle of the Brandy
wine.'
Our forefathersr strong In courag
and fortified with right, hurled them
selves against the bulwarks of Englisl
tyranny and her strongest citadel
were palsied and crumbled into moth
ingness before the radiant sword 0
justice and the Haunting folds OF thi
old flag that kissed the riotous wind
OF victory amid the powder smoke o
fercest battle. Today, England i
our friend 1t was our flag. this roya
signet, and the great principals 10
which ii stands, that challenged Enc
lands respect and admiration. indeed
my brother Elks, destroy belief i
these mighty principals and yo
destroy the dynamics of our nationa
progress and the genius OF our civil
cation.
This beautiful flag we love so we
Is gem of greatness, the shibbolet
OF honor and heroism, though battle
stained with the sacred blood of on
slain.
It's crimson stripes are suggestive c
the blood that has been freely spille
for liberty, but Is more radiant an
more beautiful for its baptism. B,
grimmed and invincible in war, BIT
beautiful and imperishable In peac'
1T stands for conscience, justice. an
man'e humanity to man; 1t salutes tn
living and shrouds the dead and is a
incentive of highest patriotism t
every loyal heart who claims pr
lection under our liberty-loYing go
eminent, and is the golden promise
universal brotherhood, one and Il
separable, forever and forever
In those historic days, reyolutio
solved the problem Of freedom, an