The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-06-13
FLAG DAY.

If you have an American flag, and
If you haven't, get one and show your
patriotism by f1inging it to the breezes
on Friday 1t will then be 135 years
old. Be sure that the two additional
| stars are on it, because since the last
anniversary of it's birth, Arizona and
New Mexico have been admitted to
statehood. And this is not without an
interesting significance. There are no
more territories in the United States
proper. Arizona and New Mexico
were The last of them. It is likely to
be many years before it will be neces-
sary to add another star to the flag.
The admission to statehood of Alaska,
Hawaii, or any of the colonial posses
sions of this country which came to it
as a result of the war with Spain is
exceedingly remote. 1t may be, that
in the course of time some of the
present states will he divided into two
states. Texas is certainly extensive
enough as far as territory goes to
make two or three good sized states
There has been something of an agita-
ton these many years for a division
of New York into two states, one
which will comprise New York city
and little of the surrounding terri
tory. There is not much in common
between the cosmopolitan New York
city and the northern and western Sec
lions of that great state. And from
the standpoint of population New
York state has enough people to di-
vide up into two or three states. But
every state, regardless of the extent of
it's territory or population, is tenacious
and proud of its history, development
and environment, and it is likely to be
a long time before the people of any
of them will vote for it's dismember-
ment.
So the new flag of today, with its
forty Eight stars has probably assumed
a permanent form for many years to
come, and the Flag Day of 1912 is
therefore a little out of the ordinary.
Then, too, it would be we'll for the
people generally to pay something of
special tribute once a year at least to
the flag that has taken such a promi- |
nent place in the history of the world. |
1t would be we'll for them to ponder
over the marvellous story that flag has
to tell and the great principles for |
which it stands For the most part, |
the American flag is displayed in
perfunctory sort of a way on few of
the holidays and such special occasions
in every community when crowds of
visitors are expected. Generally |
speaking it has become no more, in the |
minds of most people, than con-
venient and brilliant assemblage of |
colors for decorative purposes when |
ever something is doing in town. No |
criticism can attach to this |
use of the flag.
That this flag, however, should have |
at least one day each year set apart |
for it's special honor and reverence, is |
surely not an unreasonable suggestion. |
And such a special observance at this |
particular time in the history of the |
might be fraught with much |
good. 1t doesn't take much discern |
ment to see that not few men in this
land in quest of political preferment |
and power are willing to wipe out
many of the more important principles
for which this flag stands, and ami
hilate the wonderfully successful form
of government which has been estab-
IiShed under if