The Calumet news., 1912-06-15

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Mexico. and when internal disaster
threatened il reused thousands 20
leave their happy homes. sacrifice their
young lives on the alter OF Freedom
and Union, that the flag might still |
wave over an undivided, free. liberty |
loving, patriotic country. II prompted !
our own boys. some right In our midst. |
to leave the comforts Of modern life |
and tender their lives as a sacrifice If
necessary that IL should continue 10
wave.
In times Of strife, mention Of the
Flag or an allusion to it. has saved
the nation.
According to an eye witness. in 1861.
for several days previous TO March 4,
when Lincoln was to be inaugurated as
President of the United States. the en-
tire country was in a state OF intense
excitement. This teneseaess of feeling
centered in Washington and the bitter
feelings We're far more in evidence
there than elsewhere. The excitement
was 50 great that people did not dare
express their feeling, except TO their
most intimate companions. and even
then they doubted the advisability OF
doing so. People gathered together
during the daytime in groups Of two or
three and spoke in whispers for fear
that strong expression OF opinion
would provoke disaster. Women stayed
al home; children seldom ventured out
in the street except OF an errand of
necessity. and then scampcred horne
hurriedly; and with the feeling that
some great disaster was impending.
No one went out at night: the streets
OF the city that was then the storm
| center of the world were totally de-
serted after dark. If n stranger APP
preached a group OF men. the CONVEX
sation ceased and stiffness pervaded
| the group Some swore that Lincoln
would not be innugnrated; others his
| friends. that the lawfully elected pres
4 ident should be indueted into office.
! Citizens all over the country were
ready to take arms To assert the sin
cerIty OF their position. A collision OF
any nature would have precipitated q
riot, which would have fired the peo-
pie of the north into war among
themselves. With public feeling and
passion at the highest tension possible
quietly inaugurated. When this was
known, men of the different factions
merely scowled on meeting each Other
land dared not say anything for fear OF
lprecipitating the impending catas
itrophe. Immediately upon The fact be-
ling known, business of all kinds and
nature was voluntarily suspended. Peo-
! pie remained at home as much as
! possible. and an intense fever OF excite
ment was felt that some terrible cal
amity was impending. With this in
tense feeling in the atmosphere Z
Young man in one of the prominent
hotels Of the city raised window
leading out on the balcony of the hotel
! The immediate community was 80 quiet
| with the feeling of On impending ca
1 tastrophe that the noise was heard
for quite n distance. This young man
stepped out on the balcony and com
menced to sing in a strong, clear voice
The Star Spangled Banner" The ef-
feet was magical; the situation was
relieved; the spell was broken; win
dows were thrown open and people ap-
peared in them; others appeared on
| the Balconies of their buildings and
on the street; and the streets which
Immediately previous to that time were
Lentirely deserted. became populated.
lHefore this song was completed. those
| lwho were on the street Joined in the
chorus; men hung on each ether
shoulders; some Nwept for JOY. Every
one knew that the country had been
saved
This reference to our Flag by Il man
competent TO take hold of the 5itua-
tion In a period of Intense excite
ment was the means Of saving the ma
ton. People at once realized that the
danger of disaster had gone by.
This is rbe flag OF Washington. JET
ferson. Grant and Lincoln; IL is the
! flag of YOU and 1: II is on worldwide
mission of freedom, liberty ana patrio-
tism. which when achieved Will create
the grandest and holiest standard Oh
citizenship that can be attained. one
which means we can say with all the
i patriotism that our people can com
mand.
I.Shine on, then. Old Glory!
Shine on TIL the day wher earth
last opressor is under its sod;
Then face like the stars of the morn
ing away.
In the holer light Of the Kingdom o.
Go1!"