The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1913-06-17

ner field OF blue. During the memor-
able struggle of the colonists to es-
tablish themselves, various attempts
were made to evolve general flag
emblematic of their cause, but moth
ing definite resulted The animating
sentiment of the fathers Of the repub-
lie was that of freedom, and in sup
port thereof the word Liberty" was
emblazoned upon many of the flags
employed in those early days.
So great was the prejudice against
England and the trappings of royalty
that the use of the Kings Colors"
became intermittent, and was finally
discontinued. Similar prejudice de-
veloped against the crimson banner
subsequently adopted by the mother
country, and known as the Cromwell
Flag" In the year 1907 the colornis s
selected red flag as their ensign,
bearing in the upper corner the green
symbol of a pine tree on white field.
This banner was in popular favor for
many years, and is thought to have
been the one carried by the Ameri-
cans in the battle of Bunker Hill.
In 1775 a flag was designed for the
Continental army and navy, showing
thirteen alternate stripes of red and
white, corresponding to the number
of coloniesJ with an azure field in the
upper corner bearing the red cross
of st. George and the white of st. An
drew This was the beginning of the
flag Of stars and stripes. In this form
it was hoisted by General George
Washington over his headquarters al
Cambridge, Massachusetts, January l,
1875. The same pattern of flag was
raised by Lieutenant John Paul Jones
on his vessel, the "Alfred"-its first
use on man-of-war. y
The right of freedom was proclaim
ed by the colonists on July 2, ITS,
and two days later, on July 4. the
Declaration of independence was
adopted. In response to the demand
for banner more representative OF
the aims and ideals of the new coun-
try, on June IA, 1777, one hundred and
thirty-six years ago today, congress
declared the national flag to be thir-
teen stripes, seven red and six white,
with thirteen stars in circle on a
blue field
According to most authorities the
first flag of this description was made
by Betsy Ross, at her home, No. 239
Arch street, Philadelphia, a building
still preserved and pointed out as the
birthplace of our national emblem.
George Washington, acting as COM
mitteeman, submitted the design OF
the flag to Betsy Ross, and it was
upon her suggestion that the stars
were made of five points, as in France
instead of six points, as in England.
In 1775, after Vermont and Kentucky
had been admitted to the Union, two
stripes and two stars were added to
the flag. The war of 1912 was fought
under such a flag, and it remained in
this form until July 4, 1918, when the
stripes were reduced to the original
thirteen, and the stars increased to
one for each State
These changes also brought to the
present group formation. For a. time
the constellation was depicted as one
large star, thus suggesting the motto,
E Pluribus Unum: zone formed of
many" The red, white and blue COL
ors in the flag were inherited from
EAS4dAO ouu SSOl1onO, oAo IAO otAeP
es from Holland. The combination of
stripes, colors and stars, was an
American idea The red in the flag
has been interpreted to mean de-
fance to all forms of tyranny and op-
preston, the white is indicative Of
purity and charity, while the blue rep
resents justice and fidelity. In the
American navy special flag is dis
played during the Sunday religious
service-a square pennant of white,
charged with blue cross emble.natic
of faith, and this the only flag that
is permitted to fly above the stars
and stripes within the proper juris-
diction of the American government.