The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1914-11-04
F1ag-NLkcrS.

| iii ~. I|dIe, secretary OF the interior,
to the clerks of his department on
Flag Day is claiming attention not
only for it's literary merit but because
OF its appropriate appeal to the
patriotic impulse of the people at this
time. 1t is worthy of reproduction.
He said:
This morning, as l passed into the
land office. the flag dropped me a
most cordial salutation, and from its
ripping folds 1 heard it say: Good
Morning, Mr.. Flag-maker.
1 big your pardon, Old Glory 1
said, you are mistaken. l am not the
president Of the United States, nor
the Weep resident, nor a member of
congress, nor even a general in the
army. / am only a government clerk.
Il greet you again, Mr.. Flag
maker replied the gay voice. I know
you we'll. You are the man who
worked in the swelter of yesterday
Strengthening out the tangle of that
farmers homestead in Idaho
NO, 1 am not 1 was forced to
confess.
Well, perhaps YOU are the one
who discovered the mistake in that
Indian contract in Oklahoma?'
NO, wrong again. 1 said.
Well, perhaps you helped to cellar
that patent for the hopeful inventor
in New York, or pushed the opening
of that new ditch in Colorado, or
made that mine in Illinois more safe,
or brought relief to the old soldier in
Wyoming. No matter, which ever
one Of these beneficent individuals
you may happen to be, 1 give you
greeting, Mr.. Flag-maker.'
Il was about to pass on, feeling
that was being Knocked, when the
flag stopped me with these words:
You know, the world knows, that
yesterday the president spoke a word
that made happier the future of 1O,-
100000 poems in Mexico, but that act
looms no larger on the flag than the
struggle which the boy in Georgia is
making to win the corn club prize
this summer. Yesterday the congress
spoke a word which will open the
door Of Alaska, but a mother in Mich
igan worked from sunrise until far
into the night to give her boy an edu-
cation. She too, is making the flag.
Yesterday we made new law to pre-
vent financial panics; Yesterday, no
doubt, a school teacher in Ohio
taught his first letters to a boy who
will write a song that will give cheer
to the millions Of our race. We are
all making flags
But 1 said impatiently, these
people were only working Then
came a great shout from the flag.
Let me tell you who l am. The
work that we do is the making of the
real flag. 1 am not the flag, not at
all. l am but its shadow. 1 am what
ever you make me, nothing more. l
am your belief in yourself, your
dream Of what q people may become.
1 live a changing life, life Of moods
and passions, Of heart-breaks and
tired muscles. Sometimes I am strong
with pride. when men do an honest
work, fitting the rails together truly.
Sometimes | drOop, for then purpose
has gone from me, and cynically ]
play the coward. Sometimes l am
loud, garish, and full Of that ego that
blasts judgment. But always L am
all that you hope to be and have the
courage to try for. l am song and
fear, struggle and panic, and en-
nobling hope. I am the days work
Of the weakest man and the largest
dream of the most daring. l am the
constitution and the courts. statutes
and statute makers, soldier and
dreadnOught, drayman and street
sweep, cook, counselor. and clerk.
am the battle of yesterday and the
mistake of tomorrow | am the myS-
terry of men who do without know
ing why. | am the clutch Of an idea
and the reasoned purpose of resolu-
ton. | am no more than what YOU
believe me to be- and | am all that
YOU believe | can be. | am what you
make me, nothing more. | swing be-
fore your eyes rs a bright Sleam of
CClor, Il symbol of that big thing
which makes this nation. NV stars
and my stripes are your dreams and
your laborS. They are bright with
cheer, brilliant with courage. firm
with faith, because YOU have mad.
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