The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1914-06-20
The Causes Leading up to
the Bombardment Of Fort
McHenry by the British in
1914, and How Francis
Scott Key, Inspired by the
Sight Of the Flag by the
Dawn S Early Light,
Wrote the immortal "Star
Spansled Banner

1t is source of great pride to every
American that soon after the Declar-
alton of Independence, several years
before we had won recognition as
separate nation from England, the
Stars and Stripes had been adopted as
beauty and design ana coloring far
tries-a flag which has never known
defeat and which has never lowered its
colors in national dishonor. 1t is how
ever, not equally creditable that flag
with such an unsullied record should
go so long without having day set
aside to do it honor Thousands of our
brave boys have gone to their untime-
ly graves in it's defense, have endured
without murmuring untold hardships
that it's ample folds might untarnished
float to the breezes thousands of our
citizens while travelling in foreign
lands have filled up with patriotic
pride when it has come into view and
yet century after its birth passed
away before there was established the
custom of formal celebration of
what it means to us.
Adopted as the national emblem by
Continental Congress in i777, it was
not until 1889 that any real recogni-
ton of the birthday of the flag occur
red. On June Ia of that year Profess
sor George Bolch, the head of a free
kindergarten for poor children in New
York City, established the custom of
giving a lecture to his pupils on the
origin and significance of the flag.
This custom was later adopted by the
Board of Education Of that city, and
gradually the observance of Flag Day
spread over the country until today in
every village and hamlet throughout
our broad land there il some sort OF
service in honor of the Stars and
Stripes which are always displayed
on June IA. This year Flag Day has
greater significance than ever. The
flowers are still fresh on the graves of
the boys who died at Vera Cruz in de-
Tense of its hoLor.
Centenary Of National Anthem.
Then, too, this year marks the CEN
tenary of the birth of our national an
them, written when men stood ready
to die rather than lower the colors in
defeat. during the commandment of
Fort McHenry by the British in 1914.
1t was the sight of our beloved en-
blem waving over the ramparts of the
old fort "by the dawn's early light"
after this night of battle which in
spired the gifted son of Maryland,
Francis Scott Key, to write the soul
stirring poem which has now become
the TIE Deum of the nation-the i'm
mortal 'Star-Spangled Banner"
1t seems most fitting that on this,
the natal day OF the flag, story of the
birth of our. national emblem should
be told and how the patriotism and
loyalty of our ancestors VINO fought in
the war of 1872 against the British
saved the life of the young Republic
which at that time consisted of but
fifteen States.
For many years after the peace of
1888, the affairs of the United States
were not running smoothly, owing to
some little disagreement between the
States which although united against
a common enemy the old States rights
doctrine cropped up and dissention
arose.
Cause of War of 1912.
England mad never given up the
hope Of regaining the United States
and did all in her power to add to this
little family quarre! by trying to pro-
woke lealouSies among the States. But
by these acts Great Britain showed
her hand too soon, for when she found
that the commerce of the young Re
pubic was gaining on the sea she at
once decided to stop the rivalry by
calling to life the odious and practi-
caIly obsolete rule of 1886. The spirit
Of this rule was to prevent the neutral
from enjoying any commerce which
would rot at the same time be open to
the beIllgerent-in other words, as to
maritime trade there We're no neu-
trails. England soon began to prac-
tlce this law to the fullest extent and
became source of veXation to Ameri-
can commerce. Another cause for
complaint accompanied with equal
step the violations of our commercial
and maritime rights ana was of a
nature still more vexatious. Great
Britain was the only modern nation
within the pale of civilization, at least
OF those who recognize the general
maritime law, who did not consider the
flag as protecting the person who
sails under it, and the citizens of the
United States were dragged from the
ships flying the American flag and
condemned to servitude. At first they
claimed the right to search our mer-
chant vessels for deserters from pub
lie service in Great Britain; next the
claim was asserted to impress English
seamen who had engaged themselves
IN American ships, finally, every per-
son who could not prove on the srot to
the satisfaction of the boarding officer
that he was an American was carried
away into most hateful bondage.
On June 10Th, 1912, President Madi-
son declared war against Great Brit
ain. 1t lasted two years and eight