New Iberia enterprise and independent observer. (New Iberia, La.) 1902-1944, 1916-06-17
ENTERPRISE AND OBSERVER
Consolidated,
Official Journal Iberia Parish and
City of New iberia.
Subscription 81 80 per Annum
THE ELKS FLAG EXERCISES

spondcd to the invitations tina
',ad been issued by the officers o
sew iberia Lodge Il. y. q. Elk
20. j54 to he present at their an
nual Flag Day Exercises at thei
"Ilomc' in the Elk Theatr,
building. Promptly at 8 o'clocl
the beautiful and impressive Gus
tom Of the Fratcrnal and Bcncv
client Order began the celchratio,
Of the anniversary of the birth o
the American flag which was a'
follows:
PRAYER by Chaplain. II. +. I'LL
History of the Flag ....
..... CORTLAND NJ. Compton
Song Star Spaneled Banner
Exaltcr Ruler and Officers. -.
Song ........ Aud Lang Syns
Elks Tribute to the Flag ...
........ Capt. John I. White
Song Maryland. My Maryland
Organist =. Mr.. Jas. Lee Gebert
We reproduce below a part OF
the address which was delivered
on that occasion by Hon. Jules
Drevfus one of the enthusiastic
and patriotic members Of that
organization:
An Appeal to the Spirit of Old
Glory.
What is a F1ae7 A rag that
svmbolizcs national greed. amhi-
ton. power and gIory' A piece
of bunting rejecting the soldier $
valor and the conqucrOr s crown ;
the tvrant's strength. the despair
Of the slave? \ widely accepted
fetch embracing in its folds dy-
nastic destinies, national servi-
tude. the ruthless march Of the
autocrat over peoples hopes and
aspirations7 Yes, some flags
have waved over oppressed lands,
have waited death to all aspiring
towards freedom, towards nat
ional consciousness.
Some flags even incarnate the
spirit Of absolutism. Of sworn
cnmity to progress and enlightcn-
ment, Of the involuntary cnslave.
ment of peoples and nations. But
this flag. with its sparkling stars
and stripes, was born in the
cradle Of liberty. rocked by the
hand of Righteousness and raised
and grown to protect and defend
democracy. the mass Of men. hui
manity. 1t has it's roots in the
soil Of no tradition. Of no war
rior's history. Of no drnaetic
struggles, of no class privileged
clans exploitation and spoiliation.
IL grows from the hearts Of
freeman: it draws it's nourish-
ment and life from the spirit Of
justice and righteousness Of the
nation. It needs no external pro-
lection. no sword for it's respect,
no exhortations for it's love.
Government. soldier and orator
may cease their function, old
glory would still evoke dcvout
worship. thunderous applause
from the millions whose spirit Of
freedom is crystalizcd in its folds.
Its stars ere more lustrous and
inspiring than those blinking in
the armament. They draw their
light from the soul of free ma.
ton; they illuminate and food
the path Of the soul Of all ma
tons. Wherever expressions cry
is raised; prosecutions wall
made the rulers hymn Of hate,
this flag shines brighter than the
star Of hope. penctrates deeper
into the conscience Of mankind
than the promised redemption Of
the reformed sinner. Idol wor-
shippers yet dcridc its sublime
sweep; followers of Baal and
Mammon execrate it's noble ap-
peal. But no passion no preiu-
dice. however impulsive, ire
sistible they may be. dare put the
impious hand on its pure colors to
trail it in the mire and slime of
greed and selfishness.
The iconoclast. in reckless mood
and temper Of despair. would not
desecrate the emblem's mute an.
peal. Our flag embodies more
than the nations struggle from
childhood to maturity, more than
n citizens assertion of equal
rights and privileges. The en-
music Of the stars played
on the stripes is the voice of love,
Of justice. Of universal brother
hood. II is not symbol Of ag-
erosion. Of force. of ambition
= is beacon light Of peace. good