Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1916-06-06
HUGHES SOUNDS
POSSIBLE KEYNOTE
Interprets Flag as Meaning
America First, in Public
Address
Special to The Telegraph

washington, ID. c., June 6. In
the seclusion of the National Cathedral
School lawn, where he was presenting
an American flag to the honor gradu-
ates, Justice Charles e. Hughes yes
terday made his first public address
since the opening of the preconven-
tion campaign. He told the young
women graduates that the flag meant
America first, an undivided allegiance
and Nation united and equal to it's
task.
This flag means more than associa-
ton and reward" said the Justice, "it
Is the symbol of our national unity,
our national endeavor, our national
aspiration. 1t tells you of the struggle
for independence, of union preserved,
of liberty and union one and INSOFAR
able. of the sacrifices OF brave men
and women to whom the ideals and
honor of this Nation have been dearer
than life.
Flag Means America First
1T means America first; 1t means
an undivided allegiance. It means
America united, strong and efficient.
equal to her tasks. 1t means that you
cannot be saved by the valor and de-
votion of your ancestors; that to each
generation comes its patriotic duty;
and that upon your willingness to sac
riflce and endure, as those before you
have sacrificed and endured, rests the
national hope.
ut speaks of equal rights: of the
inspiration of free institutions exempli-
fed and vindicated; of liberty under
law intelligently conceived and impair
TALLY administered. There is not a
thread in 1t but scorns self-indulgence,
weakness and rapacity. 1t is eloquent
of our common interests, outweighing
all divergence of opinion, and of our
common destiny.
Given as a prize to those who have
the highest standing 1t happily en-
forces the lesson that intelligence and
zeal must go together; that discipline
must accompany emotion, and that we
must ultimately rely upon enlighten
opinion"
Flag to Leading Graduate
Under the custom of the school, the
student to stand at the head of the
graduating class receives as a reward
the flag which has flown over the
school grounds all year. Several
months ago Justice Hughes was in
! vited to make the presentation ad-
dress, but no announcement of his ac-
ceptance ever was made.
Miss Catherine Hughes, daughter OF
| the Justice, was a member of the
graduating class. but she missed the
, coveted honor of winning the flag by
a few points, taking rank among the
first ten.
In beginning his address. Justice
! Hughes told the graduates that the
Intellectual inheritance of the age
counted only as it actually was
possessed and used. He said it was
a miserable spectacle to see the youth
neglecting the lessons OF science, the
instruction of history, the resources OF
literature and art and leading a life
small and impoverished amid the op-
portunities of the twentieth cen
tury
Abiding then to the beauty of the
prize he was awarding, he told of the
associations and memories of school
life it would recall, and concluded
with the declaration of the broader
national spirit it stood for.
Senator Martin of Virginia, was the
only man in high public life to heal
the address.