The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-05-15

Dutch flag on trading ships, as well
as on ~handkerchiefs, boxes, title pages
of Bibles, and many other articles,
was a familiar object.
The Dutch flag consisted of alter
nate red and white stripes, and its
meaning was popular with The colon
lists at the time of the Revolution. 1t
signified the union OF the provinces of
Holland, which had deposed its mon
arch and become a republic, with 2
written constitution. a judiciary free
from the executive, and public schools
free to all and sustained by taxation,
long before 1775. Thus it is inter-
esting to note the fact the importance
of which is often overlooked by histor-
1ans, that the Dutch influence was
strong in the rebellion of the colon
| lists We have Benjamin Franklin's
word for it in a letter which he wrote
during the war, which says: 'In love
of liberty and bravery in defense of it,
she (Holland) has been our great eX-
ample"
Hence, in using the stripes in the
flag, the United States borrowed the
idea from the Dutch to signify the
union of colonies. AS far as can be
ascertained, this striped flag was i'm
mediately employed by the navy, but
in the army it was never adopted.
There flag bearing a rattlesnake
emblem was the most popular, al
though other designs were also used.
/ III -'AoS VI 80. washington NTOle "
the Board of War, stating that he was
! in receipt of constant applications for
colorS, but there were many different
flags used by the various regiments
and lit is not yet settled what is the
! standard of the United States"
| To this. the War Board replied, ask
ing Washington to give his opinion as
| to what was the "One common flag of
the United States" at which recon-
mendation would be made to congress,
! n lGT~ !
ply to this inquiry, made on Septem-
| Der 3, 1873, Washington makes no ref
erence whatever to stars, but suggests
that the number belonging to each
regiment be inserted within the curve
/ of the rattleSnake.
From this it may be seen that the
stripes are the only sure and perma-
! nent feature of the American flag as
I it has come down to US in history. In
| 1918, when it became apparent that
| many more states would eventually be
| added to the union, the obvious incon-
venience of adding a new stripe each
| time caused congress to limit the
| number to the original thirteen, plac-
| ing the responsibility of future entries
on the stars. Since then, many diff
| ferent and probably more artistic de-
signs for flags have been offered to
the government, but the present ar
1 rangement is good enough for Ameri-
| cans. And, if it ever does get to the
western battlefront. it is likely to
change Europea.- opinion concerning
it. I
1.-THE new information bureau Just estab-
! lished by the Topeka State Journal nj
| Washington. d. c. is in "a position to send
any reader who makes the request and
! sends 2-cent stamp for postage. each
| book desired, any or all of the fol
! lowing: THE United States Army" a
beautiful booklet profusely illustrated. sew
eral pages in colOrs. showing the uniforms
in colors of different officers. prepared
under the direction Of the adjutant gen
! eral of the United States army; 1.-The
United States Navy" enlistment. instruc-
tons; United States Marines" soldiers
of the sea, duties, experiences. oppOrtu-
mites, pay. issued by the United States
/ Marine Corps publicity bureau. numerous
| Illustrations, two pages in colors.
| Remember. those booklets are free to
any reader of the State Journal: he need
not even be ii regular subscriber. Address
| our Washington Bureau