Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1917-02-23
THE MEANING OF OUR FLAG
Would We Love It Better II We Knew
More About Il?


papers are urging dis
play of our national emblem, the flag
Of our country, knowing full well
there will be but few who can look
upon its folds ripping in the breeze
without stir of patriotism.
1t seems so great thing to talk
about, so wide in its sweep and yet
so strange that this crisis should come
i'm between the anniversary of the two
birthdays OF our two greatest men.
Lincoln whose life pattern, SCARED
and scanned with human troubles
throws out in golden relief the indy
ing spirit of q gentle, noble heart,
which pleads for peace and still lives
to lead and share i'm those victories
that humanize mankind, whose teach
ings to live in peace and friendship
with other nations, maintaining a
spirit of justice and good will has be-
come so deep-rooted on the hearts of
the American people, that in the
beauty of its frequent Towering we
stand today the most envied of all
countries.
Washington's we'll nigh perfect
character needs no eulogy, fer IT
grows more heroic with the passing Of
each decade. Planting the seed of
patriotism he gave immortality to
that Union which was the object of his
terrestrial labors. That seed has grown
with the warmth of patriotism and its
golden grain, ripening in the sunshine
of nations prosperity, glints the
memories of those loyal hearts drawn
together by the common love of lib
erty. 1t was indeed happy inspira-
ton which caused our forefathers to
evolve the "stars and stripes" from
the shield of that great man, and now
that the nation has been called upon
to unfurl its folds in how much greater
reverence should we hold him!
In the universal display of the flag
know of no more beautiful interpre-
tation of its meaning than that of
| Charles Sumner, when he says, "This
is the national banner, it's highest
beauty is what it symbolizes; it is a
piece of bunting lifted i'm the air but
speaks snblimely, and every part has
a voice. Its stripes of alternate red
and white proclaim the original of
thirteen states to maintain the decar-
tor Of independence, its stars white
on field of blue bespeak that union
of states constituting our national
constitution which receives new star
with every new state; the two to-:
gerher signify union past and present.
The very colors have language, white
for purity, red for valor, blue for JUS
tee; and al: and all together, bunt-
|--fy-and s.ars, stripes and color bIaz-
|aauupsui 10 be che rished by all hearts;
tn be upheld by all hands. Truly
gor reous ensign, known and honored
throughout the world, it's arms and
trophies streaming i'm their original
luster, not stripe erased, not star
obscured; but everywhere spread all
over in characters of living light;
blazing on all It's ample folds as they
float over sea and land, in every wind
under the heavens bearing that motto
dear in sentiment to every true Amer
lean heart. Liberty and union, now
and forever"
Germany is trying to settle by the
most brutal methods questions that
demand the greatest wisdom, is grad
ually drawing us into whirlpool. Will
she succeed?
Neither the men or women want
war, for humanity has grown strong
with us in the century, and we realize
the horrors of it. No nation has
higher sense of international honor
than ours. Our president has faced
with christian attitude, the many diff
ficulties that have beset him, showing
consumate ability in dealing with
them.
We have had in the three great crisis
of our history three such men to guide
us, men to inspire loyalty. Our loyalty
has grown with our strength and the
people will give the nation and the
flag the same fidelity they did in the
days of that great man to whom an
entire nation is paying tribute today.
And as / look out on the flag and see
its folds ripping in the breeze, "not a
stripe eraced, not single star OBJ
scured, - thank God for the men who
fought and died that it might wave,
and for that motto dear to every true
American heart, "Liberty and union,
now and forever" -"
st. Joseph, La, Feb. %, 1917.
N;atr;ot Cou.t TuI~a (vo bNup ,,ro.