New Ulm review. (New Ulm, Brown County, Minn.) 1892-1961, 1917-10-17
TIE ssTAR-SPANGLED BANNER

With the entrance Of America into the
great world war, patriotism was rejuve-
mated and the National Anthem was
accorded prominence due to its exalted
position, says the Musical Advance. -
The Stars pangled Banner is only
one of the popular tunes used on national
patriotic occasions, and although it has
never been formally adopted by Congress
as the National Anthem, it is neverthe-
less so recognized and the American
Army Regulations state whenever the
"Star-Spangeld Banner is played by
the band on a formal occasion. all
officers and enlisted men present will
stand at attention 80. and while the flag
IS being lowered the band will play the
"Star-Spangled Banner
Such orders to our army is plain in
dication that the Stars pangled Banner
is the National Anthem, because Of the
fact thatit is used throughout the United
States as such and so regarded in other
countries. America" is not the National
Anthem and has no place in our national
affairs. John Bulls music may be more
slngable and the words more adaptable
fer song, but the mere fact that the tune
IS the national anthem of Great Britain
should be sufficient reason to bar it's use
in this country as an American national
song.
Y Recently many copies Of the Star
Spangled Banner have been published,
and it is most surprising that the pub
l;sLers have made no apparent effort to
associate with it the proper Identification
regarding the composer Of the music.
Samuel Arnold and John Stafford Smith
are given, whereas both are erroneous.
Because of this uncertainty, and also
only a minority Of Americans are able
to sing the words, is one reason why we
present so ridiculous a spectacle in the
eyes Of the world when called upon to
sing the National Anthem. It's there
fore imperative that everyone Immediate
y set himself the task Of memorizing
at least the first verse Of Francis Scott
Keys immortal poem.
There is no more interesting subject
for study and research or a more inspir-
ing theme than this selfsame American
. T y
National Anthem, and if few persons
were sufficiently interested to unwrap
the. mysteries Of this famous song our
country would be deeply indebted to
item. s:1
Modern researches have absolutely
annihilated the English claim to the
music and leave the identity of the COM
poser a complete mystery. Oscar Son
neck, Of the Library Of Congress, has
made a governmental report but docs
not prove how the old tune To Ana
creon in Heaven bee me attached to
Keys words. Thousands of copies of
this song are in existence, but the name
Of the composer appears in not one. He
was so well known about the year
1880, however, that the mention of his
name in connection with the song was
net considered necessary.
A diligent search for the name has
been fruitless, and it has therefore
disappeared into oblivion, which is un-
fortunate, since it forces us into the ur-
desirable position of having National
Anthem the music OF which IS claimed
for an Englishman, in spite of the feet
that the claim has not been sub
Why should Arnold's or
Smiths name be linked to our National
Anthem without full and convincing
proof? Smith usedthe tune as, a glee,
as he used other familiar tunes for ar
and in 1889 published a
book 81 compositions containing another
glee; yet during his life Re
never claimed title to the new famous
tune. The English, however, did claim
it for him, and it is of great moment to
this nation that the matter be brought
to an issue.
The music Of this song seems to have
simultaneously in Great
Britain, France, Ireland, Scotland and
America. It is possible that this tune
is an old folk song, hundreds Of years old.
It is more likely, however, that the origi-.
nal is either Irish or French, although it
is not improbable that the origin may be
American, for Smith lived twenty-five
years after Key used the music for his
poem and never claimed ownership,
the royalties on the original
composition would have made him a
millionaire, Moreover, had he claimed
C pyright for the original music Of this
song, probably it would have invaded
his Glee copyright.
Moreover, Smiths song is in the key
IF C. and the original AnAcroo,+;o e,>,..