Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1917-04-26
THURSDAY. APRIL &c. 1917.
THE AMERICAN FLAG.
Galveston Tribune.)

1t was to be expected that the Ameri-
can people would at once Indicate their
loyalty to the flag when the conclusion
had been reached that this country could
no longer tolerate the ruthleSsness of the
German submarine warfare. but ii could
scarcely have been expected that the exhi-
bition of an American flag in the streets OF
London, Paris or Petrograd would cause
anything more than a mild common of APP
proval, yet it would appear that the recent
unfolding of Old Glory in Paris has had
somewhat of the same sort of effect il
would nave upon an American crowd when
unfurled to the air to the accompaniment
of the .Star Spangled Banner" punctuat-
ed by the roaring salute of cannon.
While much of the friendliness of the
French people for the American flag has
been brought about by the knowledge that
our financial resources and our manufac-
turing capacities viii be rendered the ma
tons now so successfully holding back the
tide of German success and perhaps later
our soldiers, splendidly equipped and eager
to land a blow, will begin to appear on the
fighting line of france and Belgium, it j.
more probable that the attitude of the
American government. which means the
American citizens, in favor of the people
as against the autocratic exercise of
government in the hands of the "divinely
appointed has endeared the flag to the
masses of other nations in whose breast
lives the aspiration of the better things
to be had through a system of self govern
ment as practiced by the people Of the
United States.
While our hesitancy to enter the war
against, Germany after a succession of
wanton. provocations, was deplored even
to the extent Of harsh criticism Of our
stand for neutrality, it was conceded that
this country was acting according to its
best light, and the hope was entertained
that some day it would become clear to
the people of this country that this war
was not one of conquest but of protest
againstithe spread of the doctrines of mil
itarism and autocracy; it is more than
probable that the United States would
have never entered the war had our rights
upon the seas not been ruthlessly disre-
garded and the lives of American citi-
zens wantonly sacrificed: there has prob
ably never been entertained any doubt a.
to which side the sympathy of the Ameri-
can people was extended. but the entente
allies desired something more than SYM
patty and the stars and stripes of the
American flag stood for that sentiment
which it was hoped would align itself
where it is found today.
Ii is for the American people to make
the American flag stand for all that it rep
resents to the minds of the Europeans who
nave been greeting it with heartfelt cheers
and prayers not n few. As we nave stood
for the rights of man in the days Of peace.
we must not fall short of living up to the
high standard it has pleased them 10 fix
for Us. The American flag does not
stand for military force, but what it does
represent must now be maintained by that
sort of force. 1t had been hoped that this
extremity might have been avoided. but il
has been decreed otherwise, we must face
the future with strong hearts. with a faith
in Providence that we believe j. vouch-
safed those whose cause is just. As the
American flag stands for democracy, SO
does il stand for iustice-the sort Of jus
tee that has earned u the friendship of
those weaker in material resources than
ourselves-and 50 long n this j. adhered
TO, it is believed that we may still depend
upon that divine aid that has brought u
through the years to the verge Of a war
we had hoped to avoid.
Every American wants his flag to be
---4I.-- lit L,ola,I 80 E~a.o - pr-
STA, or theoverwhelmed nations believe il
70 he. the defender Of the weak, the as
surance of Justice. the emblem of democ-
racv. but this desire must take shape in
every American citizen saying TO his gov
crnment that he is ready TO be used in