The Covington leader. (Covington, Tenn.) 18??-current, 1918-01-17
THE AMERICAN FLAG
It's History Made the Theme of am
Grafton in the House Of Represent
atives.

From the Flag Day address in Con-
gress by Representative Frederick
G. Hicks, Of New York.
Mr.. Speaker and Gentlemen of the
House:-On this, the 140th anniver-
sary Of the ordination of the Stars
and Stripes by the Continental Con
gress, ] have thought it fitting and
proper to make reference to its won
derful history The flag held in rev
erence by 100,000,000 of our people
is a modern standard. There are no
myths or legends associated with it's
origin; it tells no story Of crushed
liberties or violated rights; it spraag
neither from the sorrow Of the OPP
pressed nor the means of the CON
quered. In its majestic beauty it ex-
presses the independence of a
thoughtful courageous, conscientious
people; the faith, the lofty aspira-
tons and the high ideals of repre-
sentative democracy; the advance Of
new nation, dedicated to liberty,
to law, to justice and to tn cause Of
human rights. (Applause.)
The flag of America does more than
proclaim mere power to declare a
great and glorious history. It's folds
wave a benediction to the We terdays
and beckon the tomorrows with hope
and confidence; it heralds the noble
purposes of great people; it car
ries a message of hope and inspiration
to all mankind. (Applause.) It's
glowing splendor appeals to us to de-
mand international justice and arbi-
tration; it commands us to self-sac-
rifice and universal obligation of SER
vice which alone can maintain equal
ity Of rights and fullness Of opportu-
nifty in our republic. It's stars and
its stripes voice the spirit of America
calling to a nation of indomitable
courage and infinite possibilities to
live the tenets of Christianity, to
teach the gospel Of work and use
fulness, to advance education, to de-
mand purity of thought and action
in public life and to protect the lib
critics from the aggressions of a des-
potic power. That is the call of the
flag of the Union in the hour Of cri-
sis and turmoil, when civilization and
the laws of nations and humanity
are being engulfed in the maelstrom
of death and destruction In the
words of Robert G. Ingersoll-
''The fago frwhich the heroes foug
"The flag for which the heroes
fought, for which they died, is the
symbol of equal rights. 1t means
universal education--light for every
mind, knowledge for every child. Il
means that it is the duty of every
citizen to bear his share of the pub.
lie burden. 1t means that all dis
tinctions based on birth on blood have
persisted from our laws; that our gov
eminent shall stand between capita
and labor, between the weak and the
strong, between the individual anC
the corporation, between want anC
wealth, and give the guaranty of sim
pie Justice to each and all Tha
flag is the emblem of the supreme
will Of nations power. Beneath
its folds the weakest must be protect
ed. and the strongest must obey. i
shields and canopies alike the lofties
mansion and the rudest hut. Tha
flag was given to the air in the revo
lution's darkest DAYS. 1t represent
the sufferings of the past, the glo
ries yet to be and like the bow o
heaven, it is the child of storm AM
sun"