The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1918-05-01
RESOLUT|QN|N.
HOUSE NAMES.
NATIONAL AIR.
After Nearly Century and Half
of Delay, Anthem May
Be Acquired.
WOULD ADOPT
FAMILIAR SONG
Star Spangled Banner" Recog-
nized in Service, But States
Not Bound to Observe It.

Washington, April 30.-(By Associat-
ed Press)-After nearly a century and a
half Of delay the United States seems
about to acquire a national anthem.
THE Star Spangled Banner" would
be adopted as the officially recognized
hymn Of the republic under a resolution
by Representative McFadden, of Penn
sylvania, now pending in the house.
Little, if any, opposition is expected.
Army and navy regulations long have
designated the Star Spanked Banner
as the official anthem and provide that
officers and men shall stand at atten-
ton while it is being played or sung.
but the country at large has been left
to its own tastes in the matter Of Sc
lecting an appropriate hymn for patrl-
otto occasions. Thus The Star Span
gled Banner" has been widely accepted
by the American public as the repre-
sentative hymn of the union and patri-
otto societies for many years have been
agitating for its official adoption.
Every land has a national anthem
identified inseparably with its life.
The sonorous strains of the Marsaillaise
breathe the indomitable spirit, the
achievements and the aspirations of
France. While going down in vessels,
Englands sons have sung God Save
the King" or Rule Brittania," and
even the iron hand OF Germany in Bel
giam has been unable to silence entirely
the melody OF "Brabanconne Ital-
ians sing Paribaldi's hymn. while the
Irish and Scotch have veritable treas
ure troye of stirring war songs.
Attempt to find a suitable national
af,. fext. 4,
few. Hundreds, perhaps thousands, of
melodies have been written in an ef-
fort to meet the demand Yet, the in
spired lines written by Francis Scott
Key, as while a prisoner on board a
British frigate, he watched the unsuc-
eessful bambardment of Fort MeHenry,
near Baltimore in 1914, are wideiy re-
garded as nearer than any other to
meeting the appeal.
America has a powerful hold on
the people Of this country, but it is
considered by many unsuitable for Of
ficial recognition because its meiouy
is identical with that of England's
God Save the King" Yankee Doodle"
although sung through all the nations
wars, is thought too light. and in the
south, at least, is unfortunately be-
lieved to carry a note of sectionalism.
The majestic Battle Hymn of the
Republic musicians claim falls shot
of the standard. while 1.-The Red, White
and Blue" Rally Round the Flag and
others also are said to be unsuitable.
Dixie" although carrying powerful
emotional appeal is acknowledged to
be peculiorly the song of the south.
The music of the star Spangled
Banner has been adversely criticized
ing difficult for the average crowd /,
a century to the point where it would |
be difficult to displace 1T in the affec- |
tions of the American people. The |
words, written under the stress OF |
strong patriotic emotion, express sem
timents that are the bulwark OF the |
nations pride.
Key, Just before he wrote THE star |
Spangled Banner" had been appointed ,
an emmissary from the town Of Marl- /
borough in Maryland to the British |
commander TO procure the release OF |
a captured Marlborough physician. His
mission was successful, but Key was |
few days until the enemy
could launch the attack on Baltimore.
From the deck of the British vessel.
he watched shot and shell rain on the
or Fort McHenry through the |
day and night, and in the poem he eX
presses his elation when he saw the
flag still waving at dawn
An effective musical vehicle for the
poem was found in the jovial old Brit
ish song "Anacreon In Heaven the
authorship of which is In controversy.
DR.. Samuel Arnold popularity is believed
TO have composed 'sAnacrean," and the
resolution now before congress pro-
vides that the music as written by him
shall be used. "Anaerean,'' to whom
the song was inscribed, has been char
as one of Greece's most bril-
liant, but bibulous Lyric poets. His
statute, erected in Athens after his
1eath. represented him in q state of
vinous hilarity,