New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1922-06-15


me write the songs Of people and I
care not who makes their laws That
quotation presents one Of the living
truths in every land. under every sky.
about the appeal Of poetry and song
70 the finer sentiments OF the human
heart. The truth is completely demon
started in the appeal which The Star
Spargled Banner made 10 the Ameri-
can people from the day 10 came from
the poets heart and pen.
Extols Authors Patriotism
come here to-day not so much 20 pay
tribute 70 the genius which caught the
inspiration a vital MON mt and wrote
that inspiration into one OF the songs
Of the ages. but rather more 70
memorialize the patriotic service Of the
author in his everlasting contribution
to the soul uplift and exaltation Of his
courtrvmen who live after him.
Francis Scott Key. though he pro-
duced some splendid lines which are
lcse familiar than they deserve. was
no. q great poet. He was less but he
was also more than a great poet. He
was possessor Of n patriotism which IN
a supreme moment could make words
and meters its creatures and servitors.
and so 3 modest genius was raised in
ono flaming hour 70 place among the
irmortals. That the song became in
stantlv popular and that when 50: 10
music IL was Immediately adopted as the
anthem, Of militant Americanisrn test-
fes that already moro than century
ago the conviction Of a great national
ian and a great destiny had taken hold
upon the American people. To give
ringing voice 70 such conviction. 10
such an aspiration, was one OF me
greatest services which any man could
do for the Young Republic. That was
the service Of Francis Scott Key. -
was not in the production OF soui
stirring lines. thrilling with martial
appeal: 10 was IN the contribution OF
his great hymn toward creating that
sense Of national pride and that real
ization Of responsibility for great ad-
ycrture in behalf Of humanity which
became at last the inspiration OF union
reserved and OF nationalism estao-
lished.
Cites Other American Songs
"To one who has bent for such
oddities there will be found much oil
absorbing interest in the study OF tnose
songs Of patriotism which al dlierehV
eras have enjoyed popularity. ne
+ Civil War brought generous contrl Dl-
ton Of songs, good, bad ana ino'l-
ferent, but all aiding 20 hre the hS-
tional shirt. Once they were On mil
/ lions of tongues, sung, IN every as
sen,h1v. vet one will have difficulty
fnd;ng anybody Of the present genera
Ton who is familiar with more than a
f line or two from any Of them. mus
az course. except Dixie which in the
wears since Appomattox has been
claimed like every other good thing
that the South possessed as part OF the
/ common heritage Of the entire people.
Again. the SpanishAmerican war
! cot ne ali singing There's Hot Time
IN tho old Town Tonight which in
4 > became the army's marching and
aghting song. The World War produced
a really remarkable group Of songs OF
Inspiration and patriotism. 1t seems
only Yesterday that we were singing
tber There were many and they
served well; but none has, even for a
moment. threatened the throne which
.Thf star Srangled Banner occupies
as he roya anthem OF American
patriotism.
Details Britain's Plan
The composition Of The Star
Spang.ed Banner seemed at the time
minor incident among major events
The British government had sent
great expedition 20 occupy the Chesa-
rr.ke ard 70 drive out the priyateers
which, from its waters, made their tire
l.ss forays against British shipping
and 70 create the base from which 70
drive a grea military force northwsrd.
Simultan eocsly an army was TO advance
from Canada southwark through the
Hudson Valley, the general plan being
10 split the country along the line OF
the Hudson, the Delaware and the
Chesapeake. II was the same STRATEGY
cal conception fundamental in the
British program Of Revolutionary
years.
The campaign started OF success
fully. The British occupied the lower
Chesapeake and Potomac, captured
Washington and then turned TO reduce
Fort MeHenry. sentine AZ the gates
Of Baltimore. Then the way would be
open Tor the army's operation in &C
cordance with the general design. =.
zone need not tell Maryland audi