New-York tribune., 1922-07-09
A Worthy Anthem
Objections Made to "The Star
Spangled Banner"

TO the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: have been greatly interested
In the discussion going on in the press
over the outgrown war ballad known
as "The Star-Spangled Banner" AS /
am opposed to even considering it as
national anthem, was elated to read
your hne editorial in this mornings
Tribune. The Tribune issdoing great
work in awakening the people TO the
error of trying to express Americanism
Through song of hate and braggado-
clio. True patriotism, or love OF coun-
try, is not so expressed by people
whose motto is "fn God We Trust"
"God is love; and he that dwelleth in
le@e dwelleth in God and God in him."
He that loveth God loveth his brother
also.' Great Britain is our Anglo
Saxon brother, and it is time the old
antipathies were forgotten and the way
made straight for new order of
things. "The former shall not be re-
membered nor come into mind"
The press has been generally non,
committal on the issue. seeming to fear
to take positive stand against adopt
ing an anthem Of this ribald charac-
ter, which has been so long foisted upon
us. 1t is noticeable that those who
are opposing Francis Scott Keys poem,
set to the tune of barroom ballad,
are invariably Of progressive and
spiritual turn OF mind and also truly
patriotic. Such was the state of mind
of George Washington and his col
leagues, who conceived this nation un-
der Coda model of divine democracy.
Those who prefer to sing of "the
rockets red glare" "the bombs burst
ing in air." "the foes naughty host
in dread silence reposing," "the havoc
of war and the battles confusion"
their blood haa washed out their foul
footsteps pollution" "the terror of.
flight and the gloom of the grave"
ETC., express their own bellicose men,
tality and will reap the fruits of hat
ing and cursing.
The words of Ralph Waldo Emerson,
delivered before the American Peace
Society in Boston in 1888, are par
ticularly apropos here: Eve surround
ourselves always according to our free
dom and ability with true images of
ourselves in things, whether ii be
ships or books or cannons or churches.
The standing army, the arsenal, the
camp and the gibbet do not appertain
to man. They only serve as an index
to show where man is now; what bad,
ungoverned temper he has, how his
affections halt, how low his hope lies.
He who loves the bristle of bayonets
only sees in their glitter what before
hand he feels in his heart. 1t is ava
rice and hatred; it is that quivering
lip, that cold, hating eye, which built
magazines and powder houses" So it
is with those who express malice and
hatred in song or prose.
The published articles by Mrs. Au-
gusta e. Stetson and the letters from
the people which have appeared in the
press deploring the sentiments ex-
pressed through the words of "The
Star-Spangled Banner" have given
sound, logical reasons why that song is
unworthy to become our national an
/ them, and every progressive thinker
aould be convinced that there is moth
r, in it worth retaining.
ca commendation of Mrs. Stetson The
bune and those who have contended
,r better expression of Americanism
in our national anthem. I am moved
to say, in the words of Pliny, you are
doing what deserves to be written, and
writing what deserves to be read; and
I rendering the world happier and better
for having lived in it,
L. DOUGLAS WISE.
New York, July 4, 1922.