Evening star., 1922-06-15
HOLDS PRAYER OF KEY
FOR NATION ANSWERED
President, in Dedicating Fort McHeny
Memorial, Lauds Spirit Of Author
Of National Hymn.

precedented, burdens it might rejoice
In unexampled strength.
Everlasting right in the great
fundamentals" he concluded. I'VE may
face the future with every confidence.
providing men give first Of heart and
institutions, and give first thought
and unfailing devotion to the nations
perpetuity."
Text Of President's Speech.
MY Fellow Americans:
1.-THE shrines Of American patriot
ism not only reflect the quality Of its
gratitude, but they are ever refresh
ing and inspiring. We are assembled
cred shrines. We are met to COM
memorate historic victory in arms,
when the young republic was first as
serting its national rights against an
armed foe. And We are met to COM
memorate a very unique achievement
ton. Here the patriotic sons of the
early republic crushed one of the
most ambitious invasions ever aimed
against our nation. Here, during the
rage Of combat. was born the swell
ing anthem of American patriotism.
ut is wholly fitting that Flag day
should be chosen for this commence
ration and rededication, because our
hymn of patriotism is an apostrophe
to the flag we love. Yea, 1t is apoS-
trophe and invocation as well, born OF
a patriotic and poetic soul IN the ira
vail, of a sublimely heroic night.
Some one has said. in substance:
Let me write the songs of a people.
and 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 to the finer senti-
ments Of the human heart. The truth
Is completely demonstrated in the
appeal which The Star Spangled Ban
ner' made to the American people
from the day it came from the poets
heart and pen.
II think it fair. to say that we have
come here today, not so much to pay
tribute to the genius which caught
the inspiration of a vital moment
and wrote that inspiration into one OF
the songs of the ages. but rather
more to memorabilia the patriotic
, service Of the author in his eyeriast-
ing contribution to the soul uplift and
exaltation of his countrymen VINO
live after him
More Than Poet.
Francis Scott Key, though he pro-
duced some splendid lines which are
less familiar then they deserve. was
not a great poet. He was less, but he
was also more, than great poet. He
was possessor Of patriotism which
in supreme moment could make
words and meters its creatures and
servitors; and SO modest genius was
raised in one flaming hour to place
among the immortals. That the song
became instantly popular. and that
when set to music it was Immediately
adopted as the anthem of militant
JAmericanism, testifies that already,
/ ho
tion of a great nationalism and
great destiny had taken hold upon
the American people. To give ring
ing voice to such a conviction, to such
an aspiration. was one of the great
est services which any man could 90
for the young republic. That was the
service of Francis Scott Key. 1t was
not in the production of soul-stirFlng
lines, thrilling with martial appeal.
it was in the contribution of his great
hymn toward creating that sense OF
national pride and that realization OF
in behalf of humanity, which became
at last the inspiration Of union pre-
served and of nationaliSm established.
ITO one who has bent for such
oddities there will be found much OF
absorbing. interest in the study of
different eras have enjoyed popu-
lsrity. The civil war brought gen.
erous contribution of songs. good, bad
and Indifferent. but all aiding to fire
the national spirit. Once. they were
or millions of tongues, Sung in every
assembly; yet one will have difficulty
finding anybody of the present gen.
Grafton who is familiar with more
than line or two from any Of them.
must. of course. except Dixie >
which in the years 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 Spanish-American war