Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-02-07
Origin of Nations Song
Not Cited Against 1t


equal surprise the account, which ap-
peared in your Sunday mornings paper
entitled "Star Spangled Banner Held by
Foes to Be Drinking Song" and desire
tn state that I was present during the
entire hearing before the judiciary COM
n1ittee last Friday and heard no such
criticism from any one, nor does the
report, as contained in your paper, OF
Mr.. Celler's remarks, correctly state
what he said or his position.
At the conclusion OF his remarks.
Chairman Dyer of the committee laugh
ingly remarked that there was at least
one member of the committee in favor
of the bill and the report of what Mr..
Celler said, as published in your paper.
would indicate, to my mind, the con-
trary.
Neither did I hear Miss Cheatham saw
that the song could not be sung but.
on the contrary, proved that it could
be sung by singing it, and rendered it
very beautifully.
Now permit me a word with refer
ence to adverse criticism:
For over a hundred years 1.-THE Star
Spangled Banner" has been, by the ac-
claim of the American people, the
national anthem.
1t has been played by United States
naval bands as such in every port of
the civilized world and is known to all
nations as the national anthem of
America.
1t has also been played and acknowl-
edged as such on all state occasions
within the confines of the United States
for the past hundred years and. by
executive proclamation, declared to be
the national anthem, and is played as
such on all Army posts and vessels of
the Navy.
Furthermore, by the acouiescence of
the American people, all stand when
ever its strains are heard and this
tribute is paid to no other American
song.
The reason why such respect is
shown is obviouS--namely, it comment
crates a gallant victory of American
arms; the patriotism of early American
patriots who gave their lives in defense
of the country and hence is sanctified
in the blood of American martyrs.
In addition to christening the flag
THE Star Spangled Banner" it chris
| tened America as the land of the free
and the home of the brave" and it is
not saying too much perhaps to say
| that the small flags placed at the heads
Of the graves of American soldiers, who
gave their lives in defense of their
country, are more often regarded as
THE Star Spangled Banner" than as
the American flag when looked upon
by paSsers-by and those visiting the
soldiers graves, and finally, the song
is one of the least Warlike of any ma
tional anthem Of any nation, in that,
while it does not disparage war in a
just cause, it breatheS spirit of re-
ligiouS fervor, praise and thanksgiving
to Almighty God for the delivery, of
those fighting in a just cause, from
tyranny and oppression.
At the time the music was adopted
as the tune for the words, this music
had previously been adopted for an
other old American song entitled Adams
and Liberty" and it was as the tune
of Adams and Liberty" that it was
adopted as the tune of THE Star
Spangled Banner" Now, what is, is
and L cannot see how adverse and
unjust criticism is at all praiseworthy
or available for any purpose. If the
origin of the music is not liked, in
accordance with American principle
and practice, it should be forgotten.
In America, origin counts for little.
If it was used to condemn things,
how many of the great men of America
would have ever been great, including
Abraham Lincoln and the last Demo-
cratic nominee for the presidency Of
the United States, not to mention the
Great Commoner and many others who
might be mentioned or the fact that
the National Capital, Washington City,
was originally an unhealthy swamp?
If we are going to drag up origins,
why not drag up the origin of the
National Capital and no longer endeav-
or to improve the city because it origi-
mated in a swamp?
The tune to Americas national an
tInva hoe lNnn FN. I,,,y,I ,-1I
teen years the tune of this song and
this song alone and has become long
ago AmericaniZed and reincarnated the
same as the wonderful principles of lib
erty contained in the Declaration of
independence of the American people,
which were but the doctrines of the
Frenchman, Rousseau. Shall we con-
denim these principles of our Declara-
ton of independence, because they did
not originate in America?
The passage of this act, officially
! recognizing by Congress that which
already exists, would be, as Congress
man Celler said in his remarks, but a
declaratory law of a fact which already
has existed for a hundred years and
carries not one cent Of expenditure of
public funds to put it into effect
Every patriotic society in America
was represented at the hearing last
| Friday and they all arose and said that
their societies unanimously recommend
ed the passage of the bill. In addition
to this there was petition, containing
over six million names, presented,
among them the present governors of
twenty-five American States, or more
than half OF the total number of the
Union.
Has not the majority of the Ameri-
can people right to protection from
adverse and, in many instances, I'M
justifiable and ignominious criticism of
that which they hold dear and have
held dear for a hundred years, by the
passage of legislation which will &C
knowledge officially the fact that THE
Star Spangled Banner" has been for
a hundred years the national anthem
of the American people and is known
throughout the civilized world as such?
F. S. KEY-SMITH.