Western news and the Libby times. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1920-1933, 1933-06-08


But, contrary to the belief OF many Ameri-
cans. this does not mean that our national BAN
ner spranga full -grewn Into being from the brain
OF one man or one group OF men on that June
day 1916 years ago. The truth is that our flag.
like so many other American institutions and
Symbols developed by gradual evolution and
derived Its inspiration from sources as varied
as the strains Of blood which have been fused
Into making "the typical American"
The real origin Of our national flag goes back
to the banner which was flown by the expedition
That discovered the North American continent.
This was the simple banner OF st. Georges cross,
In red on white field, the old flag OF England.
It was carried by tthe expedition OF Giovanni
Cabot, he Is more Familiarity known. John
Cabot, the italian navigator, exploring for Eng
land, who discovered the North American conti-
nent in 1907. Sailing along the east coast for
1000 miles, he laid the foundation of English
claims to North America. The flag was borne
later by Capt John Smiths ships to the set
Element at Jamestown Va. In 1907 and again By
the Mayfower to the Plymouth fMass.1 settle
ment In 1920
Next In the line OF descent comes the Kings
Colors or the Union Jack, designed In 1906. SYM
bolizing the union Of England and Scotland after
King James took the throne of the united king
doms In 1903. This union was represented In
the English flag by imposing the English red
cross of st. George the Scottish white dag
onal cross of ST. Andrew on a field of blue
There are records Of the use of this flag on forts
In this country In 1879 and 1906, and this en-
sign was required In all British dominlons by
parliamentary act of 1707.
The term Union jack was probably derived
from King James signing documents in the
French Jacques" the pronunciation OF which
q ha - ~
applied to that part OF our national flag carry
ing the stars. In fact when this part of the flag
is flown alone on bows Of ships, 1t is called the
union jack" simply "jack."
Three flags that had an early influence on the
design OF the Stars and Stripes were the striped
flags OF the Dutch republic. The Dutch 1t will be
remembered, first colonized New Netherlands
before 1t became New York. This territory In
Guided New York. New Jersey, Pennsylvania and
Delaware
Settlements In these states were made by
Dutch colonists under their flags; that OF the
Dutch West India Co.. with three stripes OF or
ange, white and blue; the United States of Meth
erlands, with six stripes of red. white and blue
and the Rotterdam flag OF green and white
stripes.
The English East India company finally crowd
ed the Dutch out of sea trade and this company
striped banner of alternating red and white
stripes, with small st. Georges cross of red
In the upper corner next to the staff One of
the variations In this flag was pine tree or
globe, representing the New world In the upper
left quarter of the union, formed by the arms
Of the st. George cross. In some flags OF this
period the pine tree replaced the St George
cross entirely.
With the Revolution, the struggling colonists
wanted something different from a British flag,
and the pine tree and rattlesnake emblems ap-
peared also the legend Liberty and Union on
plain fly Of red Then came the Stars and
Stripes When Washington left Philadelphia In
1775, to take command of the army at Cam
bridge, he was escorted out of the city by the
Philadelphia Troop Of Light Horse as far as
Newark, N ]. The guidon Of this troop was Of
yellow silk and carried in Its upper corner, next
to the staff, small union OF Is stripes OF silver
and light blue
Stars first figured In the union of flag car
rled In 1775 on the schooner Lee by Captain Man
ley, Massachusetts skipper, whose ship operat-
ed as one OF Commodore Hopkins squadron and
captured the Nancy with supplies for the Brit
ish army November 49, 1775.i Thirteen stars on
a blue canton formed the union OF Its flag They
arranged In five horizontal, parallel rows
and were fve-pointed. In the blue fly Of the
flag was white anchor with the word Hope"
above IT.. This design was carried by Rhode Is
land troops at Brandywne, Trenton and York
town, but the stars were OF gilt on light blue
canton.
Following the early use of the English ensign
which carried the st. Georges cross In the canton
there came into use In the colonies In the Eight